Water fun!

This week we are playing with water!

Table activities include water play, watching water be absorbed by cotton balls, dropping different colored water on wax paper and watching "rain" run down gutters.

Small group activities include decorating and floating a sailboat and water color painting.

KDIs of the week are-

Use of resources: Children gather information and formulate ideas about their world.- We look at all the ways water is used and what it becomes, water all around us!

Jesus Time- This week we are reinforcing the fact that Jesus loves us, no matter where we go and what we do. He is with us on vacation, at home and at school.

Books of the week- "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" by Iza Trapani and "Water Can Be..." by Laura Purdie Salas.

Tomorrow- all are welcome to come! Lilly, Katalin, Skylar, Theresa and Maicoll should come at 6:15 so we can get our graduation caps on and lined up! Thanks!! Great to have you graduating! But we'll miss you so!

Have a great week and a great summer!

Mrs. Schneck and Mrs. Oetzel

Ice is nice!

This week we are looking and talking about ice!

Table activities include building with ice, ice and arctic animals, colored ice and ice melt experiments.

Small group activities are painting on ice and painting with ice.

KDIs for the week are-
Drawing conclusions: Children draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations.- what does ice turn into? Why? Questions asked and answered in play.

Experimenting: Children experiment to test their ideas.- What melts ice faster? Salt? Sugar?

 Jesus Time- This week we hear the story of Pentecost. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples went to Jerusalem to wait for the Counselor or Holy Spirit. Ten days after Jesus ascension, the disciples were in a locked room and the sound of a loud wind came, even though there was no wind, and tongues of fire appeared on the head of each disciples. Crowds heard the noise and gathered outside of the house where the disciples were gathered. They had been in Jerusalem for  a festival from many different countries and when the disciples went out to them, they were able to speak in many different languages so the people could understand them. Peter was given boldness to stand before them and tell them about Jesus, about how he had been crucified because of us and how he had risen from the dead. The people wanted to know how they could be saved. He told them to repent and be baptized and over 1000 people became believers that day! The disciples are following Jesus directions and spreading the good news to all people!

Books of the week- "Tacky and the Winter Games" by Helen Lester and "Over in the Arctic Where the Cold Winds Blow" by Marianne Berkes.

We have a guest joining us this week- It is Lydia Schultz, sister of our kindergarten teacher, Maggie Schwartz. Lydia is studying to be a preschool teacher and is doing some of her early field experience with us! Welcome Miss Schultz!

Next week is graduation at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 29th! We do have the day after on Thursday!!!

Next Friday, May 31st,  is a water fun day! Preschoolers are welcome to attend with their parents. The water fun starts at about 10:15 followed by a picnic lunch. Hope to see you there!

Have a nice, not icy, week!

Mrs. Schneck

How does your garden grow?

This week we are learning about plants and what they need to grow!

Table activities include examining seeds with a magnifying glass, playing in dirt, playing with a pretend garden and examining flowers.

Small group activities are making a garden in a glove- we made this today- hang it in a sunny window until the seeds begin to sprout, then you can cut the fingertips off the glove and plant it, cottonball and all. They are all vegetable seeds. On Thursday we will plant outside.

KDIs for the week are-
Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- How does a seed become a plant?

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. - What do leaves and seeds look like up close, inside?

Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment. - How do we work together with plants? 

Books of the week are "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle and "How Does Your Garden Grow?" by Pat Patterson.

Jesus Time- Our story this week takes place 40 days after Easter. Jesus calls his disciples to meet him on a hill outside Jerusalem. There he instructs them to go and tell the good news to the whole world and gives them the comfort that he will always be with them, no matter where they go! After he says this, he is lifted up into heaven. The disciples stand there, watching him, until two angels ask why they are looking up into the sky. They assured the disciples that this same Jesus will come back to take us to heaven someday. The disciples went to wait in Jerusalem until Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost.
We are still waiting for Jesus to come back! He is with us as we do the job he has given us to do- Go tell the good news!

This Wednesday is our Detroit Institute of Art field trip! Please meet there by 9:30. Here is some parking information-

Museum Parking Lot: A lighted, secured parking lot is located east of the DIA. Located on John R. St., south of Kirby St. and north of Warren Ave. Daily parking rate is $7; cash and credit cards are accepted.

Valet: Valet is not currently available.

Wayne State University Parking: Two parking structures operated by Wayne State University are within a short distance of the DIA:

Rackham parking structure is located on Warren Ave, East of Warren and West of Woodward Ave. Credit cards only.

Welcome Center parking structure is located on Putnam St., just west of Woodward Ave. Credit cards only.

Street Parking: The City of Detroit has metered street parking located around the DIA. Parking is limited to a maximum of two hours. The DIA’s Parking Zone is 202. To pay, visit a kiosk or download the “Park Detroit” app(opens in new window).

Hope to see you there! Have a great week!

Mrs. Schneck

Insects

This week we are listening for the sound of Ii and exploring the world of insects.

Table activities include an insect explore, playdoh insects, bug dotters and invite to create paper insects.

Small group activities are observing a cricket in a magnifying jar and making an insect model out of Crayola Model Magic.

KDIs of the week are-

Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- We carefully observed the cricket and noticed their six legs and three body parts.

Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.- Ii is our last letter! We have traced and said the sounds for every letter in the alphabet.

Jesus Time- This week we hear the story of Thomas. Thomas was one of Jesus' disciples, one of the group of 12 closest to Jesus. When Jesus appeared to the group of disciples in a locked room on Easter evening, Thomas was not there. The Bible never tells us why, but he didn't get the chance to see Jesus that day. When Thomas later returned, the disciples excitedly told him that the Lord had appeared to them. Thomas did not believe them. He chalked it up to grief and refused to admit they had really seen the risen Jesus. Thomas stated that he would not believe unless he put his fingers in the nail marks in Jesus' hands and his hand in the spear wound in Jesus' side, he would not believe. A week went by and we find the disciples locked in the upper room again, this time Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared, assured the disciples of his peace and went right up to Thomas. He told Thomas to go ahead, put his fingers in the nail marks, his hand in his side, stop doubting and believe. Thomas immediately fell to his knees and proclaimed, " My Lord and my God." Jesus called him blessed because he believed, but proclaimed that those who have not seen and yet believe are even more blessed! That's us, we haven't seen Jesus, but we believe in him through the work of the Holy Spirit! 

Books of the week are- "Diary of a Spider" by Doreen Cronin, "Some Bugs" by Angela DiTerlizzi and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.

You should have received the attendance slip for the DIA field trip next Wednesday. Please return by Thursday.

Have a super week!
Mrs. Schneck

Transportation

This week we are looking at and exploring all the ways we get from here to there! By land, sea or air!

Table activities include cookie cutter painting with vehicle cookie cutters, playing with different vehicles, boat play and vehicle puzzles.

Small group activities include each child being given a vehicle puzzle to put together and take home and making a vehicle with shapes.

KDIs for the week are-

Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.- How things travel- land, sea or air

Movement: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through movement. - Pretending to be in a car or a train or a plane- different movement for different transportation. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear about two disciples who left Jerusalem the Sunday after Jesus was crucified. They were very discouraged and were talking about all the events that transpired on Good Friday and the strange story they had heard that morning, Jesus was no longer in the tomb! What was going on!? Had someone stolen Jesus' body, was he really alive, like the women said the angel told them? They were so confused. They were walking to the town of Emmaus, a few miles outside of Jerusalem, when someone began to walk with them. He asked what they were talking about and they were surprised he hadn't heard! They told him all about Jesus, how they hoped he was the Messiah. He brought up Old Testament prophecies, showing how Jesus fulfilled each one. The disciples arrived at Emmaus and were entering an inn to have a meal. The man who had joined him seemed as if he were still walking on when they invited him to join them. As they sat down to the meal, the stranger as to bless the food. As he lifted the bread to break and bless it, their eyes were opened, and they realized they had been walking and talking with the risen Jesus!! He disappeared and they left their meal and sprinted all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples they had seen Jesus! It was true! Jesus was alive!!

Books of the week- "Going Places" by Peter and Paul Reynolds, "Where's my T-R-U-C-K?" by Karen Beaumont, "Train Leaves the Station" by Eve Merriman and "Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon.

Have a super week!
Mrs. Schneck

This week we are incorporating the concept of hide and seek in our activities. The class has been very interested in hiding and seeking each other and things of late, so we based this week on their interests.

Table activities include finding hidden objects, looking for items hidden in a ziploc bag full of rice, looking for hidden number bears and hidden picture worksheets and books.

Small group did their first hidden picture page together today, we will also look for a camouflaged chameleon that we take turns hiding.

KDIs for the week are-
Engagement: Children focus on activities that interest them- We are focusing on interests all together.

Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom- We are all working together, taking turns, playing roles as the hider and the seeker.

Jesus Time- This week we hear about Jesus rising from the dead. Jesus had been placed in a borrowed tomb, like a cave, on Good Friday. The women did not have time to properly prepare his body for burial, so they planned to return on Sunday morning, after the Saturday sabbath.
Jesus' enemies were concerned that the disciples might try to steal Jesus' body from the tomb and say he was alive, so they asked Pilate to place guards at the tomb to prevent that from happening. Early in the morning on Sunday, an angel appeared like lightning at the tomb. The guards were so frightened, they fainted and then ran away. When the women came towards the tomb, they remembered the large stone and wondered who would help roll it away for them. As they drew nearer, they saw the stone had already been rolled away. One woman, Mary Magdalene, thought Jesus' body had been stolen and was inconsolable. The other women continued on to the tomb where they also saw an angel who asked why they were looking for the living among the dead. "He is not here, he is risen!" is what the angel said. Meanwhile, Mary finds who she thinks is the gardener and asks him if he knows where they put Jesus' body. The man says, "Mary", she lifts her head and realizes it is Jesus! He is alive!!

Books for the week are "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown, "How to Hide an Octopus" by Ruth Heller and "Little Quack's Hide and Seek" by Lauren Thompson.

For those in the Tuesday/Thursday class who are moving on to kindergarten, we will be having a taste of kindergarten starting this Thursday. Even if they aren't attending Peace, it will give them an idea of what kindergarten may be like. If for any reason you do not want your child to attend, please email me privately.

Thanks!
Have a super week!
Mrs. Schneck

Happy Easter!

This week we are doing activities with an Easter theme and learning about the true celebration of Easter.

Table activities include painting an Easter egg with q-tips, stacking plastic eggs, playing in an Easter sensory bin and making a cross suncatcher.

Small group activities are decorating a cross and playing Easter BINGO.

KDIs for the week are-
History: Children understand past, present, and future.- As we listen to our Bible story about Jesus, it's important to put it in time and recognize what it means for us today.

Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong- Knowing why Jesus had to go to the cross to save us shows us our sins have consequences.

Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings. - Even Jesus had feelings, God does too.  

Jesus Time- This week we are hearing the story of Jesus going to the cross. We talked about sharing a last meal with his disciples where he gave them a new command - To love each other as he had loved them. Jesus also introduced the last supper or communion there. Then Jesus went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to his Father, asking if there were any other way to save the world, but if not , he would do what he needed to do. He was arrested in the garden and taken before the chief priests and leaders and questioned. They took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, where he was mocked and beaten and whipped. Then he was sentenced to death. He died on a cross to save us from our sins. He loved us so much, he took our place and our punishment. We didn't leave him there, we did talk about how he rose from the dead and we will talk about that more next week.

Books for the week are- "What Is Easter?" by Lillie James, "Happy Easter, Little Critter" by Mercer Mayer, and "An Easter Alleluia" by Anita Reith Stohs.

Have a wonderful Easter!

Mrs. Schneck