A Message from "The Owls" 10-8-10

Dear Families,

In the Owl Room this week we have been using all of our senses to
study a favorite fall fruit: apples. In the dramatic play (or housekeeping)
area, we have introduced toy apples and pears. The children have been
making pretend apple juice, pretend apple pie, and even pretend kugel! The
children all had a chance to try their hands at some real cooking this week as
they helped to prepare snack on Tuesday. We used an apple
peeler/corer/slicer machine to slice and peel apples. We then sprinkled a
little lemon juice on top, and the children learned that this would keep the
apples from browning. Finally, we sprinkled on a little cinnamon and sugar.
The apple snack was a big hit!

We have also encountered apples at the art table, where we have
printed and painted with apples sliced in half. Some of the children even
noticed the interesting pattern that the seeds create in the center of an
apple.

We have also added a few new math activities this week, focusing on
apples. Morah Kate and Morah Larissa introduced a matching game, in which
the children matched an apple with a numeral (such as 7) to an apple with
that number of apple stickers on it. We have worked with numbers 1-10 in
this way. We also have introduced an apple sorting activity. The children
have been sorting red, yellow, and green paper apples. They have learned
that sorting means creating collections that match each other (in this case
that match by color). Finally, at a new circle time activity, we have been
chanting a new poem called “Down Around the Corner,” in which the children
pretend to go to a “grocery” store to pick out one of 7 apples. This allows us
to practice counting 1-7 as a group.

We have also learned a song about apples to the tune of “B-I-N-G-O,”
and it has become very popular and frequently requested! The books that we
have read this week have included Apples and Pumpkins, Amazing Apples, and
Red Are the Apples. Through the study of apples in so many parts of the
curriculum, the children are able to acquire and practice a variety of
concepts (such as counting, sequencing, letter knowledge) through familiar
and interesting experiences.

Another project that we have been busy working on this week has
been the collaborative art project that we are making as a gift to the Trust
family at the gala next month. Collaborative art projects are wonderful
ways for children to learn new skills from each other, and to tangibly see the
rewards of working together in a group.

Shabbat Shalom, and best wishes for the weekend.

-- Morah Larissa and Morah Kate