Feet Can…

Dear Parents,

We began our week reading How Do I Put It On?, Hello Toes! Hello Feet!, and Going To The Doctor. We asked the class, “What can you do with your feet?” They responded: run, balance, kick a soccer ball, swing, walk, do a flamingo move, a motor pose, stomp, paint, jump, and no running. 

When we read the doctor book, one person said they don’t like going to the doctor because it is scary. Many added that they don’t like to get shots. One friend said that he likes going to the doctor because the shots help keep us from getting sick, and the doctor can do surgery to make people’s heart and belly get better. 

The next day everyone took off one shoe and sock to get their foot traced. We counted toes as we traced. Before putting our shoe and sock back on, we did “This little piggy goes to market,” and we all tried to pick up a pencil and a rubber band with our toes. It was hard for many of us to not use our hands. We sang “Where Is Thumbkin?” and “Open Shut Them”. We also sang “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” as we crossed the big room. 

On Wednesday we did a foot feel walk. Everyone took off their shoes and socks and we walked across many different textures on the stage. The children said it felt: like a soft blanket, like bricks, like a pillow, like an itch, spiky, soft and cold, like the beach, fluffy like a dog, smooth, and like plastic. The textures were burlap, bubble wrap, felt, fake fur, sandpaper, and a vinyl textured fabric. We went around and around and around in circles as many times as the class wanted to feel, which was a lot!

We had our second fire drill this week. Since the church installed our new fire alarm system and needed to try it out, we decided to do a fire drill with the actual alarm. We let the children know it was about to happen so they’d be prepared for the loud alarming noise. Some children expressed fear and said they don’t like loud noises. We talked about why it was a loud scary noise- so that we could all hear it and know to leave the building, in case there was a real fire. The class had much to say after the fire drill. “That fire alarm was too loud and I didn’t like it.” “I don’t have fire alarms in my house, but I like them a little.” “My daddy knows all about fire.” “Play dough is not fire.” And, “What is fire?” Afterwards, we read Fire and Fire Station A-Z. 

We played kickball during circle. We put two balls inside our circle and kicked and kicked them using only our feet. Mostly our feet! 

On Friday we drew with oil pastels. 

It was a good week,

Therese

Hands Can… Eat Fruit!

We began our week reading Good Days, Bad Days. The sad day picture sparked an extensive conversation about why they were sad. After examining the illustration closely, someone realized it was because their pet died. Questions that came up: Why are they sad? Why do we bury dead animals? What insects and animals eat dead animals? Do we eat dead animals? The children took turns talking about times they had seen a dead insect, dead crab on the beach, or alive crabs on the beach. Many children said they eat dead fish that come from the ocean. Some children responded that we get it at the market, not the ocean.

This week we used our hands to catch and roll a ball. During circle, we rolled a ball to each other and said our favorite color and fruit when we caught it. It was a slow moving game where one person said their favorite fruit was fries and another said ice cream.

We also took turns playing a hand drum. We sang The Drum Goes Round and Round as we took turns beating the drum. Some played loudly and others quietly, some did one beat and others many.  

On Wednesday everyone took turns using the Feely Box. We used our sense of touch to feel something in the box and guess what it was. The guesses were: a nut, a little hook, a wooden hole, leather, a snail, a ring, a dinosaur, a monkey, yellow, a treat, a number, and something in German. 

The fruit cake and fruit tree were fantastical. What a wonderful surprise! We thoroughly enjoyed the fruit cake at snacktime. All of it! And thank you for the gift card too! Later when someone opened their lunch and saw they had grapes, they shouted, "Look! Just like at your party!" 

Thanks for making it a special day!

Have a fantabulous long weekend,

Therese