Our exploration and the creating of patterns continues …..  On Monday we explored patterns in Library, looking at and finding patterns in the songs we sing before we take out books. 

In our class, we have worked with Clay, making beautiful patterns by printing with dinosaurs using their feet, their bodies and their spikes! We have also used square counters and teddy bear counters.  Students also used the actual clay by rolling it, making little balls, shaping it into different shapes to create more, interesting patterns.  We have continued building on our knowledge of the ABAB and ABCABC patterns.  This coming week we will explore more patterns and find creative ways to build them.  We will also be working together with our buddies on Wednesday, making patterns using shapes.  We are learning that shapes and patterns work together.  Our exploring continues this week …

Have a wonderful week ahead and please remember to come join us for the ES Celebration of the Arts on Friday morning, 26th April,  in the CAC at 8:15am.  

“Play turns out to be so stunningly essential to childhood, it’s like love, sunshine, & broccoli all juiced together”  Lenore Skenazy.

Patterns all around us … this is our new unit and we have have started looking at the many patterns all around us including the beautiful patterns often printed on the fabric of our clothes.  Our focus this week has been the ABAB pattern and the ABCABC pattern as these are the two we are most familiar with.  Each day, when we sing our goodbye songs, our meteorologist for the day creates either an AB pattern or an ABC pattern.  We will be learning more patterns in the weeks to come and maybe adding these pattern options to our goodbye song 🙂

We are also looking at and learning more about shapes as they are often used to create patterns and they go hand in hand with patterns and our current unit.

Students have used different manipulatives to create their own unique patterns.  They have also been encourage to mix different types of manipulatives, such as beads and counters and dinosaurs.  Patterns should extend further than just alternating colors.  They should include mixed patterns, different textures and varied sized objects, allowing for greater creativity and giving the students the opportunity to develop and grow their creativity.

We had our second trip out into the forest at Tasok.  It was a fun time together exploring and looking for pretty leaves, seeds, pods, feathers, insects and learning abut the hidden, beautiful world tucked away in among the trees and along the trails.

We recently transformed our loft room into a hospital for people and a hospital for animals.  Students are able to dress up as either a doctor, a vet, an animal (who might be sick), a mommy taking her child to the doctor …. They can also play the part of the cashier or pharmacist … the options are endless.  We have had 2 visitors, both with urgent need of some medical care 🙂   They received many shots, some bandaging, medicine, their hearts and lungs were listened to and they both left feeling a lot better! We also had a visit from our school nurse.  What an awesome experience!

Dear Parents,

We have had three wonderful weeks back already.  Our time together has been spent exploring, building, counting, painting, sharing about our holidays and slowly welcoming our friends back.  We have also started our next unit, The Great Outdoors and been on a nature walk.  We will be learning more about nature, focusing on plants and the smaller animals and insects we find here in the beautiful Tasok forests and gardens.

Enjoy  the pictures of our little inquirers and explorers, and have a wonderful weekend,

Ms V.

“The best classrooms and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky” – Margaret McMillan

On Monday, Mr Chaney came and read a story to us.  The story was called ‘Decibella” and was about a girl who always shouts her thoughts, ideas and feelings.  Her real name is Isabella, but she has earned the name Decibella because she is always so loud! We spoke about 4 of the voices she learns about: whisper, table-talk (our inside voice), strong speaker and outside voice.  In Preschool 2 we continue to practice our inside voice which we have linked to a color – it is our blue voice – a softer voice which also shows respect towards others who are engaging in different activities. The book is by Julia Cook.