Twinkling the Ivories

We are so fortunate to have a full-sized piano/keyboard in our classroom! The children have been having a lot of fun using it during freeplay. Since so many people want to use it, we posted a sign-up sheet next to the piano, so everyone can have some time using it and we can practice waiting our turn! They love the sign-up sheet so much that they actually created additional sheets, which they have taped up in the area. Some children have also been writing their own 'sheet music,' to use when they play the piano. The piano has brought new life to that corner of the classroom, and the children hung up a lot of decorations, as you can see. Movie posted below:





Did anyone hear that loud rumble coming from 89th St. on Thursday afternoon? It was due to a VOLCANIC ERUPTION in our classroom....!!! Some of the children on Wednesday were very interested in talking about volcanoes, so we looked at some photographs and talked about what goes on when a volcano erupts. The following day, using flour and water, we made our own volcano (built around a water bottle) and then added the classic combination of vinegar and baking soda (plus a drop of soap for extra bubbles, and food coloring), and KABOOM.. guaranteed smiles, wows and whoas!
As we gear up to talk about nutrition with the children, we first want them to explore some of our (plastic) food options in school. They love to pretend to serve food to others, talk on the celery-phone, or butter up their favorite grapes.

For all those parents of picky eaters out there, check out this link to a Newsweek article ("Children often need to try a new food 10 to 15 times before they will accept it.") --->http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/tipsheet/archive/2008/08/09/help-kids-overcome-picky-eating.aspx


We have a new flag matching activity... I'm also trying to round up some real flags to bring in to school....

Remember: No School 2/16-2/20
Upcoming Events: Valentine's Day Party (kids only!) 2/13.... Greenburgh Nature Center (bringing live animals) 2/24.... Post Office Field Trip 2/26.... Picture Day 3/5 & 3/6

"Dear Mr. President..."

We love talking about Presidents! This week, we read two books (pictured below) about the pursuit of the highest office in the country. We have been wondering aloud what it might be like to live in the White House. We have talked about pets in the white house (ponies! parakeets!) and asking the children what pets they would bring if they were President. . . is there any room for a shark tank? We also found out how Lincoln Logs got their name.






In connection with our Presidential curriculum and our upcoming Valentine's Day events (making mailboxes, sending letters), we asked the children what might be a good way to communicate with the President and the First Family. Additionally, last week we read a book about communication (being a good listener/how can you show someone that you are listening)... see how it's all connected? One child said that the President should come to preschool in his jet and take us all back to the White House with him....one suggested calling him on the phone.... and another said we should write a letter to President Obama. Awesome! We talked about why writing a letter would be the best way to communicate with him, and we began making a list of things they want to write in the letter.

Here are some students working on an art project, involving paint and contact paper. After their paintings are sandwiched between the contact paper, they are then laminated and made into a placemat! Good for neater eaters!




Here are assorted photos from our week.
Please remember that we are closed the week of February 15th.
Also remember to bring in a large tissue box or a shoe box for your child to use to make a mailbox for Valentine's Day.