After having a snow day on the actual Ground Hog day, we returned to school and pretended it was Ground Hog Day all over again. We made a ground hog puppet and and two scenes for him to play in. We tried to define what a shadow is and played with shadows with the overhead projector. We made shadows on the projector screen and shadows with our bodies on the white wall.
We read a funny and informative book about the ground hog. The Meow Cats loved knowing that a Ground Hog is also called a whistle pig and a woodchuck. Most of us have never seen a ground hog, so if you see one on the side of the road can you point one out to your preschooler? We learned that a Ground Hog has ear flaps to keep dirt from getting in it’s ears and that a ground hog’s teeth never stop growing. We learned how they build tunnel homes that won’t flood and how they hibernate. A groundhog’s heart only beats once per minute while it is hibernating. We drummed the rhythm of our own heartbeat on our chests and then did one drum and waited a full minute for the groundhog’s heartbeat. One minute is a very long time at circle time.
This week is Valentines Day, and although we don’t generally celebrate holidays at the Children’s Garden we will share Valentines this year. It is completely optional for you, but we will make paper bag mailboxes on top of the cubbies on Wednesday morning. I will provide a list of first names in our class via email later today. You can make them or buy them, but it gives the kids an opportunity to write their name and send mail. As always, please don’t include candy. In the classroom we will talk about the power of friendship and do some heart artwork. If you are a Tuesday/Thursday friend, you are welcome to let me distribute your Valentines on Wednesday and pick up your bag on Thursday.
On Thursday we might talk about the Chinese Lunar New Year and see where that takes us. Anna’s family is going to bring in a traditional Chinese New Year craft one day this week. Maybe we can somehow create our own lion dance and create with the color red. Perhaps we can share oranges at snack on Friday. Simple yet celebratory when we share…and the children have been talking about the “red oranges” I’ve been eating at snacktime.
