3K Learners

3K Creative Curriculum Units of Study:

Unit 1: Building Our Classroom Community

Unit 2: Ball Study

Unit 3: Tree Study

Unit 4: Clothing Study

Unit 5: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Study

Unit 6: Buildings Study

Unit 7: Wheels Study

Unit 8: Exercise Study

Summary: The beginning of a new school year is a very exciting and sometimes stressful time, especially for our youngest students! They are exploring the classroom and becoming familiar with and more comfortable in their new environment. The children are saying goodbye to their families and hello to new adults and friends. The first unit, Building Our Classroom Community, is designed to help the children start to understand that they are part of a class and introduce them to our class routine and schedule. This first unit serves as a solid foundation for the remainder of their 3K experience. 

We are currently reaching the end of our second unit. During our Ball Study, students spent time exploring balls. Along with being fun to play with, balls also provided us a variety of knowledge and experiences. The study used children’s interest in balls to help them explore science concepts, and as they investigated, they developed social skills and practiced skills in literacy, math, and the arts.

The next unit will be our Tree Study. This unit helps build children's interest in trees. This unit focuses on helping children develop an understanding of the characteristics of trees and their roles in both our natural and man-made worlds. They will learn about creatures that inhabit trees and foods that trees produce. They will investigate buildings and objects that are made from wood. As the students investigate Trees they will build their science and social studies knowledge as well as strengthen their literacy, math and arts skills.

Home/School Connection: 

• Please continue to have daily conversations with your child about school, the class routines, & how to be a good friend. Daily conversations at home support the teachers in the classroom. Remember, we are a team!
• Work on independence! Let your child take off and put on their own jackets and hats. Have them try to put their shoes on independently. Our students are working hard to be independent in the classroom.
• Ask your child to throw out their trash and clean their plate when they are finished with their meal/snack. This is something that they do everyday in class. 
• Explore the trees in your neighborhood. Ask your child questions about the trees that they see. 
• Collect parts of a tree (sticks and leaves) and sort the items. Make a collage.

Reading: 

During our daily read aloud, students are being introduced to different types of books and stories. We take picture walks through each book in order to become familiar with the story and make predictions about it before reading. Questions are asked throughout our read aloud lessons.  Students are learning to use the pictures as they listen to the story to help with their understanding.

At home you can:

• Look through a book before reading and ask them to use the pictures to help you tell the story. 
• Read books about a variety of topics to your child. 
• Point out objects in the story that are familiar to your child. Make connections with the stories you read. 
• Ask your child to point to objects in the picture.
• Please read with your child every night!

Writing: During our Tree Study, the children will be introduced to our Writing Center. Children will have the opportunity to explore this center daily during Choice Time. This area has a variety of writing tools, such as markers, pencils, crayons, stamps and ink pads,etc. There are a variety of paper and envelopes for your child to choose from. The writing center also has a magnet board and magnet letters to explore. 3K will also start “signing in” daily as part of our morning routine. 

At home you can:

• Provide a variety of writing tools. Encourage your child to practice holding the crayon with a three finger grip. Ask your child to tell you all about their picture!
• Strengthen your child’s fine motor skills & develop their hand muscles by playing with play-doh, tearing paper, or building with Legos. These activities are fun and are extremely helpful with skills such as writing and cutting. 
• Help your child practice identifying the letters in their name

Math: 

Our Table Toys and Games center is open for play! In this center your children have the opportunity to explore a variety of math games and manipulatives that introduce and teach various early childhood math skills such as colors, shapes and patterns. Children have access to puzzles and toys that encourage your child to create patterns and sort by different attributes (color, size, shape, object). 

At home you can: 

• Identify colors and shapes you see. Include colors and shapes in your daily conversations. For example, “Can you put your red cup in the sink?”,“I love your blue shirt!”

Gross Motor / Movement

The students have been going outside everyday! They love this time!  In our small playground, the students get to go down the slides, climb ladders and play on the playground equipment. The playground is also a natural learning environment for your child to practice being a good friend, sharing, learning empathy and taking turns.  If the weather is not cooperative, the students move their gross motor play inside!

Parent & Student Voice:

Yesenia Estrella, Matteo’s Mom:

Matteo looks forward to 3K each morning. He may take a little time to warm up, but a thoughtful, witty personality is beginning to shine through. He comes home sharing stories about his day and his classmates, and we’re excited to see how he will grow alongside them.

What is your favorite Center?

Inayah - Kitchen! I love to dress up!

Mir -  I like sand best. The doggies walk in the sand and I make them eat ice cream.

Matteo - Train tracks.

Charlotte - I like blocks!

3K at Play!

(A little glimpse into a day in 3K!)