3K Learners

3K Creative Curriculum Units of Study:

Current Unit: Wheels

Next Unit: Exercise

 

Summary:

Summary of Unit: 

Wheels are all around us. They are on cars, buses, shopping carts, strollers, riding toys, etc

Children love to explore how things move and how wheels help us do things easier. Through hands-on activities, the children will investigate different types of wheels (such as those on cars, bicycles, and buses), experiment with movement using ramps and rolling objects, and build their own creations. We will also read stories, sing songs, and engage in art projects that connect to our study.

Through this unit we will continue to focus on language, literacy, math and science skills to enhance their learning.

 

At home you can:

• Take a walk around your neighborhood and identify different types of wheels.
• Make Pizza, or play with Play-Doh and have your child use a pizza wheel to make pieces.
• Compare different types of wheels
• How would you get places without wheels?
• What types of wheels do you see on your way to school?
• Begin discussing stepping up to PreK.  Ask your child how they feel about moving to a new class next year. 

 

Exercise is crucial to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Moving makes children feel capable and confident, releases tension, and builds strong bodies and minds. Through games, music, and hands-on activities, the children will practice different types of movement such as running, jumping, stretching, and balancing. We will also learn about body parts, build coordination, and develop language by describing how we move.This study supports children’s physical development, as well as their social skills, confidence, and ability to follow directions and work together.

At home you can:

• Encourage your child to stay active!
• Exercise as a family: ride bicycles/scooters together, go for walks.
• Go to the playground!
• Take turns choosing an exercise and count up to 10 while doing the exercise: EX: Jumping, Hopping on one foot, Running in place, etc. 
• Play with all types of balls: throwing, catching, bouncing, kicking
• Before and after exercise, place your child’s hand over their heart. Ask: How does your heart feel? Do you notice a difference?

Reading: 

3K students listen to and interact with a read aloud each day! The class has grown to love books and understand some basic concepts of print. In these upcoming units we will read books about wheels, exercise, and stepping up. As we continue to explore our daily read aloud, we will review the various parts of a book, including the title, author, and illustrator. 

 

At home you can:

• Read books about wheels and exercise.
• Ask your child their opinion about the story. 
• Take a picture walk through a book before reading it together. Have your child make observations, connections, and ask questions. For example, “I see a family traveling in a car. I wonder where they are going. This reminds me of when I went in a car to go see Grandma.” Let your child show off how to properly hold a book and turn the pages! See if they can tell a story using the pictures. 

 

Suggested Books:

• The Wheels on the Bus (Any version!)

• Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus By:Mo Willems
• Where’s the Ramp? By: Lisa McCarthy
• Pete’s A Pizza By William Steig
• ABC on Wheels By:Roman Olivera
• Head to Toe By: Eric Carle
• Wiggle By: Doren Cronin
• Barn Dance By: Bill Martin
• Hop Hop Jump By: Lauren Thompson

Writing: 

3K students have been working very hard to identify the letters of, and write their names. We “sign in” to school each morning using pencil and paper and then again during center time with dry erase markers. We are continuing to practice the tripod grip while using writing tools. As they continue to practice writing their letters, the students will be working on the understanding that when letters are put together, they form words. We will begin to label our own artwork. Our classroom continues to be a print rich environment to provide unit vocabulary and examples of the written word. Each center has a writing basket for children to write and create as they play. 

At home you can:

• Keep materials easy to reach (pencils, crayons scrap paper)
• Add stickers and stamps!
• Give reasons to write. For example, make a grocery list or to do list, create and send a birthday or thank you card
• Encourage your child to write their first name! Perfection is not the goal! 
• Have your child try to label their pictures.
• Have your child draw a picture of what they see at a park, store, or during a walk with you label the picture
• CELEBRATE ALL WRITING! Your child is working very hard!

Math:

During our final unit, 3K students will continue to identify numbers 1-10 and count small groups of objects (up to 5). In class we will use different objects to visually demonstrate these concepts.  We also have been noticing patterns in our classroom. We have been using classroom materials to create and extend patterns. We have been sorting by different attributes such as size, shape and color. 

 

At home you can:

• Use a toy car to practice tracing numbers or letters. (See image below.)
• Have your child practice writing numbers 0-5 using any fun type of writing tool, such as colorful markers or a fun pen. Stickers also work great!
• Create an exercise and perform the exercise 10 times, counting as you do the exercise.  

  

Gross Motor: Gross Motor: 

Gross Motor is a crucial part of a child’s development. Everyday we participate in activities that require listening skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and strengthening our muscles. Now that winter is behind us, we are going outside to the playground every morning. The students love to run, make up games, ride tricycles, and climb. Please be sure that your child comes to school wearing a sweatshirt or light jacket. Mornings in the playground can sometimes be cool.

 

SAVE THE DATES**

As we celebrate our last unit: Exercise

We would like to invite both parents/caregivers to have breakfast with us in the large playground on May26th, at 8:30am and then exercise our bodies through some fun gross motor activities.

It is crucial to learn how to keep our bodies healthy & strong while having fun. Please bring a blanket and breakfast for you and your child.

Our Stepping Up Ceremony will be Tuesday, June 12th at 9:00 am in the classroom. Two guests per family may attend.

Please be sure to have a picture ID to enter the school.

Can’t wait to celebrate!

Student Voice:

“I like to take the cars outside and drop them down the slide. They roll, roll” - Julian

“I was making a school and it has slides like my school.”  - Leah

“I like playing with the gears. They are wheels and they spin around like on a truck.” -Silas

“A car take me to school. It has one, two, three, four wheels. They go round and round. It’s white and fast.”  - Matteo                                                                                                                                  

“My shirt has a lot, a lot of wheels!”    -Max

“The garbage truck has four big wheels. You put the garbage away.” -Mir

“I paint wheels. Orange and green!”       -Mirha