Learning about PLANES!

This morning the kids sorted different kinds of transportation in the pool. During morning circle we talked about our new month...April. We changed the season to spring, added leaves to our tree and changed Froggy's outfit for springtime. We also identified words that started with the /n/ sound. At the end of circle we identified different shapes based on the number of sides.

Ms. Michele was back today!  The first activity was with balloons.  She gave the kiddos pool noodles and discs to bounce and hit the balloons back and forth to each other.  The goal was to keep all the balloons from hitting the ground.  As you can imagine.....this was a very stimulating activity!!  The kids were jumping and diving all around the room.  For finger fun, we made silky, slimy goo.  We all worked together to mix cornstarch and hair conditioner in bowl.  The kids used their hands to mix it up and make all sorts of different shapes and balls. 


The book today was Planes Fly! by George Ella Lyon.  This story names airplane parts, lists different kinds of planes, and describes passenger air-travel experiences, repeating the upbeat refrain, "Planes fly!" throughout. The passengers on the airplane include a nervous little girl and a little boy. But there's no worries, even the thunder clouds part for a plane's passage. A reassuring rundown of events that happen between buckling the seatbelt and touching down for landing (including a snack and a nap) makes this book a good overview of airplane travel.

There is so many new vocabulary words about airplanes and airplane parts.  We "build" an airplane on our chart board today, labeling each part and talking about why it is important.  Planes have noses, tails, wings, and cockpits.  Some have engines.....others have propellers.  LOTS of new words to practice.

For art, we made our own airplanes.  We used the new vocabulary to put the parts together on our papers.  We drew clouds in the sky to remind us that planes travel through the air.

Because it was so beautiful outside, we grabbed our lunchboxes and headed to the park for a impromptu picnic!  We ate at the picnic tables.....and then, of course, we played!  The kiddos love the big playground.....the slides are bigger.....there's more climbing equipment.....and there's always new friends to meet! While we were there, it turned really warm.....and we had lots of rosy cheeks and thirsty kiddos on the way back to school!