PKFA-1

Mrs. Francine Rizzuto   

 

April 2

Good Morning,

I am so excited to see some of you who are able to join our zoom time together. Ms. Jean and I miss you very much.

We are continuing to talk about plants. These plants are big. They are called trees.

Some of you might be able to the experiments. Remember most importantly we want you to be safe. I want you to listen to your families, they will keep you safe and decide which activities are best for you.

Parents

Pictures
            
   












April 1, 2020

You will watch the videos to learn more about the parts of the
plants. Your artwork will be a plant that is labeled with the plant
parts. Be creative.

Parents
Thank you for all the pictures and good wishes you have been
sending. As always you are in my thoughts every day. If there is any way I can be of help to you, please let me know. I have also added to the document section the handwriting sheets we were working on as a class.

Informational Videos:

What Are the Parts of s Plant?
https://www.generationgenius.com/videolessons/plant-parts-
video-for-kids/  
Parts of the Plant for Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP5jnuvMqxQ
Parts of a Plant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6TLFZUC9gI
 

Posters

               

 

Read A Loud: The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_A_e6h-DhU
Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0x6_AtV4UE

Activities:
● Complete the worksheet: See Document Section-Parts of a
plant It is all the way at the bottom of the web page not in the video.
● Find a daffodil. There are many growing wild. Examine the
parts only if it safe to do so.
● Draw a plant that you can see in your home or out of your
window. Label its parts.
● Building Blocks Math: Some of you have been having some difficulty with the program such as freezing. It is the program, not you. Sorry.

Songs:
● Parts of a Plant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql6OL7_qFgU&t=3s
● The Plant Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-l-gsWOKzk
● The Farmer plants the seed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRhGOdqWIIo
Movement: Plant a Bean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCKEdDEr82k

Pictures
                      

March 31

Good morning boys and girls.

It is the last day of March. Can you can’t to 31? Show your parents you can. It is a cloudy daI am looking forward to 

Today we are going to learn about how plants and animals work together. Both plants and animals are living things which means they breathe, they move and have babies. After you watch today's movies and lessons maybe you can make an art project of an animal and a plant and how they work together. Be creative.

Remember to continue work on your handwriting and letters.

I added more to the math on the computer.

You seem to be working hard continuing to learn. Ms. Jean and I are so proud of you.

Here is a picture of Ms. Jean watering our plant that was on the window sill.

Read Aloud: Plant a Tiny Seed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYMgUvqs-D4

Informational Videos:

• How Animals and Trees Help Each Other

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJVo_fewmcM

• How Plants and Animals Depend on Each Other

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGxzFBRBwpg

• Like Fruit? Thank a Bee!

https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEB&search_query=like+fruit+thank+a+bee

Activities:

• Have your child measure the different types of plants you might have in your home or around your home. ( Don’t forget: fruits and vegetables are parts of plants.) Use small items around the house to measure how long each plant is (paper clips, small cubes, cotton balls, etc.) We would love to see pictures of what you used.
• Make an art project of an animal and plant working together. You could draw, paint, collage, use dough or any other medium. Let your imagination run wild!
• Learn to draw some things you would find in a garden. Look carefully at the types of lines the artist used; straight, curvy, spiral, diagonal.

Get Moving:
Cosmic Kids-Coco the Butterfly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn65ltyntp4
or put on your favorite music and dance like an animal or insect: flutter and fly or gallop and stomp

Song and Fingerplay   -
Five Little Flowers

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWXPmUg_IQ

Plants and Animals

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCA9sDaq2NQ

March 30, 2020
Good Morning children.
Today is Monday, March 30th. This month is special because there are 31 days in it. So there is one more day in March. I hope everyone is feeling well and trying to behave for your parents. I promised we would start a new unit today. Can anyone guess what it is? 
Plants 
This is a good unit for us. As we look out our window we are starting to see new plants growing and trees blossoming. We are going to explore, and find out  - How do plants grow and why are they important? 
This week we are going to find out - What is a plant? I would like you to look outside can you draw (use any medium) a plant you see.
I have a few activities for you to do. Listen to your parents. Remind them to take a picture of you to send. Don't forget to look below and see your friends
Stay well. Ms. Jean and I are thinking about you.

Parents
Our new unit of study is: Plants
In Unit 8, "Plants", children move from exploring the properties and uses of water to observing and learning about different kinds of plants. This unit, like all Pre-K for All units, provides opportunities for children to observe objects and phenomena in their environment with increasing complexity, and apply knowledge and skills learned in previous units. Activities throughout the unit prompt children to learn about plants through hands-on explorations and provide opportunities to observe plants in their immediate environment. Consider how different kinds of plants are a part of your child’s daily life. Additionally, discuss and observe how plants grow and change over time. For example, you may have a tree in your neighborhood that you can observe throughout the unit and into later units as it changes with the seasons. In the first week, children consider the question, “What are plants?” and observe and identify the different parts of plants. In the second and third weeks, children have increased opportunities to observe plants in their environment and learn about different kinds of plants. In the final week of the unit, children will carefully consider and explore the different uses of plants and why different kinds of plants are important. As children discuss the role of water and light in plant growth and health, help them make connections to their prior knowledge about light and water.
Today's activities
Read:  Up in the Garden Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner. Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neil or watch at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qhb1Jpow4 

• Ask your child to share what they know about plants. "What do you know about plants?" Write what they tell you and save it until the end of the unit. Plants are living things. 
• Write out a recipe and have your child draw some pictures for a salad that includes many different plant parts such as leaves (lettuce or spinach), roots (carrots), stems (celery) and fruit (apple). Look at items you have in the fridge, or pictures, to help your child draw the items.
• Invite children to read through the recipe with you and follow the recipe directions to create their own salad. (Real or imaginary).
• Building Blocks math activity: Choose and hide a counting card from 1-10. Ask your child to guess the number. If they guess correctly excitedly show them the number. If not, give hints saying it is more or less than the secret number. Keep going until they get it. (If your child is having difficulty, display all the cards in order before hiding one. If they can not guess, tell them it is less than the one they say and remove all the cards that are higher, then count the cards that are left and have them say the next counting number).

Songs:
The Farmer Plants the Seeds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRhGOdqWIIo
The Banana Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFmr_TZLpS0

Move:
Cosmic Kids, Betsy the Banana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40SZl84Lr7A&t=7


T oday's Pictures 

                           






March 27, 2020

Good Morning, my little ones. It is Friday. Yah!!!!  We have been home for two weeks so far. Many of you have been working really hard. Keep up the good work. Today is the 27 ^th day of March. What is the weather like today? Don’t forget to count to 27 with your family. Maybe you can clap it out.
Today is the last day of our water unit.  You will listen to some videos about why water is important.
After you finish, I would like you to draw (use whatever materials you have) why water is important. Dictate to your parents your answer.
Enjoy your time with your parents. Remember to practice counting and writing your letters. I am looking forward to our new unit next week. Can you guess what it is? Don't forget to ask your parents to take your picture to show your friends.
 
Parents
Here are the videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3eNQ5YHDuc water is important
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzurl5oOBiQ water is important
a cartoon show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjaho3zwbkI
 
Science Activity
This activity is a cute way to explain germs to children. You decide if your child needs this. Is your child anxious about what they are hearing about Covid 19? If so this might help them.
 
Germs - https://www.simplemost.com/experiment-teach-kids-washing-hands/
 
Parents I hope you are all well and coping well. I put some resources on the page about mental health. As I get more, I will share it with you.
This is a link to get an iPad for your child if you need it.  https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/ipad-distribution
Also, infinity is offering free Wi-Fi   https://wifi.xfinity.com/
 
If anyone needs some extra support free children’s meals are available for pick up from public schools 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.    https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals

Today's Pictures
  

         






March 26
Good Morning boys and girls. 
Today is Thursday, March 26th. Can you find that number on the calendar? Show your parents how well you can count to 26. Don't forget to teach your parents and siblings the days of the week song. 
It has been a real joy seeing all of your pictures. You seem to be working very hard. Keep up the good work. Today we are still talking about the importance of water. I have a lot of activities for you. The story is read by Ms. Joanne from PKA2. Have fun listening to her accent. You may want to do some over the weekend. That is fine. 

How Does Water Help Us?
Read: Water Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas or listen to my Read Aloud at:  https://youtu.be/K_ikqLNwOfI
Draw your favorite part of the book and dictate a sentence about it. 
Here are some questions you can ask your child about the book:

• What are three things water can do?
• What did the boy put on his bruised knees?
• People drink water. Who else does?
• How does water help gardens?
• How does water help animals?
• The book says water can be a “drink cooler.” How can water cool drinks?
• The book says water can be a “homemaker.” How can water be a home?
• How can water be a “snowman former?”
• What are some things people do with water other than drink it?
• How does water help you?

Watch videos about how water helps us. 
https://youtu.be/CwpHMPH-WbM (fun song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzurl5oOBiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcT6Kf9OiZo
Activities: 

• Try the fun cloud in a jar experiment https://funlearningforkids.com/rain-cloud-jar-science-experiment/
• Ask your child to consider whether there is water in the foods and beverages they eat and drink. Cook something together and consider each ingredient in the recipes you prepare. Invite children to use their senses to explore pasta, rice or vegetables, pre- and post-soaking or cooking in water. Discuss how water changes them. Please send me a picture of your meal.
• Building Blocks Math: X-Ray Vision. Use a pack of playing cards or Uno cards 1-10 or write numbers on pieces of paper. Have your child place them in number order in a line and flip them over so the numbers are hidden. Ask your child to find a specific number like 4. They can count or remember. Flip the card over and leave it face-up. Ask your child to pick another number that is next to it (3or5). See if your child can count on or count back from the upturned number. It's OK if they need to count from 1 again. Keep practicing with different numbers.

Parents please check the document section. I have added some resources for you.

Pictures
   

    

     

    

   







March 25
Good Morning
Please read to your child

Today is March 25th. It is cloudy out today. I wonder if it going to rain or will the sun try to shine. 
I know Ms. Jean and I are missing you very much. We love seeing all the pictures because they have your wonder smiling faces. Keep smiling!

Today we are continuing to work on why water is important. We will be discussing washing. You wash and keep your body clean. This helps you stay healthy. What about your clothes?
Today we will look at washing clothes. Maybe you can even help your parents.

Parents

How does water help us keep our clothes and homes clean? Discuss how you need water to wash your clothes and dishes. Water helps to keep down germs – gets germs out of our clothing and homes. Discuss going to a laundromat to clean clothes. Has anyone helped at home to keep their homes clean? Suggest helping clean clothes or clean dishes.

A song to go with washing.  

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=wash+wash+wash+our+clothes&&view=detail&mid=2D04B7388FC6F222BC322D04B7388FC6F222BC32&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dwash%2Bwash%2Bwash%2Bour%2Bclothes%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

A short video 

https://montessorifromtheheart.com/2016/04/24/clothes-washing-activity-practical-life/

A read - a - loud -    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7jF0H0M1WY
 

A web page devoted to playing washing clothes. (just a suggestion)

Hanging Laundry Clothes Paper Craft

Here's a cute craft to show laundry hanging outside.

Materials: (Don't worry if you have to substitute - be creative)
1 sheet of blue construction paper
2 craft sticks(Popsicle sticks)
length of string
various clothes cut from paper
paper sun
cotton balls
tape
glue

Directions:
Give each child a few paper clothes cut-outs to color. Tape a length of string across the blue construction paper so it actually hangs or prepares it beforehand. Tape 2 craft sticks on either side of the string to look like a clothesline. Tape or glue clothes to the string. (an ideal template would have little paper tabs t the top to fold over the string like clothespins) Glue on or draw the sun and cotton ball clouds in the sky.

Pictures 
From now on unless you specifically say don't post. I will assume I may post the pictures you send. This is one way to help your child feel still connected to the school and their friends.
          
  
   

March 24
Please read this to your child.
 
 
Hello Everyone,
Today is Tuesday, March 24, 2020. It looks like the sun will come out today after the rainy day we had yesterday. I hope everyone is well today. How do you feel? Ms. Jean and I are missing you all very much. Ms. Jean told me the ants are doing well. She also brought home the plant on the window sill. That is doing well too. I have the air plants. They are growing.
Today I have a story about snow for you. Remember snow is a form of precipitation.  We need the snow because it will give us water.
Listen to it. I will give your parents questions to ask you.
After you read the story maybe you can make a snowy day picture using any materials you and your parents agree upon. Be creative. Don’t forget to show your pictures to your friends by emailing or remind them to me.
Here are some pictures that are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled SNOW. What do you think of them?
   


Each picture is titled Snow 
The first one is by Suzuki Harunobu
The second one is by John Singer Sargent
The third one is by Jean-François Raffaëlli
        
Stay well
Love,
 Ms. Francine and Ms. Jean
 
Parents –
The link for the story Snow is   https://youtu.be/6bcB0sC34Uc
 
Questions you might want to ask your child after listening to the story.
How did the city look before it started to snow?
How did the city look when it was covered in snow?
What does the man with the hat say about the snow?
What does the woman with the umbrella say about the snow?
Do you think the boy with the dog wanted it to snow? How do you know?
The radio and television said, “No snow.” The book says the snowflakes don’t listen to the radio. What
does that mean?
The boy in this book is wearing a hat and scarf and the other people are wearing big jackets. Why?
When it first started to snow, the snowflakes melted. Why?
When it started to snow more, the book says the rooftops got lighter. How did the snow make the rooftops lighter?
How did the people in the book feel when there was a lot of snow? How do you know?
Does it snow when it is warm outside? Why or why not?
When does snow melt?
What happens to snow when it melts?
How will the city look when the snow melts?

New Pictures

       

     

 





March 23
Good morning!
I hope you and your family are well. 
This is the last week of our Water Unit. Our question for this week is...
Tropical Coral Reef Activity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F109TZt3nRc
Watch the tropical reef. Look at all the fish. 
Are they all the same? Are they all going in the same direction? What are they eating?
How does water help them? Do you see anything else in the reef? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmmpIpDz0tg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j2PJBCgjEw

These videos name the animals in a coral reef
Can you draw your favorite animal from the reef?
Can you make a reef with some of your toys? (blocks, stuffed animals)

Fun video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcIwurPJcwc

Make your own coral reef using playdough (or any dough) and your small fish toys. You can download this background to add to your play.
  https://cdn.naturalbeachliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/coralreefbackgroundnaturalbeachliving.pdf

New Pictures
Don't forget to keep in touch by sending your photos to remind or my email frizzuto@sacredheartschoolsi.org

   




March 20
Happy Spring - Today is the first full day of Spring.

Here are some music and movement activities your child might enjoy.

https://www.prekinders.com/spring-songs-kids/ 

I am having difficulty getting on to the teacher platform of Building Blocks once I can I will be resending the passcodes to those who need. 

Some of the games on Building Blocks don't work well on the I pad (or nonmouse devices). 

Frozen: Try some of these activities.                                                                    

• Pour water into a container. Observe what happens. The water takes the shape of the container it is in. Pour it into a different shape container. What happens to the shape of the water? ( Liquids take the shape of the container they are in.)
• Put some different shaped containers of water in the freezer. (TIP: Make them fancy by coloring the water)
• When the water is frozen, tip out the ice. Try and stack the ice blocks. If they don't stay together try and stack them again but sprinkle some salt between the pieces. What happens? (They should stick together).
• Measure your tower. How tall is it? How wide?
• Draw and/or take pictures of your towers and send them to me for our gallery.
• Sprinkle salt on the surface of it and observe the changes.
• Put some ice cubes outside in the warm rain today. Observe how long they take to melt. (The forecast says 72 degrees)
• Show off your Ice Powers like Elsa. See how at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVAL5I-WtAQ
• Do Cosmic Kids Frozen Yoga https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+cosmic+kids+frozen+yoga&rlz=1C1CHMO_enUS523US524&oq=youtube+cosmic+kids+frozen+yoga&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.29508j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

During your child's stay at home, you may wish to enhance your child's learning. The following documents will help you do specific activities for our water unit.

See the Document box below for their work.
Water Unit Work
DOE Homework
Building Blocks

I will send you your child's passcode for Building Blocks individually.

I will keep all of our children and their families in my thoughts during this difficult time.

Any questions please feel free to email me with any questions.
My email address is frizzuto@sacredheartschoolsi.org



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Our day will be filled with much exploration and opportunities to learn. Your child will grow this year in many ways. We are here to help your child succeed in the following areas, Language and Literacy, Social-Emotional Development, Physical Development, Math, Science, Social Studies, and the Arts. We believe that children learn best when they are engaged in hands-on experiences.
 

Please send in the following items for your child:

• A complete extra set of clothes, in case of toileting accidents. Be sure to write your child’s name on the bag and label each article of clothing.

• We want to get to know each other’s families. A family photo can make your child feel comfortable in the room. We will make a special space for them to hang on display! You can email your picture to   frizzuto@sacredheartschoolsi.org or bring on the first day of school.

• We ask that each child brings in one crib size set (fitted crib sheet and a thin top sheet or blanket) for nap time. Our storage is very limited.  They will be sent home each Friday so they can be washed over the weekend.
  
  Sacred Heart School Folders will be used throughout the year for notes and announcements. Please bring them back and forth every day.

Birthday Celebrations!

You are welcome to send in cupcakes for your child's birthday; they may be store-bought or made at home. We ask, however, that you please make certain your baked or purchased treats are peanut/nut free, as we have some children in the classrooom with allergies. If you would like to send in cupcakes for your child's birthday, please just let me know a day or two in advance. No candles, please.