Pre-kindergarten Program

The WCSD Pre-Kindergarten program follows the WCSD calendar and procedures for closing. At this time, the Pre-Kindergarten programs are in session operating five days a week. This includes all 3 year-old and 4 year-old programs.

Three Year Old Prekindergarten Application 2022-23
Four Year Old Prekindergarten Application 2022-23

13 Week 13 - Strive for 5 June 15, 2020 (1).pdf

Learn All About Porcupines!

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - Friends on Facebook Watch

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsThere are so many things to love about Wellesley Island State Park, hopefully we covered some of your favorites in this week's round of bingo! Just a friendly reminder that you can take as long as...

Learn All About Woodpeckers

www.facebook.com/MACNatureCenter/posts/3287545021270316

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - Friends”When clouds appear like towers, the earth is refreshed by frequent showers.” What's your favorite weather phenomena? Describe your idea of the perfect climate, weather, and season in the comments...

Exploding Baggie

with Miss Julie and Grayson

Learn

All About

Beavers

Check out the Calcium Trail at the Calcium end for proof of beavers living there!

Miss Julie and Grayson

Learn About Volcanoes

volcanos.mp4

Mat Man

Learning Your Body Parts Using Mat Man Video

Where is Scrappers? Photo Contest

Check out the Minna Anthony Facebook page for details about the contest!

https://www.facebook.com/MACNatureCenter/

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsScrappers, the cheeky, playful eastern chipmunk of the MAC Nature Center wants to play with you! Not only does she like a fun excursion, she also likes having her picture taken! Where will you take...

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsIt’s important that we nature lovers are aware of invasive species and can identify them when we see them. Have you ever seen any of these invasive species in New York? Could you find a row of five...

Wild Wednesday - Wetlands
https://www.facebook.com/MACNatureCenter/posts/3250333798324772

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - Friends on Facebook Watch

Penguin Problems by Miss Julie

Penguin Problems.mkv

Fireworks in a Jar by Miss Julie and Grayson

Fireworks in a Jar.mp4

Learn All About Camouflage!

May Day Movie by

Miss Leisa's Class

Miss Kelle's Class from New Day Children's Center

Happy Mother's Day Video

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsHappy Friday! Spring is here 🌱 Head outside this weekend and see what signs of spring you can find! Good luck!

Skittles Experiment with Miss Julie and Grayson

Check it out!

skittles.mp4

Magic Milk Experiment by Miss Julie and Grayson

Very cool experiment, Grayson!

magic milk.mp4

Who am I Game!

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center

What is the largest Rodent in North America?

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsFor this week's photo contest, we're encouraging you to get up close and personal with things in nature! Take a close-up picture of something you find outdoors, and share it with us! The winner of...

For this week's photo contest, we're encouraging you to get up close and personal with things in nature! Take a close-up picture of something you find outdoors, and share it with us!

The winner of our photo contest will receive a Thousand Island State Parks patch and be featured on our Facebook page!

In order to play, you must:

• Submit your picture in the comments section of the original "View Through a Magnifying Glass" Photo Contest post

• Share this post to your Facebook page

• Like and follow @MACNatureCenter on Facebook

Please submit your picture before 11:00 pm on May 2nd. The winner will be announced on May 3rd! We are excited to see what beautiful things you capture!

Created by: Veronica Hayes

Minna Anthony Earth Day Superhero Bingo

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsIt's time for Friday Bingo! This week we celebrated Earth Day (4/22) and Arbor Day (4/24). Be an Earth Day Superhero and work to get five in a row! 💚🌎♻️

The Genius of Play | Top 20 Indoor Activities to Get Kids Up and MovingThe Genius of Play Team offers 20 fun ways to keep the kids active and entertained when indoors!

Genius of Play

Top 20 Indoor Activities

to

Get Kids up and Moving

Making Cloud Dough

cloud dough.mp4

Making a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Challenge

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - FriendsHappy Friday! We hope you enjoy spending time in the forest as this is where you'll find most of the items in this round of Bingo. Go outside and observe those trees! Edit: The box in the top right...

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center - Friends

Facebook Page

Happy Friday! We hope you enjoy spending time in the forest as this is where you'll find most of the items in this round of Bingo. Go outside and observe those trees!

Edit: The box in the top right corner is actually a maple viburnum tree, not a witch hazel tree. You can use that box for either of those trees!

Please check out Minna Anthony Common Nature Center Facebook Page for some more activities and great nature videos!

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center

WILD WEDNESDAY SCAT RAP!

Scat is another name for "poop"! That's right, just as Kim mentions in the video, we are going to talk about poop and you won't get into trouble!

Learn how to make your own rainbow!

PLAY PACKET FOR FAMILIES

BY

KRISTI MRAZ

Please read the letter from Kristi to the left then try some of the fun activities with your prekindergarten child!

Play Packet for Families Master Kristi Mraz (1).pdf

You are Your Child's Best Teacher!

Helpful Strategies for Developing Thinking & Learning Skills

Using Open – Ended Questions

What is an open-ended question?

This is a question with many answers that can be said in different ways. An open -ended question leads to your child:

· Building a strong verbal vocabulary

· Seeing multiple ways to solve something

· Increasing creativity

Be a listener.

It is helpful if you do the following after asking your child a question:

· Give them ample time to answer.

· Do not interrupt or affirm as they answer.

· Keep the discussion going until your child shows they have lost interest.

Adapted from an article from Preschool For All, Sanfrancisco, First Five. Anderson L.W. & Krathmih D.R. (2009)

There are 6 Types of Questions – have fun trying them:

1. Knowledge

What happened when …

Name all of your favorite …

Describe to me _______ (example your building, picture)

2. Comprehension

Why do you think _______? Explain.

How could you say that differently?

How can you tell the difference between ____ & _____.

3. Application

Tell me about when _______?

How can we organize these?

4. Analysis

Why is this important?

What could you do differently next time?

Did that ever happen to you? Explain.

5. Evaluation

How will you prepare for _____?

What is one solution to the problem?

Tell me how you will …?

6. Creating Questions

Why did you choose ….?

Why do you think it is important to …?

How many ways can you …?

Have fun encouraging your child’s conversation with questioning!

Heather White & Peg Drappo

Signs of Spring!

Question: What do you see changing outdoors?

This question can be asked daily during your time outside. You can also refer to the Open – ended questions document for additional question ideas.

The power of a dictated story – Write down exactly what your child tells you as he or she makes an observation. Your child can draw a picture to illustrate the words. This can then be re -read to your child which is a great pre-reading activity. Before you know it your child will read the dictation back to you! Save a collection of these and create your own book about Spring. See sample below.

Activities for Young Children

Rainy day? No worries!

Click here for lots of great ideas on engaging your child in play and learning focused on the topic of rain!

Scavenger Hunts!

Song-Poems

These simple songs and poems are easy and fun to learn. Adding simple motions can make this an active time too!

YouTube

1. Jack Hartman

Brain Breaks/Calendar Song/ Springtime Dance/ Jack Hartman

This fun song is full of “spring movements”

2. Spring Songs for Children/ Spring is Here/ Learning Station

After learning this simple song, you can add your own verse! Just follow this pattern – Spring is here, Spring is here.

How do you think I know?

I just saw a _____ that is how I know!

3. Three Little raindrops

3 little raindrops sitting in a cloud.

The first one said, “The thunder sure is loud!”

The second one said, “The lightning is oh so bright!”

The third one said, “A rainbow is in sight!”

The splash went the raindrops, down from the sky.

To water all the plants and help them grow up high!

4. Wind (to the song row, row, row your boat)

Wind, wind blow the clouds. Fast across the sky.

Blow the branches back and forth-in the trees so high.

Your Tree

Look for a tree in your yard, out your window, or near your house. Make this “your tree” during the weeks of Spring.

1. Observational Drawing -Once a week– Have your child take a paper and pencil and get as close to the tree as you can. Look carefully at your tree and draw what you see. Try to count 5 details you see and draw.

· Back inside your child can add color detail with crayons or markers.

· Dictation – Ask your child, “Tell me all about your tree”, “Can you tell me more?”. Write what your child says as your child watches their words move into the written word. Read this a few times with your child.

· Keep the drawings/dictation stories over the weeks. This offers a great conversation as the tree changes: buds form, leaves open, it may bloom! This can ultimately become a book MY TREE.

2. Bark – The bark on a tree protects the inside of a tree – much like your skin protects you!

· Gently touch the bark with your child and ask your child “How does the bark feel?”, “Describe it.”, “What does the bark look like?” “Tell me more.”

· Use a crayon and paper to make a bark rubbing. Making a few of these in many different colors, bring them inside. Monitor your child using a scissor to cut out fun shapes, glue them to a paper to create a mural!

3. Tree Home- Watch your tree over the upcoming weeks! Who lives there? A bird, A squirrel? An insect? Draw the many animals you see that depend on this tree.

· Google – Help your child learn about the tree they have chosen. Its name, fun facts. It is also fun to learn fun facts about the animals that live in the tree!

Art Ideas

1. Bugs – These can be made using egg cartons cut at various lengths: long for a caterpillar, short for an ant or ladybug and so on. These can be detailed with crayons, markers, and button eyes!

2. Coffee filter butterflies – All your child needs is food coloring to put droplets of color on the filter and watch what happens! This can also be a lesson on mixing colors. A bread twisty tie or clothes pin can make the body.

3. Coffee filter flowers – Invite your child to cut the filter into flower shapes. Watch the flowers bloom in color as they drop food coloring on the filter! These can also be colored magic markers.

4. Seed Mosaics- You need dry beans, seeds, glue and sturdy paper or a paper plate. Invite your child to draw a picture of something they see on your Spring walk. Then put a line of glue on the outline of their drawing. Your child finishes by putting the beans and seeds on the glue.

Active Time Ideas:

1. Flower Hop – To play outside draw a few large flower shapes on the sidewalk. To play inside make a few large paper flowers for the floor or you can make them using painters’ tape. Invite your child to move in, out, and around each flower as you direct the action: run, hop, skip, jump, gallop, walk.

2. Rainbow Toss – You need: paper plates, tape, crayons or markers to make this game. Make the stand by cutting slits in the bottom of a paper towel tube, flatten the slits out and tape them down on a paper plate. Rings are made by cutting a large circle out of the center of 3 or 4 paper plates. Your child colors each ring in a different rainbow color. You are ready to toss the ring!

3. Relaxing Flowers – This action poem is fun! Your child acts out the words.

5 Little flowers stand tall in the sun.

See their heads nodding, bowing down.

Down, down, down comes the warm spring rain and the 5 little flowers lift up their heads again!

Outdoor Time These activities can be used while on a walk or just standing in your own yard.

1. Right – Left? Listen carefully – Hear the bird singing? Is the bird song coming from the right or the left?

2. Eye Spy – Give your child clues and more clues until they can guess what you are seeing. Examples: a tree, a bush, a flower/

3. Tall or Short? Look at the various plants sprouting and growing around you. Look at each one and describe is it tall or short?

Activity Time

1. Flower Hop – To play outside draw a few large flower shapes on the sidewalk. To play inside make a few large paper flowers for the floor or you can make them using painters’ tape. Invite your child to move in, out, and around each flower as you direct the action: run, hop, skip, jump, gallop, walk.

2. Rainbow Toss – You need: paper plates, tape, crayons or markers to make this game. Make the stand by cutting slits in the bottom of a paper towel tube, flatten the slits out and tape them down on a paper plate. Rings are made by cutting a large circle out of the center of 3 or 4 paper plates. Your child colors each ring in a different rainbow color. You are ready to toss the ring!

3. Relaxing Flowers – This action poem is fun! Your child acts out the words.

5 Little flowers stand tall in the sun.

See their heads nodding, bowing down.

Down, down, down comes the warm spring rain and the 5 little flowers lift up their heads again!

Outdoor Time

These activities can be used while on a walk or just standing in your own yard.

1. Right – Left? Listen carefully – Hear the bird singing? Is the bird song coming from the right or the left?

2. Eye Spy – Give your child clues and more clues until they can guess what you are seeing. Examples: a tree, a bush, a flower/

3. Tall or Short? Look at the various plants sprouting and growing around you. Look at each one and describe is it tall or short?

Links to Sites with Helpful Information

Check out activity ideas from

Benchmark Family Services

on Facebook

Healthy at Home- a toolkit for supporting families impacted by COVID-19

Daily Routines

Suggestions when Preschoolers are Home

A daily routine helps children to feel they have an understanding of what comes next in their day. It is especially important during a time like this. You will find setting up and keeping to a routine will help your child to feel calm and confident.

Washing hands often is very important. A fun way to do this with your child is to have them sing the Happy Birthday song while scrubbing their hands with soap followed by rinsing with warm water.

Before 9:00 am: Follow your morning wash up and breakfast routine.

9:00 am Soft Landing: No electronics. This is a good time to explore: puzzles, LEGOs, building toys, collectables

9:30 Question of the Day – Inquiry A question of the day will be posted on the WCSD website to prompt a discussion with your child. This will be followed by activity ideas to support the topic. For example, “Where does rain come from?”

10:30 Outdoor time, Indoor exercise (GoNoodle.com is fun)

11:00 Music, movement, poems

11:30 Lunch: Wash hands, follow the lunch routine your family uses

12:30 Chore Time: Work with your child to have a bit of clean up time, organize toys, or your child’s bedroom. Wash all door handles.

1:00 Story Time – Quiet Time: Read a story to your child followed by some well deserved quiet time. Your child may nap, look at books, or just rest and reflect. Time to reflect on the day is critical allowing your child to process all that is going on around us.

2:00 Learning Fun: This is a time when a bit of educational TV, computer time, tablets, or puzzles are good.

3:00 Fresh Air: Take a walk, play in the yard. This is usually a good time to reflect on and discuss the Question of the Day.

Daily Schedule When School is in Session

8:30-8:40 Arrival

8:40-9:00 Breakfast

9:00-9:20 Circle time

9:20-10:20 Centers/Bathroom/Folders

10:20-10:30 Clean Up

10:30-11:00 Playground

11:00-11:30 Music and Movement/Handwashing/Lunch

11:30-12:00 Clean Up/Bathroom/Structured Centers

12:00-12:30 Bathroom/Gym

12:30-12:45 Drinks/Story

12:45-1:15 Free Play/Small Groups

1:15-1:25 Clean Up

1:25-1:30 Mindfulness/Finger play/Farewell

***On days the gym is unavailable we have a couple options: go for a walk, go outdoors if we were unable to go earlier in the day or engage in some free play. Remember that during free play teachers can take out a special game or activity to capture interest. On inclement weather days we will extend centers and/or go for a walk.***

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