The letter Hh
and
Sense of Smell and Taste
Tasting!
Tasting!
Did you know the tongue has sections for tasting different flavors such as salty/sweet on the tip, sour on the sides and bitter at the back?
The children enjoyed a taste testing center where they tasted chips, gummy candy, lemon wedges and cocoa. Using descriptive language they talked about each different taste and which part of their tongue gave them the information they needed to describe them.
Smelling!
Smelling is directly related to tasting. If your nose is stuffy, tasting can be really difficult, not to mention smelling. In spite of some stuffy sniffers last week, the children had a great time with smelling and tasting activities. During Exploring centers they played a game called "What's That Smell?". Cotton balls were soaked in liquid extracts and put into numbered vials. The children took turns sniffing each vial and using descriptive language to talk about what they thought was inside. They then drew a picture of their guess on a page for their Science Journals. The vials held; vanilla, peppermint, vinegar and orange zest. As the teachers took dictation, we heard descriptions such as " mmm, ice cream!" and "Eww! That's a sour smell. Yuck!". Some even said, "That's a candy cane!" hitting the scent right on the nose for peppermint. We have some super sniffers in our Junior Kindergarten class.
Hh is for Hands and Handwriting....Without Tears!
As we learned about our five senses the children had lessons about development and coping if one of the senses aren't present. They learned about braille and reading with touch when the sense of sight isn't present. Using their hands to communicate when speech and the sense of hearing isn't present is called sign language. The children are learning to sign their letters and other simple words using their hands. They also are learning to use their hands to properly grip writing devices for forming letters and numbers, as well as drawing. We call them claw fingers! The teachers are working with the children to grip their crayons, pencils, chalk, etc. using their pointer and "tall man" fingers and thumb. The ring and pinkie fingers are folded in toward the palm of the hand. Ask your child to show you his/her claw fingers. The writing instrument rests in the space between the thumb and pointer finger (if it is long like a pencil) and is gripped near the point with the pointer and tall man at the top and thumb at the bottom. We practice with fun activities every day. The children's hands are still growing and developing. This practice will help the children to most comfortably grip for writing in the future...now!
Let's build a pathway to learning! Collaboration, Communication, and Fun!
Learning about letter formation and putting sounds together to make words...with scented playdough. Sweet spelling!
Exploring sound tubes, kaleidoscopes, color paddles and glasses as part of our five senses learning. Below, the girls are building with colorful transparent legos on the light table.
Smelling!
Smelling is directly related to tasting. If your nose is stuffy, tasting can be really difficult, not to mention smelling. In spite of some stuffy sniffers last week, the children had a great time with smelling and tasting activities. During Exploring centers they played a game called "What's That Smell?". Cotton balls were soaked in liquid extracts and put into numbered vials. The children took turns sniffing each vial and using descriptive language to talk about what they thought was inside. They then drew a picture of their guess on a page for their Science Journals. The vials held; vanilla, peppermint, vinegar and orange zest. As the teachers took dictation, we heard descriptions such as " mmm, ice cream!" and "Eww! That's a sour smell. Yuck!". Some even said, "That's a candy cane!" hitting the scent right on the nose for peppermint. We have some super sniffers in our Junior Kindergarten class.
Hh is for Hands and Handwriting....Without Tears!
As we learned about our five senses the children had lessons about development and coping if one of the senses aren't present. They learned about braille and reading with touch when the sense of sight isn't present. Using their hands to communicate when speech and the sense of hearing isn't present is called sign language. The children are learning to sign their letters and other simple words using their hands. They also are learning to use their hands to properly grip writing devices for forming letters and numbers, as well as drawing. We call them claw fingers! The teachers are working with the children to grip their crayons, pencils, chalk, etc. using their pointer and "tall man" fingers and thumb. The ring and pinkie fingers are folded in toward the palm of the hand. Ask your child to show you his/her claw fingers. The writing instrument rests in the space between the thumb and pointer finger (if it is long like a pencil) and is gripped near the point with the pointer and tall man at the top and thumb at the bottom. We practice with fun activities every day. The children's hands are still growing and developing. This practice will help the children to most comfortably grip for writing in the future...now!
A Visit From The SPCA
Sharon Hauser fromt the SPCA and her adorable dog Rusty, visited our center on Friday. The children were thrilled to meet them and to hear and see a story about Sam the Sad Dog. Not only did they learn about what the SPCA does for pets, but they also learned how to best take care of their own. Then, they got to pet and cuddle Rusty! Bonus!
On Monday October 1, the children will bake special treats for the cats and dogs of our local SPCA. We continue to collect special items to deliver for the care of the pets there as well. Thank you for your donations.
More fun in learning last week.....
Nature + Plastic Toys + Imagination = Fun!
A new sensory experience with shaving cream and foam shapes
This week the Junior Kindergarten children will focus on the letter Tt and learning about Pets.
We can't wait for the Pet Show on Friday at 8:30am.
Mrs. Cummings and I are really looking forward to sitting down with all of you for our first Parent/Teacher Conference on Thursday. There is no school on that day.
Have a wonderful week!
Nicole
