Nothing Lasts Forever, Even Cold November Rain

November has passed. This year is starting to pick up and it feels as if it’s going way faster than it should. We’ve started many great things in November and I am excited to share them with you.

Impact of DonorsChoose.org

As you may have seen, I started to grow a mustache to raise money for DonorsChoose projects from the teachers at our school. I am happy to inform you that my mustache raised $432 dollars, helped fund 6 projects, and impacted 117 students!

Too Cold for Ice Cream? Nah!

For our class, it has helped us fund three important projects. Since the beginning of the school year, a lot of our students have become fascinated with ice cream. They’ve been setting up a pretend ice cream shop outside the school playground and using the cones as ice cream to sell to other children. With this sort of play going on for several weeks, it was an interest I could not ignore. I created a project that would allow us to get ahold of materials to learn about and make our own ice cream. Books, ice cream makers, and scoops were requested and our project, I Scream, You Scream, Pre-K Screams for Ice Cream! Was created and funded.

S.V. and J.L. open up their ice cream shop

We are currently in the beginning stages of learning about ice cream. We focused on the book “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” by Mo Willems to learn about different feelings Gerald goes through, as well as identifying different things we know about ice cream. We created a circle map, and two bubble maps. The circle map and bubble map was created about ice cream. We discussed everything we knew about ice cream as well as used words to describe ice cream. The second bubble map honed in on Gerald’s feelings in the book. 

Ice Cream Circle Map

All the Changes Gerald Goes through in One Book!

D.Y., A.H., S.V. tasted ice cream and added to the circle map

I took an ice cream machine home to test out and learn how to use it. A vanilla blueberry ice cream was created and brought in for students to taste test. I think it was a success! We will be making our own ice cream very soon! A walking trip will be scheduled to visit the local grocery store to purchase the ingredients required for ice cream. The two thinking maps that will accompany this process will be a tree map for the various materials and ingredients we need, and a flow map to show the steps it takes to make homemade ice cream.

S.C. finishes every last bit of ice cream.

J.D. loves the ice cream too!

N.S. loves ice cream three!

Pictures of Me, Hung Up on Our Wall for the World to See

September was the last time our Hand Drawn Selfies bulletin board was updated. Late November is the time to get ready to update those seflies for December. Portrait pictures were taken of our children and they spent time drawing themselves using the picture as a reference. The were also asked to write their names. Already, we could see a lot has developed since the beginning of the school year. Whether it's the beginning of drawing a recognizable person, or additional details of portraits, or the ability to write their names, these portraits show growth as we progress throughout the school year.

S.V. works hard on her selfie.

J.W. refers to his photo for reference.

Family Tree Map

From selfie to family, the topic of being thankful is big in November. Since Thanksgiving is at the end of the month, one thing everyone is likely to be thankful for is their family. Every year, the topic of family is discussed and a family tree bulletin board is always created to go along with it. This year, we took a thinking maps approach to create a family tree. We read Todd Parr’s  The Family Book to learn about the different families that exists. Letters were sent home requesting picture of family members so our students can introduce their families to their classmates. As pictures came in, students shared, and the photos were added to the tree map. It’s a wonderful experience to share the different family make-ups of our children’s family.

Mr. Andy shares his family pictures

Ms. Chin shows off her family

Thanksgiving Turkey Pigeons

On the week of Thanksgiving, our students were reintroduced to a familiar art center project with a Thanksgiving twist. They were given the choice of making Pigeon Turkeys. Pigeon Turkey’s are similar to the Pigeon art we created earlier in the year but with a turkey twist. Students had three days to join the art center to make their turkeys to take home just in time for Thanksgiving. Some students loved the project so much, they made two turkeys!

Don't Let the Pigeon Turkey Get Eaten for Thanksgiving!

Painting Center Introduced

Our class’ painting center was finally opened in November. Painting center has always been a messy center. With so many centers to introduce in September and October, painting was put on the back of the priority list so students are given more opportunities to learn how to handle classroom materials with proper care. Our children did a wonderful job creating beautiful paintings when they joined.

I spent time going over the materials in our painting center; easel, magnet, paintbrush, paint, cups, etc. The first two to participate in painting center did such a wonderful job with their painting and the handling of the material, they set bar for others. Their art will be posted around the hallway, so please be sure to check it out!

Paint!

Artists at Work

That wraps up November! Big things are planned ahead in December. Keep an eye out. If you'd like to help us fund the remaining projects or donate to our school playground fund, visit the links below!

www.DonorsChoose.org/ayung

www.GoFundMe.com/imaginetales