Dear Families,
As we approach the start of our wonderful Thanksgiving break, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your partnership and support in your child’s learning journey. This year has already been filled with so much growth and discovery, and we are incredibly thankful for the positive spirit and enthusiasm you bring to our school community. We wish you a truly relaxing and joyous holiday filled with cherished moments with your loved ones!
We owe a very special thank you to our wonderful volunteer, Ms. Kathryn!
Ants on a Log
We are grateful that Ms. Kathryn generously volunteered her time and materials last Friday to lead a hands-on cooking lesson for our class. The children absolutely loved making the classic, healthy snack “Ants on a Log” (celery, sunbutter, and raisins). It was a fun, hands-on activity that encouraged following directions and practicing fine motor skills as they spread the butter and placed the raisins. Thank you, Ms. Kathryn, for providing ingredients and making this experience possible!
We are so excited to jump right into our next learning adventure as soon as we return: the Clothes Study as part of the Creative Curriculum.
What We Will Be Learning After the Break
This unit is designed to help children observe, investigate, and understand the everyday clothes they wear. We will explore a wide variety of topics related to clothing over the next several weeks:
- Materials and Construction: We’ll explore what clothes are made of (like cotton, wool, denim, and synthetics) and how they are put together (sewing, weaving, etc.).
- Purpose and Function: We’ll discuss why people wear different types of clothing—for protection (raincoats, hats), for comfort (pajamas), for jobs (uniforms), or for celebrations (dresses, suits).
- Where Clothes Come From: We’ll investigate the journey of clothing, from where the raw materials are sourced to how they are manufactured and sold in stores.
- Clothes Across Cultures and History: We will look at traditional clothing from different countries and how styles of dress have changed over time.
- Taking Care of Our Clothes: We will learn about washing, drying, folding, and mending clothes, and the concept of recycling or donating used items.
If you have an outfit that is special to your family (a traditional cultural garment, a uniform from a family job, or a handmade item), please let us know! We would love to incorporate it into our study time.
Why Study Clothes?
The Clothes Study is not just about what we wear; it’s a foundational unit that supports learning in all areas of development:
- Science: Children develop their observation and classification skills by sorting clothes. They explore physical science concepts like absorbency (testing different fabrics).
- Math: We’ll practice measuring (for size), counting (buttons, pockets), and sorting (data analysis).
- Literacy: The unit encourages children to ask questions, share their ideas, and write/draw about their observations.
- Social-Emotional: Discussing different kinds of clothing helps children develop respect for diverse cultures and appreciate the work of people who make and care for our clothes.
We are looking forward to this engaging and relevant study when we return. Please enjoy the well-deserved break, and again, thank you for being such an important part of our community.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
The Preschool Team