Good Morning My Shining Stars!Today, is Friday, May 22nd, 2020

It's Fantastic Friday!Can you believe that it's Friday already?

And it's a long, holiday weekend!

Today is the last day of the school week, tomorrow starts the weekend. Did you look closely at the calendar for this weekend? We don’t have school on Monday, because it is the start of the holiday weekend. Monday, May 25th, 2020 is Memorial Day. Because we don’t have school work to do on Monday, you have an extra day to play this weekend.

Memorial Day is a day we think about and remember all the soldiers who were in the army and died. They were so brave and worked hard to protect our country, it is important we show respect and remember them. Sometimes on Memorial Day families might have a BBQ, go swimming at the beach or pool or get excited about Summer because Summer is almost here!

There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day!

No lessons will be posted on Monday, May 25th.

Relax, enjoy and have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Love,Mrs. Anello

Circle Time:

Please continue to try do our regular morning routine each day.  As a class we meeton the carpet for morning prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, calendar, holidays, days of the week, months, seasons, weather.We start with the Hail Mary.  We say the Pledge and sing God Bless America.  Please go over the calendar and weather with them each day.  They should be able to lead you through most of this, hopefully you have some type of calendar.  Sign of the CrossIn the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! Morning Prayer: Hail Mary Pledge of AllegianceCalendar

What day of the week is it? What date is it? What month is it? Tomorrow is? Yesterday was? What is the weather today? Pattern – create a pattern and ask him/her to finish it. How many girls are here?  How many boys are here?  How many students are

here today?  How many are absent and who are they?  (You can be inventive and write students names on small slips of paper and turn over the names that are here).

What number comes before (pick a number 0 to 10) What number comes after (pick a number 0 to 10)  What number comes between (example 5 and 7)It helps if you can show them a number line when asking the above 3 questions.Months“How many months are there in a year?” "There are 12 months in a year".Months of the Year Song

“Which month are we in?”  “We are in the fifth month - May.Days of the WeekHow many days are there in a week?” Count how many days are left until the end of the month.Identify any special days for your child in May (Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, birthdays).

Days of the Week Songs

“Yesterday was…, so which day is today?  Which day will tomorrow be?” Clap the day of the Month - If it is May 22 - clap and count aloud to 22. Today is Friday, May 22, 2020Weather

The Weather Song(Sung to the tune “Clementine”)

What’s the weather?What’s the weather out today?

What’s the weather?What’s the weather out today?

Is it sunny?(Hold hands above head in a circle)

Is it cloudy?(Cover eyes with hands)

Is it rainy out today?(Flutter fingers downwards)

Is it snowy?(Wrap arms around the body and shiver)

Is it windy?(Blow children over with a swoop of your arms)

Is it foggy?(Owl eyes)

What’s the weather out today

Seasons

Review 4 Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.  “Which season are we in?” We are in the Season of Spring.

Sing ABC SONG as you point to each letter.Letter sounds – point to letter A and say the letter name and then the letter sound a/apple and a/ape.  Recognizing Aa – Zz.

NumbersCount 0-10Count 11-20Count backwards 10 to zero then say blast off

ShapesShapes – point to pictures of these shapes and ask them to name itCircle, oval, rhombus/diamond, star, heart, triangle, rectangle and squareAsk your child to say and use their hands to form these shapes while saying these shapes poems:Circle – Make a circle, make a circle, big and round with me.  No straight lines, no straight lines, a circle you will see.Oval – Make an oval, make an oval, tall and thin with me, no straight lines, no straight lines, just like a zero.Rhombus – Make a rhombus, make a rhombus, with slanted lines.  Make this shape, make this shape, just like a diamond.Triangle – make a triangle, make a triangle, with corners 3, three lines, three lines, a triangle is its name.Rectangle – Make a rectangle, make a rectangle, two sides long, two sides short, just like a door.  Knock, KnockSquare – Make a square, make a square, with 4 corners sides the same, make this shape, make this shape, square is its name. 

Snack Time : Take a break and have a morning snack.Remember to wash your hands before you eat. Prayer Before We Eat - Our Snack Time Prayer

Prayer of ThanksgivingThank you for the world so sweet.Thank you for the food we eat.Thank you for the birds that sing.Thank you, God, for everything.

Fine Motor SkillsDeveloping fine motor skills is important for this age. It improves the use of the small muscles in the hands, wrists and fingers. It also strengthens hand-eye coordination.Here are some suggestions for activities the children have done in the classroom:drawing, coloring and painting

Tracing cutting with scissors building blocks and Legos Play-Doh and puzzles lacing or tying activities stacking up cups using tweezers or tongs to pick up objects

Be creative with any other activities and have fun!

The next few weeks the children will learn/practice how to cut and glue inpreparation for Pre-Kindergarten.This week we will practice cutting with scissors.

Ready, Steady, Cut: Scissor Skills for Nursery (Preschoolers)Learning how to use scissors plays an important role in developing the fine motor skills young children need in order to hold pencils and crayons. These tips will help you to grow your children’s scissor cutting skills.

Developmental Sequence of Cutting Skills:This is the order in which cutting skills should be introduced to young children.

Rip Snip Fringe Straight lines Zig zag lines Curved lines (circles, waves, hearts) Right angles (squares and rectangles)

Today, have the children practice/reinforce zig zag and curved lines.

Step 5: Cutting Zig Zag Lines

Next up are zig zag lines. Zig zag lines are more difficult to cut because they require the child to turn the paper or their hand as they cut. This is a much more advanced cutting skill than snipping or cutting straight lines and can lead to hand fatigue quickly. Be sure your kids are really ready before introducing zig zag lines.

Step 6: Cutting Curved Lines

Even more difficult than zig zag are curved lines. These lines can be very tricky for young children to cut, it’s best to wait until they have developed the muscles in their hands to accomplish this challenging task. How do you know if your children are ready for curved lines? Observe them ripping,

snipping, fringing, and cutting on straight and zig zag lines. If they can do those things, then they may be ready to move on.

2 Worksheets on Scissor Skills – Cutting Curved LinesPlease see Little Angels Class Webpage – PDF

Alphabet /Literacy: Review Letters of the Alphabet I can recognize letters and sounds. I can trace and write the letter. Helpful Hint:Review how to form the letter, first by tracing it with your finger and then by using a pencil to trace. Please look at both the capital and lowercase letter.

Review Letter Mm: Mm is for mouse

Purpose: For each letter: Varied letter practice

Resources Used: • Letter ___ Pages • Letter ___ Mini-Book

Suggested Use:Use the corresponding Letter Pages for independent practice. The children will be able to recognize, trace, and write the letter.Move on to letter formation practice using the Letter ___ Mini-Book. The first page of the mini-book reinforces proper formation with a fun rhyme to remind the children the motions they make to form each letter. Students will then practice writing the uppercase and lowercase forms of the letter and complete a short activity. Repeat this process with each letter of the alphabet.Letter Mm PacketFirst, 2 Letter Page Worksheets are for independent practice.

Second, Pages: 1-4 can be made into a Mini-BookPlease see Little Angels Class Webpage – PDF

There is no timeline for this. Your child can work at his/her own pace.

Story Time:

Please remember, reading is a daily activity! Read with your child for at least 15 minutes a day!Choose additional books from your collection at home to practice important literacy skills. Choose books from different genres and about different subjects.

Helpful Hint:Try to encourage complete sentences from your child, not just one word.Tip: Use the pictures to help your child recall information and answer your questions. Read aloud the author’s name and illustrator’s name (if applicable). Define these terms for your child before reading the story.

Introduce the story by reading the title and showing the front and back cover.  Ask what does he or she see on it?Read the name of the author and ask what does an author do? Read the name of the illustrator and ask what does an illustrator do?  Turn to the title page and read title again and ask – Why does a book have a title?  (It tells us what the story is going to be about.)  Ask what is this page called?  (The title page).Introduce any words in the story that your child may not know and explain definition.Read story.  At the end of the story ask some who, what, where, and when questions.

Who are the characters in the story?  Remember characters can be people or animals.

Ask where did the story take place? Was it in a house, forest, outside, kitchen etc.?

When did the story take place?  Was its morning, noon, or night. Is this a true story?  Could it happen in real life? Example: Can animals

talk in real life? What happened in the beginning of the story?  How did the story end? What was your favorite part or character in the story? Your child can

draw a picture to one of these questions. At the bottom of their picture, write a caption. Your child can dictate what is happening in the picture and you may write it for the

What is Memorial Day?Memorial Day is to honor and remember those who died fighting for our country. Many children (more than you would think) either know or know of someone who is currently serving in the military right now.

Hero Day by Melinda Hardinhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjSFHcf6Yg

Epic! Assignments – Choose 1 story to read

Assignment: Holidays: Memorial Day

Assignment: American Holidays: Memorial Day

Assignment: Celebrating Holidays: Memorial Day

 Math : It is pattern day!I can make patterns.

What are patterns?Patterns are created when objects, shapes or figures are arranged in a particular order that is repeated over and over again.

There is a counting worksheet – Count the StarsThere is a pattern worksheet - Complete the PatternPlease see Little Angels Class Webpage – PDF

Science Connection :

Science: Worms!

I can recall facts.

In the spring the flowers begin to grow, the trees begin to bud, and all around you will see birds and other animals in the parks and gardens. You will also see insects and other creatures. Today we will read a story about the importance of one of these creatures: worms!

Make a KWL chart to fill in while you learn facts about worms! Write what you know, and what you want to learn, before you read the book and watch the video. When you have finished watching the video, write some things you learned!

Link/attachment found in my PDFs file

We will read Yucky Worms by Vivian French https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5HZDXkZgf4

How did the boy feel about worms in the beginning of the story? What did he learn? How did he feel about worms at the end of the story? Why?

You may not like picking up worms, but they are important to have in our gardens and parks. Watch this video to learn facts about worms. How do they move? How do they breathe? Where do they live? Make a list of some things you learned about worms on your KWL chart.

Worms Are Wonderful:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-zc_1vjLnI

Additional Books for the Children to Read:

Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

Social Studies:

Let’s get ready to celebrate Memorial Day, which is on Monday!

Memorial Day:It is a United States national holiday declared to honor those who have fought and died serving their country.  Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year.  

Listen to the story Memorial Day Surprise? By Theresa Martin GoldingWhat was Marco’s surprise? Ask who the veterans are in your family and celebrate them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaHl7BhGFN8

I have chosen 3 Memorial Day Emergent Reader and Coloring Books. Please, feel free to download any of them to read with your children.

Here are some videos for children explaining Memorial Day:

Memorial Day – PBS Kidshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWn2RPr-GhE&t=26s

The Meaning of Memorial Day - Smartkids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW5uk77ykHc

What is Memorial Day Video for Kids & Preschoolers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCJApBnLcAo&feature=youtu.be

Free Choice/Creative Playtime:Snack Idea to Cook Up for Memorial Day!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation!

Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation!

Fruit Flag

Ingredients Needed: Strawberries or RaspberriesBlueberriesGraham CrackersVanilla Yogurt or Cream Cheese

Directions:1. Using a simple butter knife, slather a good layer of vanilla yogurt or cream cheese on one side of a graham cracker rectangle.

2. Now for the fruit and ultimately what makes the flag come to life! Lay two to four blueberries on one corner of your vanilla yogurt or cream cheese covered graham cracker {just like the flag.}

3. Next is the “red” stripe of the flag you can use raspberries for this step {you can also use cut up strawberries.} Simply slice your raspberries in half with a knife and lay them in two rows on your vanilla yogurt or cream cheese covered graham cracker.

Poppy Crafthttps://www.mrsdscorner.com/poppy-craft-for-memorial-day/

Star Manhttps://funfamilycrafts.com/star-man/

Let’s make an American Flag to celebrate. We could make a windsock flag or a paper flag.

Paper FlagHave your child: Color, cut out, or rip strips of red paper Color, cut out, or paint a blue squareColor, cut out, or paint stars/make dots and put them on the blue squareGlue both on a white piece of paper to make a flag

Windsock FlagHave your child:Paint, color, or cut out stars on a blue sheet of construction paper. Form blue paper into a cylinder shape and staple or tape. Cut out red and white strips from crepe/tissue paper (or use string, ribbon) and attach to the blue cylinder. Attach a string at the top to hang.

Music and Movement:Memorial Day Activities Theme Music and Movement Ideas

to get your children Movin' and Groovin'!

Freeze Dancing with Red, White and Blue StreamersPlay patriotic music while the children dance using the streamers that represent the colors of our flag. When the music stops, they FREEZE until the music stops again.

Patriotic SongsThe children can sing and dance to some songs of patriotic pride.

Watch, sing and dance to Jack Hartmann’s patriotic song, American to Me:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oex3j_9AhGA

Watch, sing and dance to The Kiboomers, You’re A Grand Old Flag:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO12beCe_ac

Watch, sing, and dance to The Kiboomers, Memorial Day Flag Songs for Kids:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9P0hX6QHM

Watch, sing and dance to The Kiboomers, The Star Bangled Banner:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMy7Rpk5Bo

Watch, sing and dance to The Kiboomers, America the Beatiful:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpP0isJMsY

Watch, sing and dance to 50 States Song by The Learning Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmaNVWPo3M4

Watch, sing and dance to Memorial Day Poppy Song, by The Kiboomers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKYBsdcVJNg

Lunch:Take a break and have some lunch. Don’t forget to wash your hands. Our Lunch Time PrayerGrace Before MealsGod is great, God is good.Let us thank Him for our food.Amen

Rest Time:Look at some books, bring some stuffed animals over with you, play some soft soothing music (children’s lullabies, relaxing music) for you tolisten to while you rest.

Free Choice Play Time:

After rest time…Use this time to safely go outside and get some fresh air! If you have a yard, it’s easy to play outside. Go for a walk, ride a bike/scooters/skates. If you are staying inside, you can do some exercises, spend time on GoNoodle, do Yoga, play your favorite music and dance or even play musical chairs like we do at a party.

End of the Day Routine: Sing songs, read a story, and recap the day’s activities