September 19, 2018, Wednesday

Apples here, apples there, apples everywhere!  We have started our apple week a bit early.  Our after school trip to the apple orchard, followed by our Applesauce making day opened the door for our apple discussions.  As preschool should be, you have to go where the children's interests lead you.  Today we read about Johnny Appleseed and learned that he was a real person that loved nature and did a lot of sharing to spread apples trees all around our country.  The story spoke of his habit of wearing a pot on his head.  We giggled at the notion.  Well, of course, we had to try that ourselves.  Everyone took a very silly turn to wear a pot on their head.

Our morning workshop tables were a water table duck pond, apple investigation table, and apple counting table.  Our group really enjoyed dramatic play and math room activities in the morning.  Free choice is terrific!

At morning meeting we read a poem about being classroom friends.  You will have a chance to read it in our Shapes class book that we are creating.  It is just about finished!  We did an activity preparing for our next publication titled "Whose smile is Whose?" The children pulled a shape out of a basket.  We then created partners by matching the shapes drawn from the basket.  What fun!  The children came forward, we learned how to shake hands, and say "Howdy partner"!  These partners will set about taking pictures of each other's smiles.  Hmmmm this will be a very interesting activity.  With the magic of technology, we will make the smile photos very large on a page.  You will have to guess whose smile it is!  It will not be easy, but we know it will be silly and fun.

Snack was mixed vegetables, pretzels, hummus and bananas.  We celebrated our friend learning English.  One of his first English words he shared with us...BANANA!  Hooray!  You have to admit, he picked a pretty fun word to be among his firsts.

Our day was so wonderful, this blog just keeps getting longer.  Our centers were reading APPLES and investigating apples.  We talked all about the parts...stem, flesh, core...a bunch of great vocabulary there.  Ok, we tasted them too.  We paint stamped the apple star.  Did you know there was a star inside of an apple?  What a great shape to find inside there!

Outdoor recess was particularly exciting today.  We often celebrate when police and fire persons ride by the school yard.  They usually flash lights, beep, and wave.  But today, the police officer actually stopped and visited with the boys and girls.  How special and kind.  We have a grand photo of that.

Our day ended repeating centers in different groups and we ventured outdoors to feel the glorious breeze. Thank goodness we had a break from the humidity.  It made a difference in the way everyone felt.

Let me end by extending a heartfelt thank you to you ALL for the wonderful family tie creations.  The children are really noticing them and sharing them together on our bulletin board.  This is a teacher's dream.  The talking and sharing together is fantastic.