Friday, October 21, 2011

An Apple a Day

Here are pictures of some of the activities we did this week. We also read a lot of apple books and sang some apple songs. We read a book today about Johnny Appleseed and how he planted beautiful apple trees all across the land!  Our favorite apple songs was:

Who ate the apple from the apple tree?

____________ at the apple from the apple tree.
Who me?
Yes You?
Couldn't Be.
Then Who?
(new kid)
Did that sound familiar? :) Lots of songs at preschool are just new versions of other songs.

The pictures are in a very random order and on Friday night I lack the attention span to fix them. Here they are!

Adding oats to the apple crisp
You know apples are ripe when you can cut them with a plastic knife

Mixing (don't worry we washed our hands before)
Stamping on Apple Trees


Every tree is a little different. 
Decorating Apples


All sorts of apples (and pears)
The serious business of baking
Its impossible to take a picture around here without someone wanting to smile for the camera!
Our October pattern is Apple Apple Pear, Apple Apple Pear
Have a great weekend. 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Using our OWN imaginations!

After a lot of debate and teacher discussion we have decided to create a new rule at Inch By Inch. We are now encouraging the children to use their own imaginations to come up with their own characters and play scenarios, instead of reinacting those that they have seen on television, movies or video games. This means no more of the recently popular Super Mario and Power Rangers, but also eliminates Care Bears and any other movie or show.  There has been a lot of play going on that involves weapons, hurting, but mostly leaving kids out (because they are bad guys).

We have explained to the children that these are somebody elses ideas and stories and they should create their own characters and stories.  I was a little nervous how they would react to this new rule.  Would they not know what to do with themselves? Would they get sneaky and only play these games when they thought we were not looking? 

I was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Suddenly the "bad guys" were all gone  from the playground. It was like someone zapped them away with super powers! The kids were all playing together, being friendly, using their imaginations. I had my preschoolers back! 

Stay tuned for next months superhero theme! They are very into superheroes right now!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Leaf Peeping

Last week we spent lots of time collecting and looking at leaves.  Also, singing and reading about them.  We also learned about Evergreens, which don't lose their leaves, because they stay "green for ever."

Our favorite Leaf Song:

(tune of wheels on the bus)

The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, orange and brown, orange and brown
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown
All around the town.

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down all around the town!

More verses
The leaves on ground go swish swish swish




Helping Dana
Looks at this one
Red

Sorting and Classifying

Memory Match