Go fish!

Math is all around all the time. We are always working with shapes, colors, counting, sorting, patterns, and more!
We played a game (individually) called go fish! We used color chips, cards, and a mat! They had to (much like candy land) pull a card, and add that number of "fish" into the boats (that matched the color card).

Reading Celebration

Our reading challenge week is over, however our love for reading is not! We got to celebrate by having a movie "day" with the ENTIRE PRESCHOOL! Wow, seeing so many friends from other classes, and watching some classics like "Don't let the Pigeon drive the bus," and "How do dinosaurs say goodnight!"

Marshmallow names

I learn better through food, and I found that so do my little Octopi! We created "snowball" names. All year we are constantly doing this with our names: reading, writing, building, and exploring! This is just one of many ways to incorporate their name into our winter theme!

Penguins, Penguins everywhere

One of the winter animals we focused our learning on was penguins! How could we not they are so cute!
We know many facts about penguins, how to walk/waddle like them, and even created our own penguin masterpiece demonstrating body awareness and number recognition.

Graphing

One of the ways that we work on math in preschool is through graphing. The children have to look and color the shape according to the key, count the number of shapes, and write that number or tally how many in the appropriate box.
We did this with a winter hat, shapes, and colors. We practiced counting, and writing numbers up to 4. It sounds like a low number but we start small with such a big task!

Wrapping up winter

Our classroom theme is changing again, but we had one final week to celebrate, and explore with the winter theme.
With the snow day popping up to visit, it gave the children a more authentic way to experience winter. I brought real snow into the sensory table for a day! We continued to explore things that are involved with winter like polar bears and penguins. We continued to develop our math skills and really worked on color by number (such a great activity to do at home), and graphing.
We will continue to develop our graphing and estimation skills into the next theme!

Winter

We have not yet finished with our winter theme. This week we are exploring with the following:
-the letter K
-the story of "The Hat," by Jan Brett (she also wrote our mitten story too)
-alphabet mystery box
-marshmallow names
-first graphing experience with the hat connection to the story
-scoop and count marshmallow math
-letters and sounds in academic choice

Here is so much winter fun pictures from the classroom exploration:

Preschool is a busy place

So many things happen on a day to day basis. So many centers to explore. The children always have the option to explore, play, and learn in each center that is open. We take the time at the start of the year to really dive into the rules, how to play, and how to take care of our environment.
These are some daily favorites :)

Alphabet practice with connecting alligators 

reading is good for the soul

sticking with the times, always have to play Ipad with a friend

cutting practice is available everyday

sometimes just listening to a good book

more alphabet practice

snack is a great time to catch up with friends

playdough, floam, bubber, and cutting all helps fine tune our fine motor skills

light table building

art center

a building for the books

tric trac for turn taking, and number recognition

snowmen button math

Shellby's snack house for number practice

counting fish

the light table always has great construction

buddy ipad time