Well it was a super short week this week thanks to mother nature. Hopefully we can get back into our normal routine soon!
Today Ms. Pam , a naturalist from Brecksville Nature Center, visited the preschool classroom. She talked to us about how animals stay warm in the winter. She brought lots of cool animal furs and other animal evidence for us to look, touch, and feel. She had a turtle shell, a beaver head skeleton, deer fur, coyote fur, squirrel fur, and deer antlers.
If you are looking for something to do tomorrow....come visit the Land Lab with us. If you didn't sign up...it's not too late. We would love to see everyone there! Most of the the activities will be indoors and we will have a short hike outside for those who are willing to brave the elements. You may park right along side the Board of Education building so you have a short walk. We will have hot cocoa and treats for afterwards. See you there at 9:00 AM!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Green Slime Directions
I posted the green slime directions last week (made without Borax) but here is another set of directions. I have had many requests for it!
Have fun!!
Bartholomew’s Oobleck Recipe
Elmer's Glue and Borax
combine to make Oobleck or GAK or is it Flubber?
Is it a
solid? Is it a liquid? Just what is this slimy, stringy, rubbery stuff? This
variation on slime will probably remind you of a similar substance found in
many toy stores. This is the most popular version of "slime" among
teachers because it's so easy to make and serves as a great visual tool for
introducing students to the properties of polymers.
Materials
Elmer’s Glue® (8 oz bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All)
Borax (a powdered soap found in the grocery store)
Large mixing bowl
Plastic cup (8 oz size works well)
Spoon
Measuring cup
Food coloring
Here’s the
easiest way to make a big batch Elmer’s Slime. The measurements do not have to
be exact but it’s a good idea to start with the proportions below for the first
batch. Just vary the quantities of each ingredient to get a new and interesting
batch of goo.
This recipe is based on using a brand new 8 ounce bottle of
Elmer’s Glue. Empty the entire bottle of glue into a mixing bowl. Fill the
empty bottle with warm water and shake (okay, put the lid on first and then
shake). Pour the glue-water mixture into the mixing bowl and use the spoon to
mix well.
Go ahead… add a drop or two of food coloring.
Measure 1/2 cup of warm water into the plastic cup and add a
teaspoon of Borax powder to the water. Stir the solution – don’t worry if all
of the powder dissolves. This Borax solution is the secret linking agent that
causes the Elmer’s Glue molecules to turn into slime.
While stirring the glue in the mixing bowl, slowly add a little
of the Borax solution. Immediately you’ll feel the long strands of molecules
starting to connect. It’s time to abandon the spoon and use your hands to do
the serious mixing. Keep adding the Borax solution to the glue mixture (don’t
stop mixing) until you get a perfect batch of Elmer’s slime. You might like
your slime more stringy while others like firm slime. Hey, you’re the head
slime mixologist – do it your way!
When you’re finished playing with your Elmer’s slime, seal it up
in a zipper-lock bag for safekeeping.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Ears, Eyes, Hands, Nose, and Mouth
This week we are learning about body parts and the five senses. Along with the song Head, Tummy, Knees, and Toes we will be learning letter Nn for nose.
Eric Carle is a great author and we will be reading another one of his stories this week: From Head to Toe. Listen and follow along with this video of the story.
Everyone loves the song Head Shoulder Knees and Toes....we will do a version call Head Tummy Knees and Toes. Try it at home with your child, try the classic way or mix it up and create your own version. It is great way to teach your child different body parts. Three year olds should know the basics but try adding shoulders, chin, heel, ankle, elbow, wrists, hips for the older kiddos.
One of our activities this week is making Oobleck....playing with the green slime is always a hit! Check out how to make it here.
Another fun one is popsicle painting to make scratch n sniff paintings. This is simple yet lots of fun! You can make your own smelly paint at home. You can also freese the "paint" to make popsicles so you don't have to worry about spills. Check out how to make it here.
**Happy Birthday to Ellie and Gavin this week!
Eric Carle is a great author and we will be reading another one of his stories this week: From Head to Toe. Listen and follow along with this video of the story.
Everyone loves the song Head Shoulder Knees and Toes....we will do a version call Head Tummy Knees and Toes. Try it at home with your child, try the classic way or mix it up and create your own version. It is great way to teach your child different body parts. Three year olds should know the basics but try adding shoulders, chin, heel, ankle, elbow, wrists, hips for the older kiddos.
One of our activities this week is making Oobleck....playing with the green slime is always a hit! Check out how to make it here.
Another fun one is popsicle painting to make scratch n sniff paintings. This is simple yet lots of fun! You can make your own smelly paint at home. You can also freese the "paint" to make popsicles so you don't have to worry about spills. Check out how to make it here.
**Happy Birthday to Ellie and Gavin this week!
Looking Ahead:
Info was sent home last week about the Teddy Bear Picnic on Feb 4th. If you would like to volunteer but were not on the list, please let me know. Please mark your calendar as a reminder to send you child to school with a teddy bear that day! I will have extras in anyone needs one but the kids really enjoy bringing in theirs. It will be a "BEARY" special day!
Family Fun Friday Info
FAMILY FUN FRIDAY #3
ANIMAL TRACKS AT THE
LAND LAB
Friday, January 31st, 2014
9:00-10:30
The Land Lab is located right here in Independence. It is a temperate deciduous forest
with a running stream that the High School Biology Club
maintains and uses for educational studies. There is a large classroom behind
the Board of Education that is filled with lots of CRITTERS. Some High School
students and Mr. Maretka (Biology teacher) will be putting on a special program
for our preschoolers. Students will learn how to
investigate the lives of animals through the tracks and other signs they leave
behind. Making animal track prints, created a book, and a nature hike to hunt
for animal tracks are included in this fun winter event!
IMPORTANT
INFO:
- Arrive no later than 8:50.
- Important things to remember:
- Dress for the weather. The majority of activity is inside but we will go for a hike through the Land Lab to look for animal tracks.
- It’s FREE!
Directions:
Independence Land Lab
located in the Board of Education Building
7733 Stone Road
7733 Stone Road
* Turn onto Stone Road. At bottom of big hill, turn left on Tulip Dr. Continue on Tulip Drive and you will dead end into the Board of Education Building.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Penguins & Polar Bears......
This week our centers will include letter Pp vocabulary and for older students writing letter Pp. Students will also be making a polar bear craft and working making sets for numbers 1-10 as they feed the penguins. On Wednesday we will be making pizza...yummy!! Thursday is pajama day.
Happy 1/2 birthday this week to Sullivan!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Welcome Back, Welcome Winter
This week was a short week as winter decided to show how nasty it can be! No school on Monday/Tuesday due to the cold temperatures. Our theme of the week is winter so it is very fitting! Our letter of the week is Ii and due to the missing a few days, I am going to send our Ii paper and vocab pictures home for homework. If your child completes homework an returns it, they will get to pick a stamp or sticker.
Happy 1/2 birthday to Jayden!
Also, looking ahead....
* No School on Jan 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
* Report Cards go home on Friday, Jan 24th.
* Family Fun Friday at the Independence Land Lab is Jan 31st look for info coming home next week. This is free and if your child likes animals you won't want to miss this event!
Happy 1/2 birthday to Jayden!
Also, looking ahead....
* No School on Jan 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
* Report Cards go home on Friday, Jan 24th.
* Family Fun Friday at the Independence Land Lab is Jan 31st look for info coming home next week. This is free and if your child likes animals you won't want to miss this event!
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