Weekly News (Dec. 9-13)

Math
This week in math the students learned about ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc,) and practiced putting a series of objects in order as they completed a Kwanzaa themed worksheet.  We also completed several "gingerbread math" activities.  We used pennies to cover an outline of gingerbread man and counted the number of pennies to see how many would fit.  It was a great way to introduce the children to the concept of area and review our counting skills.

Gingerbread Area

We also did some measuring using large and small gingerbread men to measure several different objects in our classroom.  We completed a graphing activity as well that the children absolutely loved and played a game of "Roll and Record" too!

Gingerbread Spin and Graph

Roll and Record

Jolly Phonics
This week we finished learning the last sounds from Book #6.  We will finish the last book when we return from winter vacation.  These are the sound we learned this week:

sh as in "sheep"
th as in "the" and "thin"

As the children continue to learn new sounds, it is important to keep reviewing all the sounds we have learned.  Many of the children are already using some of the double letter sounds we have learned in their writing and recognizing these sounds while reading.  Keep up the great work!

Literacy and Social Studies
The children learned the sight word "have" this week and brought home a new sight word book that focused on ending sounds.  Please add this book to your child's plastic baggie and keep reading those books at home too!

We read a book about Kwanzaa and completed a sequencing activity that showed how a family celebrating Kwanzaa might prepare their table for the holiday.  During Writer's Workshop, we wrote about some of our favorite holiday traditions at this time of year.  The children did a great job with their writing!

Gingerbread Unit
I loved seeing how excited the children were to find out what new gingerbread story we were going to read each day.  We read several versions this week including: The Sourdough Man (an Alaskan version of the Gingerbread Man), Gingerbread Cowboy, Cajun Cornbread Boy, and Gingerbread Pirates.  With each new book we read, we continue to discuss the similarities and differences between the main characters and the setting of each story as well as the major events in each story.  They are loving this unit!!

Art Appreciation
The afternoon class enjoyed an Art Appreciation lesson about Joan Miro, a Spanish surrealist artist.

Centers
Check out this week's centers below!

"Sticks and Strings" Sight Word Practice

The Gingerbread Man at the Listening Center

Lego Center

Using Pattern Templates

Top-It