Ms. Small and Ms. Lawrence's Pre-K Class 2020-2021: Building materials, Glurch and Animals

Big blocks, small blocks and magnet tiles were in use today. Big blocks started off as a house with a sofa and beds. Changing many times throughout the morning as different friends joined. Each adding their thoughts and ideas concerning what direction their play went.

In small blocks Charlotte took the lead in creating a building for animals. A group of friends were excited to join her.

Grace was supporting Harlan in the magnet tiles. Harlan was building an army. Grace helped Harlan by building the equipment he needed for his army while Harlan took charge of the battle. Anne and Henry were working together building cars and trucks.

I ended up being taken to the Doctor's office by a group of students telling me I needed some shots. Grace gave me some shots in my brain and lots of medicine. I am not sure why I had to wear the metal bowl but I was told it would make me feel better. Kaia bandaged my arms and gave me lots of shots. Farrah gave me medicine and lobster soup and a few more shots.

At the end of the morning we read Biggest, strongest, fastest by Steve Jenkins.

This book is filled with fascinating facts about animals. Some of which surprised our students. Making some great observations and connections. There were a lot of comments and questions.

We found out that ants are considered the strongest animal. They can carry over 5 times their own weight.

Charlotte: WHAT!

What is the tallest animal?

Brooklyn: Giraffe

What's this? (pointing to tentacles on a page)

Anne: Jellyfish

Ren: They have no skin and no bones.

We looked at a bird spider bigger than an adults hand.

Anne: Does it eat humans?

Lucy:I wasn't scared of that spider.

We looked at the cheetah

Jenna: Why are its legs up?

Ren: Cheetahs eat gorillas that's why I'm allergic to cheetahs.

Livio: Some animals can run faster than a lion. Some warthogs can run faster then they run into a hole.

Kaia: A cheetah can run faster than a tiger.

We found out a snail is the slowest animal.

Livio: I thought it was the turtle.

The anaconda is the longest animal.

Lucy: I saw a snake longer than that in the zoo.

Grace: If a snake and an elephant was actually here. Would a snake be long enough to reach the painting area.

We looked at the animal that lives the longest. A Galapagos tortoise.

Kaia: Turtles live longer.

Brooklyn: They're different.

Max: That neck is bigger than a turtle's neck.

Charlotte: A tortoise can go faster than a turtle.

We will read more Steve Jenkins books over the next couple of weeks.

I also want to put a reminder out. If your child seems interested in presenting what they have learned about their animal to the class, let me know. The weeks go by quickly and we want to make sure that every child that wants to share what they have learned has an opportunity to do so.

QUESTIONS
What type of book was Biggest, strongest, fastest. Fiction or nonfiction?

What was one fact that surprised you the most?

TUESDAY

We had a lot of dogs wandering around our classroom looking for food. Maxi visited Kaia and Farrah's house with Eli, his dog. They asked if they could have some extra food. Farrah and Kaia looked through their provisions to find something suitable.

Last week we made a batch of glurch. Glurch is mixture of glue and starch. When mixed together what does it make, a liquid or a solid? Glurch snaps when you pull it quickly but stretches when you pull it slowly. Today the class experimented with the glurch. Mila is experimenting by adding lots of different colors using markers to see what color she ends up with. It is very satisfying to squeeze and stretch. Glurch can be used as a tool when someone is feeling overwhelmed, but overall it is just fun to play with.

Ren brought a book from home all about gorillas. We learned a lot. One topic that was of interest was that gorillas feed their babies milk like humans. Anne wondered how, and I explained that gorillas have nipples like humans and the mommies feed their babies. I asked how many nipples they thought a gorilla had and how it was different from Lucy's animal, a pig. We looked at a picture of a pig and found that they have about 12 or 14 teats. Lucy told us that pigs can have 5 babies. So this evening everyone has homework. How many babies can your animal have at one time, and how many nipples or teats do they have to feed their babies.

We had enough time to look at another Steve Jenkins book, BIG and little. Finding similarities and differences. What interesting facts do you remember from the book?