Blog for May 29 and 31

This week we are talking about kites and wind. We are looking forward to a fun summer full of great activities!!

Table activities this week include stringing beads on a kite tail, decorating our own kites, playing with mini parachutes and designing pinwheels.

Our small group activities are using the power of our own wind to- blow cotton balls and other items across a tray with a straw and paint with wind.

KDIs for the week are-

Experimenting: Children experiment to test their ideas.- How hard or how soft to blow? Where to blow? Testing out our ideas to fly our kites too!

Music: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through music. - Flying our kites and dancing to music this week. 

Jesus Time- Our Jesus Time this week was a picture led review of all the stories that we have heard this year. From creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, the tumbling walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, The Three men in the Fiery Furnace, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, the shepherds and wise men, Jesus and the miracles he did, talking to Zaccheus, coming into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, dying for our sins on Good Friday, rising again on Easter, ascending into heaven and the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit and telling others about Jesus, to Jesus leading us through his Word to heaven too!

Books of the week- "Days with Frog and Toad"- the Kite Story by Arnold Lobel, "Bringing the Outside In" by Mary McKenna Siddals.

Our last week! Enjoy your summer vacation!! Have lots of great experiences and read, read, read!!

Join us for preschool graduation on Wednesday, May 30th at 6:30pm!

Hopefully you received the information on Water fun day on Friday- all are welcome from 10:30-noon, parents have to accompany their preschooler.

God bless your summer!!
Mrs. Schneck

Blog for May 22 and 24

Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! No, I didn't teach your kiddos that poem this week, but we are playing with ice cream this week! And the letter Ii.

Table activities include ice cream cone printing, playing with cotton ball ice cream and on Thursday, weather permitting, our morning table time will be outside playing ice cream shop with baking soda ice cream.

Small group activities are counting and gluing on scoops of ice cream on our cones and on Thursday we will make ice cream.

KDIs for the week are-

Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.- Numbers are counted and identified daily.

Counting: Children count things. -Counting scoops and sprinkles and worms and friends!

Jesus Time- In this week's Jesus time, we review the stories we have heard throughout the year and talk about how Jesus is our good shepherd.  We are the sheep, sometimes not very smart, moving along as a group, sometimes we leave those in trouble behind, we go places or do things that can get us into trouble, just like sheep. I talked about seeing a herd of sheep being chased by wild dogs, the sheep didn't fight, just left the weaker ones behind and ran away. Jesus comes are chases off the dogs and helps those in trouble. He leads us in the right way to go, places that are safe that will keep us close to Him. He goes to great lengths to save us, even giving up His own life! What a shepherd we have who will never leave us or forsake us!

Books of the week are- "Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop" by Margret and H.A. Rey and "Bear Counts" by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman.

This Friday is Literacy Night! Come read in a hammock or in a tent. Pick out some different books, get information on Summer Reading programs at your local libraries and have a snack! From 6:30-8:00 pm.

The four year olds are having their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 30th at 6:30 pm. Threes are not required to be there, but are certainly welcome to come!! It should take about an hour, including cake and punch!

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Schneck

Blog for May 8 and 10

We are playing with boxes this week and listening for the letter Xx.

Table activities include playing with and stacking boxes, coloring inside and outside of boxes and pretending with a mailbox!

Small group activities are coloring a box, encouraged to use our imagination as to what kind of box it might be, a lunch box? computer box? box for our dolls?. We are going to put something in a box and wrap it the best we can to give to mom for Mother's Day.

KDIs for the week are-

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play.-Using our imagination coloring and playing with boxes.

Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles. -Carefully stacking boxes to make the tallest tower we can takes balance and a steady hand!

 Jesus Time- This week we hear the difficult story of Stephen. Stephen was a helper in the early church, there were so many new Christians, the disciples appointed some men to help them take care of those who needed help and Stephen was one of those men. He was full of the Holy Spirit and boldly told about his Savior. Some of the church's enemies threatened him if he did not stop sharing the news about Jesus. They had him arrested and he boldly went point by point through the Old Testament showing them where they were wrong and that Jesus was the Messiah. They did not like what they were hearing and they got so angry that they took Stephen out to be stoned. As they were throwing rocks at him to kill him, God gave him a glimpse of Jesus sitting at God the Father's right hand. The enemies of the church certainly didn't want to hear about that! Stephen also echoed Jesus words when he asked for his enemies to be forgiven. He was bold and courageous in his faith and stayed faithful to Jesus even in death. 

Books of the week- "Not a Box" by Antoinette Portis, "What is Round?" by Rebecca Dotlich and "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson.

Friday, May 25th is a Preschool Literacy Night. Hopefully we will be outside! Come read a book in a tent or hammock or laying on a blanket in the shade! If you have any books you'd like to swap out, bring them and we will have a book swap. Snacks and information on summer reading programs in the area provided!

Preschool graduation is on May 30th at 6:30. The three year old class is welcome to come, but is not required. It will last about an hour, including a cake and punch reception.

Next week I am going to be in Alaska once again, this time for my son's high school graduation. Mrs. Dostal and Mrs. Oetzel will be teaching! I'm sure you will have alot of fun!

Have a terrific week!
Mrs. Schneck

Blog for May 1 and 3

This week we are talking about camping and the letter Cc.

Our table activities include playing in tents, small world camping with playmobile, making a pretend camp fire.

Our small group activities are making a lantern and decorating a backpack to use on our camping expidition if you come to Camp Killarney.

Our KDIs for the week are-

 Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts.- We are working on this by modeling how to resolve conflicts- like when a child wants a toy another child has, instead of grabbing it or insisting on having it, we modeling asking, "May I have that toy when you are finished with it?" 

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play- We are doing pretend play in the camping realm this week.

Jesus Time- Last week we heard about Jesus' ascension. Before he ascended, Jesus told his disciples to wait for a special gift in Jerusalem. The disciples waited, probably in the same locked room they hid in after Jesus' death. They were alone, they spent time in prayer and conversation. Ten days after Jesus' ascension, there was a noise like a loud wind- everyone heard it, not just the disciples. Then what looked like tongues of fire appeared on the disciples heads and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages that they hadn't learned before so they could tell others about Jesus in their own language. Peter went out and preached about Jesus, what had happened to him, whose fault it was (ours) and what Jesus death and resurrection meant. Over 3000 believed and repented that day. The Holy Spirit also comes to us through God's Word and creates faith in our hearts! Thank you Jesus for sending your Spirit to be with us as we tell others about you!

Books of the week- "Charlie Goes Camping" by Carrie Weston, "Duck Tents" by Lynne Berry and "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen.

Field Trip to Camp Killarney next Wednesday, May 9th. Please have the attendance sheet in by next Tuesday, May 8th.

Outside Literacy Night on Friday, May 25th from 6:30- 8:00. Come enjoy some snacks, book swap, information on summer reading programs and information on reading out loud to your kids! If you have any books you'd like to donate, drop them off at preschool anytime.

Have a super week!

Mrs. Schneck

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