Monkeys in the Emergent Layer

We spent this week talking about the emergent layer of the rain forest.  This is the very tippy top of the tallest trees in the rain forest.  There aren't many animals up that high.  There are lots of tiny birds and a few spider monkeys.  Since we talked a lot about birds last week, this week we focused on monkeys. 

We read monkey stories and sang monkey songs.  Then, we used these cute monkeys to make monkey patterns.  

We called them "cheerleader" monkeys and "sniffer" monkeys.  Everyone seemed to think those titles were funny and there was a lot of giggling that happened at the monkey pattern table.  There's nothing cuter than preschool giggles while working.  

Writing practice on the White Board

We needed to practice writing our numbers, but we needed to do it in a fun way that preschoolers would enjoy.  So, after much debate, I realized how fun it would be to practice on the white board.  It has been a long time since your little ones had a chance to do that, so, needless to say, they loved it!  They completed a counting page first, then had some time to practice!  

The trick with teaching preschoolers is focusing on the fun!  If it isn't fun, they won't get anything out of it.  So, when you practice at home, make it fun!!  You probably don't have a classroom size white board in your living room, so think of other ways to practice.  Writing with chalk, using your finger to write in shaving cream on a cookie sheet, even writing on your belly when you are all lathered up in the bath tub.  There are lots of fun ways to make your preschoolers learning fun!!

Our Angry Birds

We spent the week talking about the canopy level of the rain forest.  This is where most of the animals are found.  It was a fun week as we enjoyed so many fun animals!  We made parrots to go along with the canopy.  Everybody LOVED them because they decided that they looked like angry birds.  They were right, too, because they are so many different colors, they really do look like angry birds!!  

The Umbrella

Last week, we hung up this umbrella, and of course, were immediately told that we put it upside down.  "I know.  It's supposed to go that way," was all I said.  "Umm...No, Miss Alishia, that way won't work," the preschoolers explained.  I assured them it would and they remained confused but excited to find out why I would hang the umbrella upside down.   

 This book, The Umbrella, is the reason!

It is about a boy, Carlos, who goes into the rain forest to see all of the animals.  When he gets into the rain forest, he cannot find any of the animals that he was excited to see.  So, he sets down his umbrella, upside down, and climbs a tree to get a better look.  While he does, the very animals he wants to see one by one, jump into his umbrella.  They have a little adventure of their own, before falling into the nearby river and floating in a circle back to where they started from.  By the time Carlos comes down from the tree, the animals are gone again, so he goes home determined that he'll try again tomorrow.

So, we made our own upside down umbrellas to take home.  We also added the animals from the story into our umbrella in the classroom!

Your children love to hear stories!  Books are very precious in our classroom, especially when they tie into our curriculum so perfectly!

A Visit to the Under Story Level of the Rain Forest

We will spend this week learning about the under story level of the rain forest.  That is where most of the insects and bugs live!  It is also one of the many places frogs are found.  Frogs are something that fascinate any preschool child, so they will be our focus.  

We read this fun book, The Frog with the Big Mouth.  It is great!

 It is very similar to the Wide Mouth Frog, which is a favorite of both of our classes.  It is about a very conceited frog who likes to brag to animals about how big his mouth is to other animals, in this case, rain forest animals.  In the end, he comes to a jaguar, who likes to eat big mouth frogs, and tries to eat the little frog, who barely escapes.  It is a fun story that gives facts about all of the animals, as the frog talks to each one.

We also made these adorable frogs!  

Your children are definitely ready for kindergarten!  Most of them could complete this craft without any help from us.  They know how to cut, glue, and follow directions.  Crafts seems like they are simply fun for preschoolers, but the small motor skills and attention required to successfully complete a craft will be very important next year when students are learning how to correctly write each letter.

Caps For Sale

We had so much fun this week reading books about the rain forest!  We looked at fun fictional books showing realistic pictures of the many different animals.  

We also read this great story called, Caps for Sale!  

While this isn't a story about rain forests.  It is a story about monkeys!!  We read the story and act it out as we go.  This week, I was the peddler wearing and trying to sell LOTS of caps.  The children were the monkeys that took my caps while I slept.  We don't use caps, instead we use circular pieces of felt, but the idea is the same.  Next week, we will take turns having one preschooler be the peddler.  They LOVE this activity and story.  Ask them about it and see what they remember.  Hopefully, they'll tell you all about it.  

Fun Facts

There are so many animals found in the rain forest, we will never be able to focus on each one.  So, we have a fun way to get as many facts as possible!  This little box is full of facts.  There are probably 30 animals inside of here for us to learn about.  Each child gets to come up front and pick one out.  

They guess what the animal is, based on a tiny picture, then I read the information provided on the paper.  

We take turns, one by one, and everyone gets a turn.  They are already getting so smart after just a couple of days!!  Ask your child about the boa constrictor??  That is one of their favorites!