FALL, FALL, FALL!!

 Our hippos were involved in many fall learning activities throughout the week! Activities included discussing the different types of leaves, noticing the similarities and differences between leaves, learning some facts about leaves, cutting and decorating leaves, thinking of words that rhyme with the word FALL, making leaf rubbings, using pinecones to practice positional concepts, writing in our journal about what we like to do in the fall and our favorite leaf, spinning on the sit and spins like a falling leaf in the wind, using magnifying glasses to examine leaves and other fall items, using pipettes with red, yellow, orange and green water, and raking leaves. The children also enjoyed mulching the leaves (cutting with scissors) and making fall trees and leaves with a variety of materials!  The hippos did a great job of patterning leaves and making a picture with leaf stamps (fine motor, patterning, using language, positional concepts, making decisions independently, participating as a member of a group)

When discussing leaves we examined the veins in our arms and showed the veins in the leaf.  Our veins carry blood throughout our body and the veins in a leaf carry water to the leaf.  You can point this out again when looking at leaves at home. In addition, we practiced our ABC letters by adding them to our fall tree on the easel. We also counted candy corn and matched it to the number on the corn. (letter recognition, one to one counting and recognizing numbers)

Our arch turned into a tent. It included backpacks, pretend flashlights and magnifying glasses. We added a tree and cut fall leaves to add to the branches.  Everyone enjoyed raking leaves on our fake grass and putting them in a bag.  Our sensory table was filled with plastic fall leaves, tongs and cups. In addition, we pretended to have a camp fire and roast marshmallows. (making decisions independently, sensory, gross motor, fine motor, dramatic play, building friendships, cutting)

Our letter this week was Q.  We built this letter with wooden pieces, made the Q sound and named different things that begin with the letter Q. Our 2nd Steps lesson worked on caring for others when they are sad or hurt.

During gym, we played a letter gross motor game.  I showed the students letters.  If the letter was a F for FALL,  we would fall to the ground. We practiced naming all the other letters. It was a fun way to practice letter recognition!!

Books we read:
We're Going On A Leaf Hunt

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Leaf

The Leaf Theif

Reminders:

Friday 11/7 Fall Fling 6:00-9:00 Tropicana Lanes

Monday 11/17-Thursday 11/20 Our own Hippo canned food drive

Wednesday 11/26-Sunday 11/30 Thanksgiving break

Questions to ask your child:
What words rhyme with FALL? (fall/tall or fall/cat)
What happens to the leaves in the fall?
What is your favorite colored leaf?
What season are we in? (summer or fall)

What did we roast at our campfire? (marshmallows)

What did we rake? (leaves)

Things to try with your child at home:
*Go on a leaf/nature hunt.  We sent a scavenger hunt sheet home with the students this week.  Try to find a variety of items and discuss how they are alike and different.  (texture, color, smell, etc.)

*Use a straw to blow leaves across the table. A fun oral motor activity. 

Next Week: Popcorn!

Enjoy the pictures!! 

Look what we made.

We decorated fall leaves with a variety of materials.

We used pipettes with yellow, red, orange and green water.

Journal-What is your favorite colored leaf?

We practiced our ABC letters. When we came to the
letter F, we fell to the ground like a leaf falling off a tree.

Art Fun!

Our HWOT letters represented leaves.

We practiced reciting those letters.

We made binoculars in art class.

We extended different patterns using fall leaves.

We had a pretend campfire. We roasted marshmallows and
made s'mores.

We used a sponge, scrubber and paper towel holder
to make leaves for our fall tree.

It was fun to rake fall leaves on our fake grass.

We discovered red leaves are equal to the brown leaves.

Music fun!

We waved flags during one of our patriotic songs.

We used small pinecones to practice positional concepts.

After counting the candy corn, we placed them
 on the correct number.

We practice recognizing our name when we sign in.

We will have a parade Tuesday honoring our Veterans.
We made a special banner thanking them!

The students placed fall leaves and acorns
in ice cube trays using tongs.

We made leaf rubbings by using our crayon sideways.

The hippos practiced cutting the leaf and writing
letters in their name.

We mulched real leaves by cutting them.

Numbers and playdoh

We painted the students fingers brown to make 
branches for our fall tree.