Preschool had a short but exciting week! As we prepare to wrap up our Buildings/Wheels unit, we’ve learned about wind turbines, windmills, pinwheels, and what makes them go. Children were fascinated by these machines and toys and enjoyed learning about them. Next week, we will participate in a fun, hands-on experience related to airplanes and traveling. Thank you so much, Ms. Susan – we can’t wait! Then, on Wednesday, we will launch our new unit, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 

Most of us do not spend much time thinking about trash and garbage. We might think about the problem when our community needs a new landfill, a crisis arises regarding dangerous waste, or litter gets out of control. But we often forget the ever-present challenge of dealing with trash and garbage. Studying how to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste and garbage will engage children because they are familiar with and curious about this topic. 

We need your help with this upcoming unit. We will collect various items and pictures related to trash and recycling to kickstart our investigation. While we have a list of suggested items, we also welcome any other clean and safe items you may have at home. 

• Toys related to trash/recycling (toy trash cans, garbage trucks, etc.). 
• Paper towel rolls
• Egg cartons
• Magazines/newspapers
• Empty plastic or paper food containers (seasonings, yogurt, etc.)
• Plastic plates, cups, and bowls
• Old T-shirts 
• Seed packets
• Soil

Finally, we will also need liquid soap for the classroom and non-disinfecting wet wipes (for hands/face or regular diaper wipes). We use these to clean children’s faces and hands after lunch. (These will definitely not be recycled, however – haha). 

As we delve into the study of trash and how we can reduce, reuse, and recycle, students will learn concepts and skills in various subjects and apply them in their daily lives. This exciting unit will teach children how to reduce trash and reuse materials around them to create something meaningful, making the learning experience more practical and engaging. 

As always, thank you so much for your support.

Warm regards,

Annie