Making the most of Spring's sunny days!

Spring is officially here and with this new season Preschool will face new learning experiences, continue to be challenged, and of course have lots of fun in the process. 

Unit of Inquiry: Local Environments are use and valued in different ways.

Unit Trip to the Arboretum

Third time lucky! After a few attempts at scheduling the trip to the Arboretum, we made it on Tuesday and got to spend a wonderful day outdoors, exploring the natural (but also man-made) environment that the Arboretum has to offer. Preschool heard birds announcing Spring's arrival, saw fish swim in the small lake and admired newly blossoming flowers. They walked and walked, never complaining and were extremely principled when it came to completing all the tasks that Miss Michelotti had planned for them. They were scientists observing and recording, artists making sketches, and mathematicians as they identified patterns. Of course, no hard work should be left unrewarded...Preschool made the most of the big playground at the end making sure to spend their last ounces of energy, before boarding the bus where almost everyone (including their teacher) had a short power nap to refuel! It's fair to say that we are looking forward to our next outing! 

Although the trip was definitely the best part of Unit, Preschool spent time in the classroom better understanding the Lines of Inquiry, by distinguishing between natural and man-made things as well as trying to come up with different ways in which they can help the environment. Inspired by  The Lorax, Preschooler's were keen on planting their own seed and are eagerly waiting for it to grow into a plant! 

Making "natural and man-made" collages 

Carefully watering our seeds.

Maths 

Preschool practised their pattern knowledge by making their own patterns using stamps and then got even more creative (and messy) when making their pattern necklaces out of painted pasta! 

This week the topic in maths was symmetry and Preschool did an excellent job in tackling this tricky concept and started getting more familiar with it by playing a fun game on the tablets and the interactive white-board! 

Language

Language became pretty magical as Preschool brainstormed about Fairy Tales. They practised their storytelling skills as they had to summarise The Three Little Pigs. 

However, all this would not be possible without spending time and effort on their writing! Preschool loved playing word games and are really focussing on getting their writing nice and neat! 

Art&Crafts and Cooking 

Another holiday is here and once again, I was really excited to share one of my holiday traditions with the Preschoolers. As usual, they were open-minded and eager to join in. For Easter, Preschool made decorative eggs using leaves (that they went out to pick), tights and most importantly onion skin! They handled the difficult task very well and took extreme care not to break their eggs! The results are of very high standard and got a lot of praise from Miss Michelotti, who has been doing this every year since she was 5 years old! 

As usual, Preschool was able to hone their cooking skills as they made delicious Chocolate&Peanut Butter Cookies! 

Reminders

• For Show&Tell on Monday, please send in a Fairy Tale that your child particularly likes to share with the others.
• Due to the busy week and missing Monday, we did not make it to the libary this week. I apologize. We will go as usual this Monday. 
• A new student, will be starting on Monday, Preschool met her on Friday and we are all excited to welcome her. 

I wish you all a very sunny and relaxing weekend. 

Sabina Michelotti

It's all just a big pattern!

Back from a week off, it took no time for Preschool to get back in the swing of things and they picked up exactly where they left off.

A quick review of 3D shapes on Monday proved that Preschool were still up to date regarding cubes, cuboids, spheres, pyramids, cones and cylinders. They impressed with their ability to draw the six shapes and mastered naming and recognizing all of them successfully through playing 3D bingo.

Putting 3D shapes to a rest, Preschool started their pattern journey by being part of an orchestra using rhythm, creativity, and mathematical knowledge to interpret ABAB, AABBAABB patterns. Like true muscians, they were principled and great team players.








As the week continued Preschool made patterns out of fruits, explored the playground to make pattern prints, concluding that patterns can be found everywhere in our environment and everything can be used to make a pattern!

 Fruit inspired patterns

Finding patterns to make pattern prints in the playground

Before the short break, Preschool enjoyed reading the Oh, the Places we will go and produced wonderful sensory writing pieces based on their favourite scene from the book. They patiently followed the writing process of brainstorming and drafting to produce their final product. To do so they used a variety of skills that they have been acquiring throughout the year, from typing to watercolour painting.

This week the Language focus was on another Dr Suess classic, The Lorax. Preschool was able to reflect on the story and make connections to their current Unit of Inquiry on the Environment. It is important to make good choices to ensure that we look after our environment. Students are practising their storytelling skills by creating their own Preschool Lorax story.

A new challenge was overcome this week as Preschool felt ready to attempt a Reading Circle. They were risk takers and practised reading in front of their friends. It was very exciting for everyone!

A busy week came to an end with a quick outing to Rokko Island Marine Park to refresh their memories regarding harbours and boats to be used for the Motomachi Drawing Competition. They started their art pieces this week and we will finish them off next week. So far, they are all looking great and the other artists will definitely feel the competition when they see the final outcomes!

Reminders

• On Monday, March 14th, Preschool will be going to Kobe Arboretum. We will leave school at 9:00 a.m. and  be back for dismissal. Please pack enough snacks and lunch for the day. We will still go if it rains (unless it is pouring) so please pack waterproof gear and shoes. 
• As we are away on Monday, Library will be on Tuesday.
•  Show&Tell will also be rescheduled and will be on Wednesday. It is free choice again. 
• As we are gone all of Monday, we need the lesson time on Wednesday for Unit and will not be cooking this week. 
• On Friday, period 7 from 15:15-15:45 we will hold a small goodbye party for Sosuke. 
• Next week is Celebration of Book Week and students will have the chance to dress up as their favourite book character on Friday, March 18th. 
• I would like to ask your help by sending in any old magazines. We will use them to make collages. 
• I have not been assigning homework these past few weeks due to the amount of material we have been covering in class but will start sending reading books home again this week. 

Thank you very much for you help and support. 

Sabina Michelotti