1. Early Childhood Westfield School Winthrop Harbor October 7, 2011 Volume 2, Issue 7 Highlights of our week… This week we explored pumpkins. We began our study with non-fiction books about pumpkins. We explored the parts of the pumpkin, how a pumpkin grows, and how pumpkins are used for decorations during the fall and Halloween. Our art activities included painting a pumpkin, making a pumpkin mosaic. These activities allowed us to make connections to shapes, colors, and use our fine motor skills. We also had to follow multi-step directions in order to complete the tasks required. In math we counted pumpkin seeds, identified numbers 0 – 10, created and completed AB patterns, seriated pumpkins, and compared weights of different sized pumpkins! Our science activities provided the greatest amount of fun and excitement. We cut the top off a large pumpkin and discovered the flesh, pulp, and seeds inside! Each of us took a turn helping to pull these things our in order to clean the pumpkin cavity. We talked about the many parts that make up a pumpkin and labeled our own paper pumpkin. Next week we will use our pumpkins to create jack-o-lanterns! At home practice… At school we work on patterning. You can work on patterning at home, too! With simple everyday items you can help your child create AB and ABC patterns. Here is an example of an AB pattern: Spoon, Fork, Spoon, Fork, Spoon, Fork Or, using crayons you can help reinforce colors, with an ABC pattern: Red, Blue, Green, Red, Blue, Green Begin by helping your child complete the pattern. Then have them try to create one on their own! Class Party… Halloween is quickly approaching! Our Early Childhood class will celebrate Halloween on Monday, October 31st. We will celebrate by wearing costumes and having a class party. Please send your child to school in a costume. Costumes must be appropriate for school; no guns, swords, fake blood, or anything to do with violence. We will parade through the school classrooms, play Halloween games, make a craft and share a snack. I will send home a signup sheet for parent volunteers to help out with our party. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. “The most important thing about goals is having one.” – Geoffry F. Abert