Cool Water! Water, Water!

For our last packet we are playing and experimenting with water-

In this packet you will find-

• a squirt gun- fun for little fingers
• a spray bottle- more fun for hands
• food coloring for a variety of play
• a small baggie of water beads, just put them in a small bowl and add some water and wait- overnight is best- the will swell and become gel like- fun to play with. They can also be dried out and used again.
• wax paper and paper towels and cotton balls- tape the wax paper to a table and use the food coloring to make different colors, use the pipette to squeeze different colors and lay the paper towel over them to make some absorbant art work. Use the cotton balls to absorb different colors too, watch as the color moves up the cotton ball and then use your pincer finger muscles to squeeze them out
• water cycle baggie- add some blue tinted water and tape the baggie in a sunny window and watch the water cycle take place in a bag
• foam trays, liquid watercolor and baby oil to make an oil and water print. Choose what color of the liquid water colors to use, add enough water so it covers the bottom of the tray, use the pipette to squeeze bubbles of oil into the water and gently lay and pickup paper to get your print.
• bubbles and tensile bubble wand- make triangular and square 3-D bubbles
• a big piece of paper and watercolor paints to make an outside watercolor painting
• a tall, thin, clear glass to make a "lava lamp" - make colored water and pour in the glass, add clear baby oil and put the glass on a foam tray to catch overflow, they break up the "alka seltzer" tablets to make the lava bubbles
• three clear cups to try other suggested food color experiments in

For Jesus time this week- pick your favorite Bible story and review it- see if you can tell it to Mom or Dad or big or little sibling! It's all about sharing what you know!!!

It was such a huge blessing to be your preschool teacher and I will miss you all very, very much!! If you are ever in Monroe, give me a text and I will meet you somewhere to play!! God's blessings on your summer!!

Mrs. Schneck

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine!

This week our activities have to do with summer and with that wonderful summer breeze!

Our activities are-

• Popsicle decorating- three popsicle shapes with stickers and popsicle sticks
• Pinwheel decorating- a blank pinwheel to color and put together-
• Kite decorating- a real kite with pictures to color, put together and fly!
• A wind chime to color or paint- if you have paint used to make suncatchers or permanent markers would be the best to use
• Watermelon rip art
• A paper kite with a tail to add beads on for decoration
• A paper sailboat to color and cut out and a box of crayons. If you color it with crayons thoroughly, it will be somewhat waterproof and you can tape in the sail on the straw and sail it!
• A sun visor to decorate
• A paper bag wind sock to decorate and hang up

Jesus Time- This week our story is about a disciple named Philip and a man from Ethiopia that he met and shared the Good News of Jesus with. An angel came to Philip and told him to go to a certain place on the desert road where he would see a chariot drive by. Philip went there and a chariot came along with a man who was a government official from Ethiopia in it. The man was coming from Jerusalem and had gone there to worship. As he was riding, he was reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. He said, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" He invited Philip to ride along with him for a while and discuss the Scriptures with him. Philip used the prophecies in Isaiah to tell him about Jesus-“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.

The Ethiopian wanted to know who these passages were talking about and Philip explained that it was Jesus. He told the man who Jesus was and what he had come to do. The Ethiopian then had the chariot stop by the side of the road and asked to be baptized. Philip and the man went down into the water and the man was baptized and then, the Holy Spirit took Philip away. The man went on his way rejoicing and Philip continued to share God's Word with others. 

We never know who God can put in our path to share His Good News with. Jesus is always with us, even in these crazy times.  What comfort to share with others who are scared and lonely. We can share and show His love through what we say and do.

Next week will be our last packets for the school year :(. Keep watching for graduation announcement and news on what's up for next year!! We will try our hardest to get together over the summer!!

What do I want to be?

What do I want to be when I grow up?

This week's activity packet includes several dramatic play kits that students can use to pretend to be-

A Veterinarian or Groomer- get out your stuffed animals and give them a check up or brush their hair

A Restaurant worker- pretend to work in a restaurant as a hostess, server, chef or waiter

A Librarian- Check out books or stock shelves or be the storyteller to your dolls or siblings!

A Construction worker- get out the signs to warn of construction, make sure you have your tools and see what you can build or repair

A Postal Worker- deliver  or sort the mail. Make some mail for friends and make sure it has a stamp!

I'm sure you can pretend to be lots of other things too!!

You also have a flip book of Community Helpers to color and pretend to be.

Jesus Time- This week we hear about the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples on Pentecost. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples went to wait in Jerusalem for the comforter to come. Many people from all over the known world were in Jerusalem to celebrate the "Feast of Weeks" which takes place 50 days after Passover. All the disciples were in a locked room when the sound of a loud wind came and filled the whole house. Then something that looked liked tongues of fire came and settled on each person's head. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never learned. People were drawn to the house because of the noise and the disciples came out. Peter began to speak to them, each person hearing him in their own language,  telling them about Jesus and that Jesus was crucified for them and their sins. The crowd asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized and about 3000 people believed in Jesus that day! The mission work had begun. Those 3000 people went back to where they were from and told others about Jesus. Jesus work and ministry was being shared throughout the world!

This week I am sending a graduation cap home with those who will be moving on to kindergarten. Usually, we take a picture of each child and Mrs. Oetzel photoshops it into one class picture. I am asking if you will please take a photo and email it to Mrs. Oetzel at koetzel@atpeacewithgod.org.

I am still hopeful for an early June date that we can do a parking lot graduation one by one!! And a zoo field trip in the summer!

Have a super week!!

Yy is for yarn.

This week we are listening for the sound of Yy and playing with yarn. Yy is our last letter- we've done them all-
 Aa-apple, Bb-ball, Cc-camping, Dd-dinosaur, Ee-eggs, Ff-fish, Gg-gingerbread, Hh-holidays, Ii-ice cream, Jj-Jesus, Kk-kangaroos, koalas, Ll-letters, Mm-magnets, Oo-opposites, Pp-pumpkins, Qq-queens, Rr-reptiles, Ss-superheroes, Tt-tools, Uu-upside down, Vv-Valentines, Ww-winter woods, Xx-box, Yy-yarn and Zz-zoo! Amazing!! Jog your memory and see if you can remember something about each week!

This week our yarn activities are-

• a Yy to trace 
• yarn to paint and play with- three snack bags with paint-I would suggest outside-it'll be messy!
• yarn to sew with on a plastic canvas
• yarn to wrap a stick
• yarn to wrap a cozy pet
• yarn process art-white school glue and watercolors needed- I did send some home a while back, if you don't have it, let me know at pick-up and I'll give you some!
• yarn to practice cutting 
• sticky name to make with yarn
• yarn activity sheets, some of these are a little difficult, but with almost kindergarteners, you can try them!
• The book, "Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen- yours to keep. I love this book and it really shows a child making the best of a difficult situation.

Jesus Time- This week our story is the Ascension. After Jesus' resurrection, the Bible tells us that he stayed on earth, encouraging his disciples, continuing to teach them and making them stronger in their faith. When 40 days had come, Jesus met his disciples (more than just the 11) , on a hill outside Jerusalem. While he was standing there, he encouraged his disciples, let them know that a helper (the Holy Spirit) was on it's way to them and he gave them a job to do- Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I will be with you where ever you go, to the very ends of the earth!

      After that, Jesus was lifted up into the heavens. The disciples watched him go until he was hidden by a cloud. Two angels were among the disciples and they asked them what they were looking at. They reassured Jesus' followers that he would come back someday, much like they had seen him go. 

    The disciples, still full of worry and doubt, waited in Jerusalem for the promised helper to come. 

    We wait, we worry, we doubt, when will things be back to normal? I struggle too, just wishing things could be different. I know that your kids will remember this time, maybe not like we adults do. It will be interesting to reminisce in future years and hopefully, they will remember the good and the time spent with one another- and so will we!

Love and miss you so, so much!!

This week or next, I would love to do a Google meet with each class, we can do sharing  and at least see each other's faces! Please email me and let me know if this is a possibility for you and what email I should use to invite you at Mrs. Schneck's email

Xx is for boxes.

This week's theme is the sound of the letter Xx and boxes.

In your packet you have-

• a box, square, to decorate anyway you would like, you could make it a die or a window, use your imagination
• a gift box with the materials to make a name necklace
• a box with your name in foam letters to decorate with a surprise inside
• the book "Not a Box" which is yours to keep
• activity sheets to go with "Not a Box"
• Box Memory game- different kinds of boxes and people who work with boxes
• a couple flattened boxes to color and tape, so you can make little boxes
• the big box that all these come in can be decorated- there is a gallon ziploc bag with things to decorate and a bunny from "Not a Box" to make this "Not a Box" your own.
• An upper case and lower case letter Xx to trace and make the sound

Jesus Time this week is the story of Thomas. Thomas was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. His name Didymus which is mentioned in the Bible means 'twin'. Thomas was not in the locked room with the other disciples on Easter evening. He didn't get the chance to see Jesus or hear the women's testimony that day. He didn't hear the story of the men who were on their way to Emmaus and talked to Jesus. I like to think maybe Thomas was warning his twin brother that trouble may be on the way. All of the disciples were sure they were going to be next to be arrested and maybe even crucified. They were sure the Jewish leaders were looking for them, especially after Jesus' body went "missing". So, when Thomas returned and heard all the stories about Jesus being risen from the dead, he doubted! Why wouldn't he! How could what they were telling him possibly be true? He told them, "Unless I see the nail marks with my own eyes and his side where they pierced him with the spear, I will not believe."

One week later, the disciples were again in a locked room and Jesus did appear. He went right to Thomas and said, "Come, put your fingers in the nail marks, put your hand in my side, stop doubting and believe." And Thomas did, he fell to his knees and proclaimed "My Lord and My God!" Jesus was so glad to see that he believed and then he talked about us! You and Me! He said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, but yet have believed." That's us, we haven't seen Jesus, but we believe. 

We have missed you all soo much and hope that we can have some sort of graduation celebration this summer, even if it is a drive in graduation! I think we'll be able to do something outside. As we get closer to the end of May we'll get something more solid. 

I love putting together activity packets and I love seeing what you're doing on our Peace Lutheran Preschool page! 

More stories coming this week!

Mrs. Schneck

Zz is for zoo!

This week should have been our zoo field trip! Hopefully we will be able to meet at the zoo this summer and enjoy each other's company again!!

Even though we can't go to the zoo, we are going to pretend and play zoo! Some screen time options for zoo tours are the Cincinnati Zoo Home Safaris, San Diego Zoo Kids and others. If you have a good recommendation, please share it!

Our zoo activities for the week are-
- Invite to create an animal- you have received a bag of animal print paper to make into your own animal any way you'd like!
- I Spy Zoo Animals- on this page you need to find out how many of each animal there is on the page and do your best to write the number on the bottom
-Stripe the tiger and the zebra- you have a tiger and zebra, but they are plain, draw or paint stripes, any color you would like
-Sort the animals into their habitats-there are six different habitats and lot of animals. Where are they supposed to live? Answers are on the back of the habitats for the grown ups :)
- Animal puzzles- make six different animals, you can mix them up too!
- Zoo coloring pages, some in the support of the Detroit Zoo
- Sew a cage and make a cage from styrofoam and popsicle sticks- I know that we don't really put animals in cages, but it's fun to make. To sew a cage, use the plastic needle and yarn to make the "bars" of the cage and choose and color one of the animals to put in the cage. To make the styrofoam/popsicle stick cage, each one has an animal and you can use popsicle sticks to press into the styrofoam to make a cage.
- Zz is for zoo- trace Zz and draw your favorite zoo animal
- Sandpaper Zz to trace
-An animal action die to roll and do what animal action comes up

- Paint an animal- let me know if you need watercolors. I have enclosed sheets with animal pictures so you have a model to paint from.
- Have a snack of Animal Crackers!
- Move like the animals in the following videos- I highly suggest just listening :) We have the CD at school - I didn't realize just how old  these are!  Animal Action 1 and Animal Action 2




Jesus Time- This week we have the story of the disciples on their way to Emmaus. Two disciples of Jesus were heading out of town on Easter evening, discussing the events of past week. A third man joined them and asked what they were talking about. They were amazed he hadn't heard about what had happened. They told him about Jesus, his entry on Sunday, his beating and crucifixion on Friday and even that some women said that angels said Jesus was risen. They didn't know what to believe! Jesus patiently went through the Scriptures with them, from the Old Testament prophecies to the New Testament fulfillment and showed how Jesus fulfilled each one. Jesus kept them from recognizing him. As they were stopping for the evening meal, Jesus made that he was continuing on. They invited him to join them and as he broke and blessed the bread, his identity was revealed and he disappeared from sight. They were astonished! They ran back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what they had just seen! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Praying that all continues to go well with you!! Let us know if there is any other assistance you might need at this time!!

See you at packet pick up or drop off!