Fall is Fun

Dear Families,
     Fall is in full swing and so is our tree study.  This week we read the book "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert.
  
We took a leaf walk around the school neighborhood and collected leaves to make our own leaf art.  The children made many different leaf creations.  
     Thank you to all the families that sent in pumpkins and gourds.  The children have enjoyed scrubbing them in the touch table and using a hammer to pound golf tees into a pumpkins.  Some other works involving pumpkins and gourds include; sorting by color,sorting by texture (bumpy or smooth), and putting gourds in size order.  We also have a bucket balance for the children to try to balance gourds and rocks.  Next week we will be exploring the insides of pumpkins and gourds.  
     As part of our tree study, we have been talking about leaves.  We have compared different types of leaves and discussed the veins on the leaves and looked at the veins in our arms.  We also have a leaf rubbing work on the shelf.
     Last week, we did our first writing journal page.  Each month, the children do at least 1 journal page related to our theme.  Last week, the children drew a Halloween picture and then "wrote" about their picture.  This activity relates to the Ohio Early Learning Standard - Writing Application and Composition: "With modeling and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating and emergent writing to tell a story, to express ideas, and to share information about an experience or topic of interest."  We will continue to develop our writing skills through a variety of activities this year.  We will discuss your child's current stage of writing development at conferences.  

REMINDERS...

• Parent-teacher conferences - 10/30, 10/31, 11/6, and 11/7.
• Book Fair in the school library - 10/28-10/31.
• Picture Re-take Day - 11/3.  If your child was not here for picture day in September and you need an order form, please let me know.
• No School - 11/4, 11/11, 11/26-11/28.

*We are in need of a few more small vases for the flower arranging work. 

As always, feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns.

-Ms.Katie