Gingerbread, goodies, gifts and gladness are just a few of the words we can use to describe letter Gg week! One thing is for certain, it has gone by way too fast!
This week in our Imagination Station we decorated gingerbread men and sat by the fireplace to enjoy a good book. We also played with the good guys of Marvel and DC while they helped to keep Metropolis, New York, and Gotham City safe. There were green cups we used to stack and make a Christmas tree and geometric shapes to manipulate on the light table to create different patterns and pictures. Jingle bells filled a sensory bin and those were gathered by using a big magnet. Everyone had an opportunity to visit an invitation where we continued a red and green pattern to create a garland using grass string and some of the biggest pompoms we have ever used! Our friends loved them!
It wouldn’t be Christmas and letter Gg week without something inspired by the Grinch. This week, we worked together to rip or cut small pieces of various green colored tissue paper and put it on a sticky shape of the Grinch. We also had a big tray filled with four containers full of sticky, green, glittery, Grinch slime. It was complete with little red hearts. This invitation was the most popular this week.
Geoboards and rubber bands were used to make lines and snowflakes. Coloring books and watercolor paper to make the last Christmas pictures of 2024 were frequently visited. Games filled the shelves and were often played throughout Letter Gg week. We used glitter and cool color paints to create a collaborative piece that will decorate our windows when friends come back after the New Year. This week we also wrote in our journal about how to get on Santa’s good list.
In Science this week we decorated gingerbread cookies. We also did some tasty science where we sampled three different flavors of candy canes. We voted if they were good or gross! There are a few who are definitely not fans of sour, and some who are definitely not fans of traditional flavors. They are always willing to try and be scientists to answer the questions they have.
Wiggle Room was host to singing Christmas songs and playing games such as Red Light, Green Light - where the directions would have them practicing movements and directions to stop and go. It was also an an opportunity to revisit the very important Snow Dance. If you haven’t looked in your child’s gift bag, please do. You will find a white crayon and directions on how to do the Snow Dance. Over break, have your child be the teacher and show you how to do it!
It is very appropriate that Letter Gg week fell when it did because as a team, we would like to say how grateful we are for the kindness and generosity you have shown. The tools and toys you purchased for our friends to open during our Christmas celebration will just add more excitement as they see the things they picked out, right inside our classroom. The ownership they feel helps internalize the pride that comes along with building community and a sense of responsibility.
The gifts sent in were such a great idea that even the big guy, Father Christmas himself, stopped in to wish our friends a Merry Christmas and hand out the gifts for them to open. Thank you for making the first semester of Smart Start so wonderful!
Be on the lookout for your child’s letter to Santa, it is in the current edition of The Times Journal. There will be some tips and reminders coming out next week and the next Peek at the Week will be sent out the weekend before we return on January 6th.
Stay well and have a Merry Christmas!
Ms. Leah, Ms. Jacquita, and the Smart Start team
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