South Boston Catholic Academy

For the past three weeks preschool children have been visiting a variety of different farms[via the internet]. We are learning about how farmers work so hard to give us all kinds of foods and clothing.We visited a dairy farm and watch the farmer milk his cows;we saw pigs and pigletts ;the chicken house and even counted as a worker collected the eggs.The children also were very excited to see a sheep farm ; we even watched a sheep sheering.It’s certainly alot of work being a farmer. Last week our theme was the four food groups. We talked about were we get our dairies. The children  all remembered their visit to the dairy farm and could say were dairy foods like eggs, butter,milk,yogurt,ice cream etc. come from. As for meats that was a little harder for them to recall. Fruits were easy ;they all knew were fruits come from and how we get them.Our last group, the grain group, was the hardest . Most of the children when asked were do we get grain answered from cows[ you can tell they are city kids] We watched a great video about how grain is grown and harvested. We even saw how the grain is made into flour[it's just so interesting] This week is about the air and pollution .Please ask them about a trick with a bottle and water. We are having a great time discovering our world and all it’s BLESSINGS. Believe me the greatest blessings  of all are your children!

children seeing the distance of the Planets from the Sun

children designing their own Planets

Preschool is having a great time learning about Outer Space. We dicussed and experimented with gravity, we talked and demonstrated different therories of the effect of gases on a variety of objects. The children are realy smart!!  They were able to imagine what would happen if the air around an object was heavier than the object itself. Later we talked about the Planets,  their relationship to the Sun . We were able to show what the distance of the Planets looks like from the Sun. The children designed their own Planets, drew what their Planet would look like and named them. We have a Princess Planet, a Car Planet,a Vacation Planet, a Balloon Planet just to name a few. No lesson is complete without a game ; so we played HOT_HOT SUN!! Our first week of Outer Space was a hit.

The letter dD has been alot of fun to write, to sound, and to discover the many words that begin with it’s sound. For the last two weeks we have done worksheets that recognize the letter dD; this allows the children some fine motor skill control and teaches them how to better hold their pencils. The children had a great time making DONUTS. They rolled the Dough and sprinkled it with cinnamon.The teacher’s job was to bake and everyone else’s  job was to eat (that was the best job of all). We had a few sideline activities as well. One of the activities was the children put on a circus. There were tightrope walkers, lion tamers, clowns and lovely ballerinas -  no shy performers. The letter dD was a Delight to Discover. Our next week and a half will be busy with the Grandparents Appreciation Day on the 18th and preparation for Thanksgiving . Please continue to Encourage your children and Engage them in letter discovery. Believe me we thoroughly ENJOY them!!!

For the past two weeks preschool has been learning about the letter C .We have traced the letter C with Candy Corn[much of which missed the paper and landed in their mouths.We have thought of a variety of words that begin with the letter C,Color ,Crayon,Cry,Cat ,Crown. Clown is another word the children came up with so we cut out a variety of different shapes and created an aray of unique looking clowns.This activity allowed for increased fine motor skill development and shape recognition. The children enjoy learning and are doing well at remaining focused but I would have to say that "M" st. park remains the favorite activity[and I agree!!} Next week should be a Delite as we Discover the letter D.

For the past week and a half we have been playing with the letter Bb. First we made beautiful beaded bracletts.{moms I hope you have had a chance to try them on}.This was a great practice in eye-hand coordination and patience. Later the children traced the letter B with red kidney beans.This activity allows for hand control,agility with a pencil,memorization of the letter form. With Halloween just around the corner;we had a great time creating some original looking pumpkins.{we needed a little diversion from the letter Bb] As a class we talked about a variety of B words Ball, Balloon,Baby Bee,Butterfly,ect.we practiced writing the letterBb and how to hold a pencil correctly. Our next investigation was into “nocturnal animals” We discussed what the word nocturnal meant and listed many animals with that trait, Mr, Bat was very popular so we made BATS, We plan to finish our two week visit with the letter Bb withsome cutting and pasting of pictures that start with the Bb soundand reading the story Brown Bear. At the end we will send home a B BOOK Remember to contnue to have your child look for letters  EVERYWHERE.We are having a wonderful time with your children They are CREATIVE and oh so CUTE!!! I guess you know what our next letter is ?

Preschool has been having fun the past week and a half investigating the letter Aa. We begain with creating an APPLE book,which allowed the children to experience measuring and coloring. Next the kids tried their hands at baking; the result was delicious APPLE muffins. After much preparation;preschool and many wonderful parents went Apple picking(we had a great time). This week our concentration has been on developing a writing skill.We worked on recognition of the letter Aa and tried a variety of Aa words ,Astronant,Alligator ,Acorn(the kids gave me these words, pretty cool } They decorated a large letter A while staying in the pattern of the lines .This develops their fine motor skill and offers them some physical control.Sounds like they have done a lot and they have and they are having FUN. Next week or two we will be doing the letter Bb,so please remember to use as many Bb words as you can with your child. Remember we think your child is BEAUTIFUL!