A Week to Remember

What a week! It is hard to believe that it was only five short days with so much going on. Preschool's achievements this week and the new experiences they made are definitely there to be remembered and cherished.

I want to give another HUGE round of applause to Preschool's brilliant performance during the Wednesday Assembly. They practised hard, put on their game faces and were able to showcase their knowledge in a truly memorable way. I am certain everybody at DESK will remember Preschool's interpretation of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  For those that would like to relive the exciting performance, the video is below.

Other highlights of this busy week included the trip Kobe Airport on Monday. Preschool had the opportunity to watch airplanes take off and land as they observed them from the viewing platform. They learned many new things about airports and aeroplanes:

•  there are 30 scheduled flights in and out of Kobe Airport everyday, 
• each plane taking off has a special send off party equipped with teddy bears waving goodbyes,
•  there is a 24 hour security guard surveilling the airport and they even have a supermarket at the airport! 

Preschool was eager to ask questions and open-minded in their ability to process this knew knowledge. Their behaviour was exemplary making the whole trip a huge success and a great way to kick off their new Unit.

Preschool will inquire into their final Unit of Inquiry for the year and it will be all about the world of Transportation. 

Transdisciplinary Theme: How we organise ourselves.

Central Idea: Communities make efforts to create transportation systems that meet their needs.

Lines of Inquiry: 

1. Features of transportation systems 
2. Decisions involved in using transportation 
3. How systems of transportation meets the needs of all people (global link, being more environmental friendly)

However, before Preschool can really dive into this new unit, they still have some loose ends to tie off from their old unit on Life Cycles. They have taken ownership in inquiring and deciding which  life cycle to learn more about and are currently in the middle of creating their own mobiles. To do so, Preschool is learning a key life skills, how to sew. Their patience in this tricky process has been impressive. Miss Michelotti cannot wait for these mobiles to be finished, so far the work is looking very promising!

To help wrap up their learning about Life Cycles, Preschool had the opportunity to visit the Environmental College on Rokko Island. Preschool saw many different animals, ranging from friendly house pets to reptiles. They enjoyed learning about these different animals and seeing them close up. 

If all these events were not enough, Preschool's week was even busier! In maths, it was all about counting. Or better said, skip counting and grouping! Preschool can count confidently up to 100 and has started skip counting by 2's, 5's and even 10's!

In Language, Preschool continued practising the writing process and completed a multi-step writing project, where they created and wrote about their own Wild Thing.

And of course no Preschool week would be complete without a bit of cooking! To celebrate such a busy and eventful week, Preschool cooled off with some ice-cream!

Thank you for the great week and wishing you all a very relaxing weekend!

Sabina Michelotti

Reminders

• Show&Tell- please send in something related to transportation to support our new Unit.
• Preschool has had another addition to the class and are happy to welcome a new student and his family.
• Trip to the Rokko Liner Garage on Monday from 10:30-12.30.

Round and Round the Garden

This week started with a lot of rain but as the sun came out, the transition from a relaxing break back to the busy Preschool classroom became much easier.

The focus this week was to continue exploring the Unit on Life Cycles, picking up where we left off before the break. Preschool took it further looking at how plants grow and where they get their nutrients from, by focussing on soil and the role that earthworms have. They made their own wormeries, carefully monitoring the worms' hard work. 

Linking their studies back to the unit, in Language, Preschool practised reading and following a recipe and tested themselves by preparing their own bread dough. They made delicious Flower Seed Bread and even their own butter to go with it. That definitely needed both patience and a lot of bicep power! 

More work in Language revolved around the story Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and will be completing a multi-step writing project on the book this week. 

Maths focussed on becoming calendar experts, from the seasons to learning a trick for remembering the number of days in each month. 

A lot of time has also been spent practising for assembly, which Preschool is very excited about. 

Reminders

• We will be starting to wrap up the Unit this week and completing the Summative Assessment. To support this, please send in an old clothes hanger (a wire one would be best). Students will need their own to make a hanging mobiles They will have to choose an animal, insect or even plant and explore the four main stages in that life cycle to create their own mobile. 

• Preschool will be hosting the May Assembly, performing the The Very Hungry Caterpillar, on May, 25th at 12:30. Please send in a colourful outfit for your child (colourful shorts and shirt or dress) by Friday, May 20th. This will make part of their costume for the assembly. 

• Preschool will be going to the Environmental College (on Rokko Island) on Friday, May 27th. 

• Your child will be bringing home new Oxford Reading Books on Mondays and should be returned by Friday of that week. 

• Starting Monday, May 16th all students are expected to bring a sunhat. If they do not have a hat they will not be able to join in with outdoor play. So, please do not forget to send it in with your child. 

Have a great Sunday and week ahead!

Sabina Michelotti