INDEPENDENCE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd, we are celebrating Seuss week this week! Dr. Seuss books are great for learning rhyming words! Check out Seussville.com for some fun activities you can do at home.

Read Across America Week. Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. I always remind the children that they can "read" by looking at the pictures and telling their own story. Parents, please put an emphasis on reading with your child this week. Read early and read often. The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading. It’s never too early to beginreading to your child! Click here for some tips and fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.

Happy 1/2 birthdays to Addison, Laila, Landon, and Allie this week!

A few more things....
- Wednesday is Wacky Wednesday at IPS....can't wait to see what crazy outfits you have on!

-Thursday is picture day. Individual "spring" pictures with props will be taken.

-Mrs. Kieser is collecting books to donate to pediatric units as local hospitals. If you have new or gently used books to donate, please send them in. Thank you for helping me with this project!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Become a Smart Shopper: Family Fun Friday

FAMILY FUN FRIDAY #4

BECOME A SMART SHOPPER AT GIANT EAGLE

Friday, March 8th, 2013 10:00-11:00

Giant Eagle’s Nutrition, Health & Wellness Program

With obesity becoming a nationwide epidemic, health and wellness education for children and adults is more important than ever. Nutrition and wellness education programs have a proven impact on the prevention and reduction of obesity and other health problems. This trip utilizes the USDA MyPlate guidelines. “Become a Smart Shopper” encourages children to become passionate about incorporating health and wellness into their day-to-day lives. Content includes building healthy habits, understanding portion size, making balanced meal choices and the benefits of staying active.

IMPORTANT INFO:

♣ Arrive at by 9:45 and check in by the Eagle’s Nest.

♣ The activity will last approx. 1 hour. You may stay at have lunch in their café area afterwards

♣ It’s FREE!

♣ Please RSVP….the first 12 spots for this time slot are first come first serve. If all of those spots fill, I will arrange for a second tour later that day.

Directions:

Giant Eagle located in Brecksville near 77 & 82

(440) 526-7808

7510 Chippewa Rd

Brecksville, OH 44141

Saturday, February 23, 2013

T is for Tooth

February is Dental Health month! This week we are learning about the letter T and keeping our teeth healthy!

Thank you to Rockside Dental for visiting our classroom and bringing us kits to make our smiles bright!

Click here to check out Colgate for Kids for fun games and activities for all ages!

Pictures have been uploaded from this week's activities including the Land Lab Family Friday Event. Look under the photo tab or click here. Thank you to all who joined us for this fun filled adventure.

Happy 1/2 Birthday to Mosha!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day

Feb Class Pics are uploaded here. Pictures from our Valentine's Party are in the album....take a peek to see your sweeties!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

ANIMAL TRACKS RESCHEDULED

NEW DATE AND NEW TIME!!!

FAMILY FUN FRIDAY #3

ANIMAL TRACKS AT THE LAND LAB

   Friday, February 22nd, 2013

Noon-2:00

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 11:50.

*   The activity will last approx. 2 hours. We will have a snack at the end

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.

Directions:

Independence Land Lab

located behind the Board of Education
7733 Stone Road

Independence, Ohio 44131

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Teddy Bear & Animal Tracks Event

Thank you to all of the parents who donated snacks and volunteered for our BEARY SPECIAL DAY!
Pictures have been uploaded in the January Classroom Picture Album (look at the end of the album).

Reminder: Family Fun Friday is this Friday (11:00-1:00) at the Land Lab (located in the Board of Education office). Most activities are inside but we will take a hike outside so bundle up! It may snow and be freezing but we are still going to have the event. If school is cancelled, the event is cancelled...otherwise we will see you there!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Polar Bears, Penguins, & Pancakes!

Pp is our letter of the week and out theme is Arctic Animals (penguins/polar bears) but we can't do Pp week without making pancakes. We will be making pancakes for our cooking lesson to go with our story on Monday.

Other stories we will be reading include Pancakes Pancakes!, Bear Snores On, Lil Pip Where is Home, and Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear?

Miss Pam is a naturalist at the Brecksville Nature Center. She visited our preschool on Tuesday and brought animal fur for us to see and feel. She taught us about what animals we might see in the winter and what they need to survive. Check out the pics in the Jan Photo Album.

Below are the songs/finger plays that we will be doing this week.

Peter Penguin
Peter, Peter Penguin, marching by (March)
Toes turned out and head held high (Stand Tall)
A long black coat (Point Like Coat)
And a clean white vest (Rub Chest)
Peter, Peter Penguin, you're the best (Do Tony Tiger Their Great Gesture)

Six Little Penguins
Six little penguins off an iceberg did dive,
One bumped his beak, then there were five.
Five little penguins swam the ocean floor,
One saw a whale, then there were four.
Four little penguins spun around, whee-ee!
One spun off, then there were three!
Three little penguins, with nothing to do,
One went fishing, then there were two.
Two little penguins, having lots of fun,
One fell of, then there was one.
One little penguin, when the day was done,
Went home to sleep, then there were none.

Looking for some ideas at home? Check out these fun activities:

Ice Cube Painting
Wou will need: Penguin pattern, powdered paint, ice cube with Popsicle stick.
Directions: Freeze Popsicle sticks into ice cubes. Have the children sprinkle powder paint on white paper and paint with an ice cube on a stick.

Penguin Puzzle (Online Game)

ONLINE STORIES:
Penguin, Penguin (Non fiction)
Rumble, Grumble, Gurgle (fiction)

Did You Know........
• What kind of animals are penguins? (birds )
• Do penguins fly? (no)
• Are penguins found south or north of the equator? (south)
• How long can a penguin hold its breath under water? (about 3 minutes)
• What do penguins eat? (fish )

Penguin Ice Experiment : Freeze a long pan of water and have several objects, some that will slide on the ice and some that will not (cotton balls, dry beans, piece of felt, plastic penguin figurine, etc.). Predict and then test .... “Will It Slide?”

Movie Night! Cuddle up with a blanket and watch these great penguin movies: Happy Feet and Madagascar.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Meet Mrs. Kieser

Welcome back to school everyone! We have a new month, a new year, and a new teacher (well sort of). Miss G is now Mrs. Kieser (pronounced Key-zer).

Many of you have been asking for pictures, etc. So I thought I would share our wedding website.
Enjoy! www.fredandtaratietheknot.blogspot.com