Pre-Kindergarten Post

This Week's "Pre-Kindergarten Post"

Pre-K started off the week with a performance for a friend of CPS, Mr. Haas.  They acted out lighting candles for each night of Hanukkah, creating a human menorah.  As usual, Pre-K was a big hit.  During the rest of the week, we learned about Eid and Christmas.  We read a story called The Best Eid Ever by Asma Mobin-Uddin-, colored in geometric Islamic designs, and built a mosque with blocks.  As we switched to learning about Christmas, we focused on familiar traditions.  These included decorating a Christmas tree, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, and receiving gifts.  The children led some interesting discussions about whether or not Santa Claus and his reindeer were real; we took a vote and 7 children thought he was real and 4 children did not.  This generated even more discussion about how every family celebrates differently and believes different things, and that we have to be respectful of all families. 

   On Friday the children began making gifts for others.  They were very excited to create something for someone else.  We read The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola about a little girl who lives in Mexico and creates a very special gift.  This got everyone in the mood for gift-making and gift-giving!

   We hope that all of you have a safe and peaceful vacation.  We look forward to seeing you at the Winter Assembly and in 2009!

Letter and Sound Study

This week we will focus on the letter

G

as in gift, girl, goose

Holiday Words

We have been learning some new words, as well as focusing on other more commonly used words:

holiday     celebrate

Hanukkah     Eid 

Christmas   chimney 

stocking    reindeer

Last Week's "Pre-Kindergarten Post"

Students jumped right back into learning after a restful Thanksgiving break last week.  We began our December study of holidays.  We will focus on the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, the Muslim celebration of Eid, the Christian celebration of Christmas, and the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa.  Our goal is to have children learn traditions and customs related to each holiday and be able to compare the similarities and differences.  We also hope each child will feel comfortable sharing his or her family’s traditions, appreciating the diversity within our classroom and school.

   Last week we learned about Hanukkah.  Children pretended to light candles on the menorah, one for each of the eight nights of the holiday.  They played dreidel, a traditional Hanukkah game.  We also learned that while most people in our CPS community do not celebrate Hanukkah, those who do were happy to share their family’s traditions.  Pre-K was especially interested in the historical background to the holiday.  Two miracles are celebrated: first, that more than 2000 years ago, a small Jewish army conquered the larger army of King Antiochus, winning back their temple and their religious freedom.  Second, that a very small bit of oil used to light the menorah lasted for eight days. 

    This week we will focus on Muslim celebration of Eid, and begin learning about Christmas traditions.      

Letter and Sound Study

This week we will focus on the letters

M and D

Holiday Words

We have been learning some new words, as well as focusing on other more commonly used words:

 holiday     celebrate

Hanukkah  Jewish    temple

yamaka  menorah

Eid     Muslim

masjid      mosque

kimar      kufi

 
What was pre-kindergarten learning last month? Read more at: Pre-Kindergarten Monthly Highlights