Imagination Express Preschool

E is for Electricity!

Our preschoolers LOVE science experiments! This was a great one to review our previous discussions on the scientific method, talk about electricity and write down our observations.

We started by talking all about electricity. What is it? What does it do? A fun way to demonstrate this is to turn the lights on and off. How does the electricity get from the switch to the light?

Electricity needs a power source. In our experiment this is the battery. We then created an electrical circuit using alligator clip wires, a battery and a christmas lightbulb. It is so exciting to see the light bulb light up! Then we added another set of alligator clips that we could add different objects into. If the light bulb went on, then electricity could go through our object (it was a conductor). If the lightbulb wouldn't go on, the electricity couldn't go through the object.

After each test, we recorded our observations--because we are scientists! Then we could observe what did all of the conductors have in common? They are all metal!

Want to try this? Here's a recording sheet for your observations . . .

preschoolelectricalconductors

C is for . . . Color Mixing!

AAACK! EXCITING STUFF!

This expression pretty much sums up the enormous love for our slime play! Huge hit!

As part of our introduction to mixing colors, this simple color mixing science adventure

inspired oodles of excitement!

We started out with red, yellow and blue 50/50 mixtures of vinegar and water,

and a bowl of magic white powder (aka baking soda)

We made predictions on what would happen if we mixed the colors together.

Two children each selected a color and poured some into another cup.

We then made observations on what happened.

Think that was cool?

Now just add a big scoop of magic powder in and watch the explosion.

Awesome.

For our art center, I set out plates of red, yellow and blue paint and encouraged the children to choose a color for each hand, put a print on the paper and then rub their hands together to make a new color. This too was a huge hit--they'd run and wash their hands and come back ready to experiment with new color combinations. Best of all, it was almost completely a self directed activity. They had been presented the idea of combining colors through our story, circle time discussion and science experiences that now they were excited to take their learning and play with it.

For children who like things a little less messy--paintbrushes were available to experiment with as well.

We also taped baggies with red, yellow and blue colored ice to our glass door.

It was so fun to watch these melt throughout the morning and slowly create new colors in the bottom of the bag. The kids loved it!

Seriously an awesome day at preschool.

I CAN!

Today we celebrated all of the wonderful things we CAN do at preschool! This is was a great introduction to our preschool classroom and tools for the start of a new school year.

We can . . . be silly!

We can . . . paint!

We can . . . glue!

We can . . . build and chop like ninjas!

We can . . . string beads!

We can . . . HAVE A TON OF FUN!

Fabulous First day!

We had so much fun getting to know each other and exploring our preschool classroom today!

We met Moko the class monkey.

In his magic bag we found some preschool "tools."

They introduced themselves to us and told us how to keep them happy

(Ms. Glue likes to be squeezed and squished--but she reminded us to keep her hat closed when she is done so she doesn't dry out!).

We even rocked just like Pete the Cat (and you can too with this link!) in our school shoes

. . . but most of all, we had fun meeting new friends!

Finding animals for the backyard of the block house.

"Look! A Mechanic shop!" See the car made out of blocks to the left? Awesome.

Exploring with watercolors. Water, paint, paper and back to the water and repeat!
For some kids this was a little tricky to remember--but very fun to practice!

Making Birthday Crowns

These girls soon discovered playdough makes great play food and squishing it into little containers is lots of fun! It is also an excellent fine motor practice. I just had the playdough set out--but the quickly combined it with the play kitchen and created a whole new experience.

WELCOME CLASS OF 2014!

Nature Walk

We had so much fun on our nature walk--

We found grass, trees, flowers, sticks, rocks and bugs.

We even discovered a bird in a nest in the tree right outside our classroom!

Each child had a paper bag to put items they wanted to collect.

When we got back to our classroom,

we turned our collections into art using clear contact paper.

We played hyperdash (see here). The kids love cheering for each other as much as playing and it helps practice quick identification of numbers and colors . . . while improving gross motor skills . . . but most of all--its FUN!

F is for Fire Safety

New Preschool Friends!

Fire can be good and bad . . . but either way it's important to know how to be safe with fire! We brainstormed good and bad fire . . .

Good Fire:

Birthday Candles
Camping Fire
Cook hot dogs and marshmellows
Fireplace fire gets us warm with hot chocolate!

Bad Fire:

house on fire
burns trees and chipmunks (animals)
hurts people

What if you get fire on your clothes?!? STOP DROP AND ROLL! We had LOTS of fun practicing that! :)

We also talked about 9-1-1 . . . only call in an emergency! Then we had fun taking turns and practicing . . .

Oh no! Look, the house is on fire! Call 911!

Here comes fireman Brigham, ready to put it out!

This would be a great discussion to continue at home! Some things I've learned from our local fire fighters about discussing fire safety with children. . .

If your child finds matches, a lighter (show them what these look like) or a burning candle . . . don't touch them and go tell a grown up!
Stop, Drop and Roll (don't run!) if you have fire on you.
Let your child hear the fire alarm--and talk about what it means and what to do if they hear it (get out!)
Practice multiple ways to get out of your house from all the different rooms.
Have a meeting place outside away from the house that everyone goes immediately to. Our family meets at the mailbox across the street. Practice getting out and going straight there. This allows parents, the firefighters, etc to know who is out and who is still in and helps avoid a lot of chaos and confusion.
If you see fire, GET OUT before you call 9-1-1 (or do anything else--get a toy, pet, etc). You can always borrow someone elses phone to call, but you can only save yourself once!
Show them a picture (or take the to the fire station) of a firefighter in ALL of their gear . . . this is someone NOT to hide from (even though the mask can look and sound scary--very darth vader like) They are there to help you! If you see one if your house--he's there to help you and get you safe!
These things should be practiced and talked about regularly so they won't forget when the time comes!

F is for Food!

"Look, Ms Tamra, I'm making waffles for Daddy!"

Today we explored Dr Sears Traffic Light Eating. (For more information click here)

This is such an easy way to help kids remember

what foods help them grow and

what food should be saved for special occasions like parties or celebrations.

So many foods to choose from! But which food will help our bodies the most? Like Lightening McQueen, we need the right kind of gas to go fast!

Green Go foods are things a farmer could grow--your body needs LOTS of these!

We found pictures and divided them into the right categories. For simplicity in this discussion, we only briefly touched on the yellow light foods.

Making Playdough--a great Math activity with all the reading numbers, counting, comparing sizes and turn taking!

So much fun to watch the food coloring turn it green!!

F is for FISH and First day of FUN!

Our first day of summer preschool was full of fun getting to know each other and learning all about fish.

Music: One of our absolutely favorite songs "Goldfish" by Laurie Berkner . . .

Reading/Social Studies: We met Moko (click on this link to learn more) and his treasure box then used this book to explore being a good friend:

Art: Making our own rainbow fish . . .

Science: Talking all about fish and exploring bubbles.

We gathered different kinds of soap . . . liquid dish soap, bar soap, shampoo, and hand soap. Then we mixed them with water and explored the different kind of bubbles they made. Which made the most bubbles? Which made the least? What color are the bubbles? Does it matter what color the soap was?

You can't talk about bubbles without going outside and blowing some!

So much fun--can't wait to see what Wednesday brings!

Ms Tamra's Bookbag

One of our preschool friends brought this wonderful book to share and the entire class LOVED it! We listened to it over and over and over again! Even when we weren't listening to it the kids were talking about it, humming it and singing the song. Couldn't recommend it more!