The photo above is of carved pumpkins by the Live Oak students.
The days of pumpkin carving brought the Halloween mood and a lot of fun to Live Oak. From drawing trucks, the children started transitioning to drawing pumpkins and enthusiastically crafting different kinds of Halloween projects, such as bats, ghosts, cats, and witches. Also, a big cardboard truck project turned into a Halloween truck!
Truck teamwork
They started painting the truck cabin, box and wheels. After joining the two big parts, they tried to glue the 12 wheels. When they noticed the wheels didn’t stick to the truck, they solved it by using tape to secure them. It was great to see the older students leading the project, and including the younger ones helping solve the problem. We were amazed by how engaged they were working and collaborating together!
Building community
We have been very glad to notice connections and friendships growing between the new and returning students–playing or working together, helping each other in different situations (transitioning from naptime to getting up, cleaning tables, mopping spills, and packing nap stuff).
In group projects, we intentionally blend returning and new children, so they have the opportunity to connect with each other while working on fun activities.
Social Emotional
Sharing can sometimes be difficult for children. Preschool age is a good opportunity for them to practice and learn this ability.
We constantly foster and encourage sharing through group activities, games, and reading books from the Second Step (Social Emotional curriculum). This month we have been reading the book “Why should I share?” By Claire Llewellyn
Teaching children to share is important. It encourages self-regulation, self discipline and the ability to know when one is feeling satisfied. It also promotes generosity. They also learn to enjoy making other children happy, and when they are able to do it on their own and not when they are forced, they learn how to be kind and giving.
Cooking project
Our cooking project was pumpkin muffins, and our cooks were Jet, Paige, Guy, and Adeline, and each student decorated their own muffin!
It was a delicious treat we had at our Halloween party!
October Birthdays
We celebrated Adeline, Aliyah, and Quinn’s birthdays.
Happy birthday to the three of them!!!
Appreciations:
Big thanks to the volunteers in our Pumpkin carving activity! These included Marissa (Marshall’s mom), Paula (Paige’s mom), Megan (Amara’s mom), Anna (Whit’s mom), Marisa (Ziggy’s mom), and Andie (Henrik’s mom.)
Many thanks to Patrick, Whit’s dad, for the big envelopes donation!
Thank you to Henrik and Paige’s family for taking the laundry these weeks.
Coming up
* Día de Muertos: Thursday Nov. 10th 9:15am to 10:30 More details coming soon.
* Friday Nov. 4th: In person Parent teacher conferences.
* Friday Nov. 11th: School closed. No childcare
* Friday Nov. 18th: Fall Potluck–more to be announced
Happy Halloween!!!
Griselda, Niki and Catherine