Ms. Marie’s Update 04 08 19        

April 8, 2019

By Marie Bloch

Dear Preschool Families & Friends:

Although we are having some very warm weather, please send in jackets for days that are cooler since we go outside regularly.  Our final STEM Unit is Simple Machines.  There are so many ways we use simple machines in our daily lives.  Our study will focus on levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, screws, wheels and axles.  Please see the following family letter for more information.

We will be starting our Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) this week for children going to kindergarten next year. 

Please promote your child’s timeliness and attendance at school.   Family support of early school experiences such as being on time and attending regularly are statistically proven to set the foundation for improved future learning and success for children into their adulthood.  Thank you for your efforts to promote the best opportunities for your child! Please continue to read to your children and support the completion of their homework and literacy activities. 

Volunteer Opportunity at the Spark! Discovery Preschool Carnival: Our staff and PTO are preparing for a fun Carnival on Friday, 4/26, after school.  This is our 5th year hosting a carnival, and we get many, many children and families who attend.  We need your help to pass along information in your newsletters, weekly reminders, and communications with families so this is a success.  Rachel and the PTO will send staff some emails asking staff to volunteer.  If you have older children, or spouses/partners and you want them to volunteer, feel free to sign them up.  

This week:

Letters: Ll, Ff, Ee, Hh

Number: 18

Shape: Cone

Color:  Green

We are also talking about how to keep our hands to ourselves at school and use kind words.  We are all unique and we encourage the children to celebrate each other’s differences.  

Please contact Ms. Marie if you have any questions or concerns ([email protected].

Dear Families, We are beginning our next STEM unit on Simple Machines. You might wonder, “What is a simple machine?” Simple machines are things that make work easier, as adults this sounds like magic. Anything to make work/life easier is great to learn about. Throughout this unit we will focus on the six basic simple machines: Pulley Lever Wheel and Axle Inclined Plane Wedge Screw We will also talk about work, force and motion. This unit is going to be very hand-ons and exciting for students to learn more about these machines and the everyday uses of them. As we study Simple Machines we will learn concepts and skills in social studies, science, literacy, math, the arts, and technology. We will also be developing thinking skills to observe, investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions and test our ideas. What You Can Do at Home Read the books on myOn about simple machines There are a ton and the students love myOn Point out simple machines in the natural environment Ask about investigations we have been doing with simple machines Create your own simple machines Some Activities We Have Planned Identifying everyday objects that are simple machines Building and using models of simple machines Using an inclined plane to measure how far items go at different heights Exploring simple machines in the block center Using simple machines in art Using a simple machine to help with a real problem (ball stuck in a tree or maybe pumpkin too big to lift) Thanks for playing an important role in our learning!