This month our focus was primarily on FIRE SAFETY. We created a fire station in the dramatic play area. This gave the children an opportunity to dress like a firefighter and act out familiar scenarios using the different firefighter props. We encouraged the children to play with pretend hoses, boots, helmets, coats, extinguishers, and a firetruck. The children decorated the fire station with finger-painted flames, painted cardboard to resemble the bricks on a fire station, and lights on a fire truck. Using a KWL chart (WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED) we were able to access the children’s prior knowledge about fire safety. They knew some basics of fire safety including what firefighters wear and what they drive. After many opportunities to investigate using literature, vocabulary from our word wall and real-life visuals we re-assessed at the end of our study. The children were then able to name, describe, and articulate many concepts relating to fire safety. We even took a trip around campus searching for fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, and fire alarms. We learned how to stop, drop and roll, how to use of firefighter tools properly, identifying safety tools in our immediate environment, and knowing which number to call in case of emergency.
Going along with fire safety, this was a perfect opportunity to discuss concepts of hot and cold. We used sorting games with visuals of familiar items that were hot or cold, such as, a glacier, a hot tub, matches, and ice. The children were asked to think about why these items were hot and cold and if they were safe to touch. Using engaging activities with ice and warm water, allowed the children to experience concepts of solid to liquid as well as learning about melting and freezing. This ties into our daily weather routine of predicting each day’s forecast, as well as what is needed to wear outside to keep our bodies safe as the temperature change.
Moving forward we will continue to read fairytales. The children are currently enjoying “The Gingerbread Man.” The gingerbread man finds mischief after he runs away from the bakers, the police officer, the mangy dog eating garbage, and a horse and silly cow until he meets his match, Mr. Fox. The fox outsmarted the gingerbread man as he tricked him into getting on his shoulder so he could eat him up. So far we have made gingerbread playdough, using nutmeg and cinnamon for a wonderful aroma. We also added gingerbread stew to build number recognition and math concepts, as well as created our own gingerbread boy and girl.
As the semester winds down, the last day the children will be in attendance is Thursday, December 16th. We will not return until Tuesday, January 4th. Please keep an eye out for conference sign up as conferences will be held Monday and Tuesday, December 20th and 21st. Please see Hillary if you have any questions regarding the rest of the semester as Bri is soon to be leaving for maternity leave.
As always, have a healthy and happy holiday season and we will see you next year!
Hillary & Bri
