Bug Week!

Bug Week got off to a great start with our field trip to the East Greenbush Library where the children heard multiple books on the topic! 

Additional information was gleaned as we read topic related fiction and non-fiction literature.  We named and viewed a myriad of bugs within these books all week long.  The children learned that all insects are bugs, but not all bugs are insects, unless of course they have six legs.

Our Bug theme was reflected throughout the classroom!  Magnifying glasses were used to get a better look at a variety of toy bugs and insects at our fine motor tables. 

Other Bug Activities included:

Stitching

Matching

Magnetic Bug Train

Cootie Game

We also enjoyed a class game entitled; "Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee, Someone took Your Flower"!

At the art table the children enjoyed

Bug Stamps

Creating Spiders

Fold & Paint Butterflies

Creating Egg Carton Caterpillars

Additionally, we wrote Thank You notes to Miss Molly.

Making and eating "dirt cups" was without a doubt the most fun of all!

We also Searched for Bugs Outdoors!

Many thanks to Cameron's grandma, Jane for bring in and explaining her son's Entomology  Insect Collection.

Many thanks to Luca's mom, Lauren and his grandmother Karen for making and delivering an Outdoor Kitchen for the Pre-K Playground.  As the photos illustrated, the children quickly began "cooking" in the new outdoor dramatic play center!  Lauren and her mom custom make the kitchens in two sizes.  Please feel free to contract Lauren if you would like information about having one made for your backyard.

Many thanks to Sophia, who concluded her semester of Student Teaching with us this week. 

Divertido con Espanol / Fun with Spanish
The children enjoyed Senora Jen's book entitled, "Hormigas en los Pantalones" (Ants in Your Pants)

Vocabalo de Semana en Espanol / Words of the Week in Spanish

Bicho / Bug

Hormiga / Ant

Arana / Spider

Mosca / Fly

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

Let's take a closer look at this week's Field Trip.

The children fully enjoyed our Field Trip to the East Greenbush Library this past Monday.  It was a great start to Bug Week, as the children learned fun songs and heard wonderful "Bug Stories". 

Perhaps more importantly, Miss Molly, led the children on a wonderful tour of the library.

The children met "behind the scenes" library workers, and had an opportunity to observe firsthand the workings of the "book drop-off". 

They were also shown the location of all the books, music and movies that are available to them once they have a library card! 

Young children have a natural desire and a burning curiosity to learn about their world! Community Helpers are an important part of that world, and children learn best about Community Helpers by going out into the community, meeting these helpers, and seeing firsthand what it is that they do for us.  We are so fortunate to have had a whole team of helpers who worked with the children this year.  Our thanks to Miss Molly for sharing her time and expertise with us this week.  Our thanks again to Hillary Fink for leading us on a tour of Price Chopper, that enabled the children to experience the Grocery Store in a new and most thorough way, and to Firefighter Bill who did the same for the children last November at the Defreestville Fire Station.  Additionally, our sincerest thanks to Cameron's mom, Dr. Kristie for coming into our classroom during Doctor Week.  

Our classroom and the experiences we have within it are enriching, exciting and educating.  Extending our classroom beyond its four walls to include these field trips is crucial for providing the children with the most comprehensive experiences for learning.  Many thanks to all of you who have driven for our field trips and made our excellent adventures possible.

We will engage with one more community helper during Post Office Week, when we meet and chat with Parker's own U.S. Mail Carrier! 

Have a fun and restful weekend!