UPCOMING DATES & ANNOUCEMENTS:
CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS
October 18th – Vantoberfest! Purchase tickets and contribute to our cause here: https://app.betterunite.com/WheelingCountryDaySchool-vantoberfest
October 31st – Halloween Festivities
- Children should come dressed in costume
- 9:00, Whole school costume parade on the loop (weather permitting) Parents are welcome to come and watch.
- 9:30 Class hayrides followed by a Halloween Party in the classroom. Halloween Party Sign-Up – Help us throw the JK class a spooky celebration!
- 11:30 am dismissal with aftercare available until 3:00 pm. Children staying for the afternoon must have a packed lunch.
Snack Helper this week: Ripley
Hello JK families,
Special Person’s Day was filled with holding hands, giant smiles, and jumping feet. The children were thrilled to welcome their families to the place they spend their days. They couldn’t wait to share their favorite centers, show off their artwork, and introduce teachers and new friends to their family members. The morning began by inviting their favorite people to sing and move to a Five Little Pumpkins scarf dance! Then our families were invited to create a treasure tray with their grandchild. The idea of the treasure tray was inspired by the children bringing “nature treasures” inside to save, so we created a “treasure tray” to hold their findings inside the classroom. Grown ups also have a few treasures of their own, so we thought they might like a special spot to place their trinkets too. Using paint pens on ceramic plates the children and their loved ones added marks in their favorite colors, drew pictures, names, and even added the date so they would always remember the special day. They then went to the “wrapping station” and carefully wrapped their creations to take home and treasure forever. Next they had a chance to visit our school library, and hear a special story from Miss Brie! The children took part in acting out the classic tale, There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly by Pam Adams. You can’t visit the library and not check out a book! So the children and their special people enjoyed reading together and selecting a sweet story to bring home. Lastly, they enjoyed a snack together and created beautiful christmas ornaments that will hang on the tree in downtown wheeling. It really was a perfect day!
Corn Conversations
Did you know young children need to strengthen their finger muscles as a part of prewriting skills? Long before a pencil is placed in their hands they need to pinch, pull, and flex those fingers! What better way to do all those things than to shuck some corn! When the children walked outside to see corn cobs they had lots of questions! What is this? What are we doing with corn? Why is there corn out here? They loved learning how to shuck by pulling away just one layer at a time. It took some tenacity to make it to the golden kernels but when they finally spotted the yellow there were shouts of joy! Then they discovered corn hairs, also know as corn silk, and were invited to cut! They learned how to place their fingers inside the scissors and to open and squeeze in order to trim the hair away from the cob. Of course along the way, they realized that if the scissors pierced the kernels, corn juice would come out! Oh the joys!
Here are some quotes we collected as the children discussed their discoveries:
“I see the corn!!!” -Donato
“I cutted its hair.” -Clara
“I’m gonna get it!! Ohhh I see the head of the corn.” -Ben
“Cut it in half!” -Donato
“I’m cutting a salad!” -Lincoln
“Did you cutted the juice out?” – Clara
“It needs a haircut but don’t poke him! Oh no did we hurt him? How about we cut the bottom?” – Ben
“Look I’m shucking it. Why is their so many layers. Why is it soooo hairy??”-Atticus
“This is easy.” -Lennon
“I love corn. I’m getting the juice out.” -Avery
“It’s the shaped of a banana. Do we feed this to the babies?” -Sebastian
“This is how you cook it! Baseball bat. -Levi
“I’ve had corn before.” -Gemma
After the shucking we invited the children to continued practicing their cutting skills by cutting the husks. We also took the corn silk and painted with it! Using liquid watercolors in droppers, the children pinched and squired the colorful water on top of the corny fibers. They absolutely loved it!
Fall Explorations
Like we mentioned earlier, the children love bringing treasures from the outside in. We invited them to explore the changing weather of their world by presenting them with fall nature elements, flowers, cones, and pumpkin scented play-doh. They explored the possibilities of texture and the capabilities of combining the elements to create sculptures.
Here are a few quotes we collected as the played:
“It’s a flower cabuzzle!” – Lincoln
“He’s a bee. He has a hat on.” – Ben
“I’m making like a volcano. It’s going to erupt.” -Ben
“I’m making a pumpkin it’s so cute!”- Ripley
“Look at these balls…I made them by putting them through the cone.” -Brody
“These are for my Mom.” (Flowers in play doh) – Destry
“Look at my red fountain!” – Clara
“I made it a face!” -Ripley
It was a beautiful week in Junior Kindergarten! We can’t wait to see what next week brings as the weather changes to fall and the children embrace all the joys of October!
We wish you a wonderful weekend,
Miss Liz and Miss Gina