Blog for April 24 and 26

This week we are studying water and listening for the sound of Ww.

Our table activities include water play with sponges and cups and boats, making puddles of colored water with pipettes and soaking them up with cotton balls, playing "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" going down spouts (gutters).

Small group activities are making a rainy window painting and making cloud and raindrop names.

KDIs for the week are-

Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds- Listening for sounds that sound like their name and listening for sounds like Ww which is not in its name at all.

 Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.- Observing how water can be moved from place to place-carried in a cup, soaked up by a sponge or cotton ball. How water changes its shape.

Jesus Time- This week we are hearing about Jesus' ascension. Jesus had appeared to his disciples and others many times in the 40 days after his resurrection. He was on the beach one morning while his disciples were out fishing, just like they used to do before. They weren't having much luck. So he called out to have them put their net down on the other side. When Peter realized it was Jesus, he through off his coat and waded back to shore. After they had eaten, Jesus called Peter over and asked him three times if he loved him. Peter replied that, "Yes, Lord I love you!" Jesus asked him to feed his lambs and sheep. When the time came for Jesus to return to heaven, the disciples and others were gathered around him on a hill outside Jerusalem. Jesus gave them their mission- Go and tell the whole world about me! I will always be with you until the end of the world! As he raised his hands to bless them, he was lifted up into the sky and the disciples stood there watching until a cloud hid him from view. As the disciples were staring up, two angels appeared and reassured them that Jesus would come back the same way he went up. May God keep us in His word and in His grace until He returns!!

Books of the week- "Worm Weather" by Jean Taft and "Let It Rain" by Maryann Cocca-Leffler.

Hoping to still get an animal visitor in soon, but field trip to Camp Killarney on Wednesday, May 9th! Information coming soon!

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Schneck

Blog for April 17 and 19

We are rockin' it this week! This week we are looking at and talking about rocks, real rocks and rocks with pretend magical powers, metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks.

Table activities include rock explore, rocks and water, tracing letters with rocks and pop rocks in unsweetened whipping cream.

Small group activities are rock painting and making a metamorphic rock snack.

KDIs for the week are-

Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- Looking closely at the rock with a magnifying glass, seeing what happens when you drop a rock in water.

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.- We will be talking about how rocks form.

Jesus Time- This week we hear about Thomas. The first time that Jesus appeared to his disciples, Thomas wasn't with them. Even though we don't know for sure where Thomas was, we do know that he was a twin. I like to think that he was giving his twin brother a heads up as to what happened to Jesus and what might happen to Jesus' followers. When Thomas returned, he didn't believe that Jesus really rose from the dead. He stated, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”(John 20:25) 
The disciples were locked in the room once again when Jesus appeared one week after his first appearance. This time Thomas was there. Jesus went right up to Thomas and said, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)
Thomas proclaimed, "My Lord and My God!"
Jesus then gives a blessing to us by blessing those who have not seen, yet have believed! How blessed we are that the Holy Spirit works faith through the Word in us!

Our books of the week are -"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" by William Steig and "Stone Soup" retold by Heather Forest and illustrated by Susan Gaber.

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Schneck

Blog for April 10 and 12

Welcome back! I pray you had a blessed Easter!

This week we are looking under! Underground, under water, under rocks, houses, under everything. We are listening and looking for the letter Uu.

Table activities are playing with dirt and looking for worm, making little habitats for dinosaurs, bugs and fairies, playing with "dirt" playdough and coloring under the table.

Small group activities are looking to see what's under the ground with a plant. We looked at what was above the ground like leaves or flowers and then guessed what was underneath. We saw lot of roots that looked like spiderwebs or strings hanging down under the plants. We will plant a seed under the ground and wait for it to grow.

KDIs of the week are-

Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- We look and pay attention to things we don't normally see, underneath.

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play- As week pretend to build homes for fairies and dinosaurs, pretend worms and bugs are real and use our imaginations!


Jesus Time- This week we hear about how Jesus appeared to the disciples on their way to Emmaus and in the locked room in Jerusalem. The women had seen angels in the tomb and told the disciples what they said- Jesus is Risen!! The disciples still doubted the women's words. Ten of the eleven were locked in a room, fearful of the Romans, despondent over the death of their teacher, hopeless. Two other followers of Jesus were walking to the town of Emmaus, about 7 miles away from Jerusalem. As they walked, they talked about the events of the past week, Jesus triumphal entry, his betrayal, his trial, crucifixion and death. A third man joined them and asked what they were talking about. They  were amazed that he hadn't heard about the news in Jerusalem, so they filled him in. As they walked, he asked them questions about Jesus, leading them from Old Testament prophecy to prophecy, showing how Jesus was the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. They stopped to eat and invited him to sit with them. As he lifted the bread to bless it, their eyes were opened! THEY HAD BEEN TALKING TO JESUS THE WHOLE TIME! He disappeared from their sight and they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what they had seen. Jesus also appeared among the 10 in the locked room. He showed them his hands, feet and side and asked for something to eat to prove he wasn't a ghost. Thomas was missing. Jesus blessed and encouraged his disciples! There is so much more proof, but we believe without seeing. Jesus calls us blessed!!

Books of the week are "Over and Under the Pond" by Kate Messner and "and then it's spring" by Julie Fogliano.

Have a spectacular week!

Mrs. Schneck