Back to School 2016

The weeks surrounding the start of school always feels a little bit like a whirlwind: finishing last minute details, finalizing plans, getting to know new children, and establishing classroom routines. It's exciting and fun, and a little bit exhausting-- and yet it's one of my favorite times of year. Here are a few of the things we did during the first week of school!

Playdough

Part of our welcome routine is a gathering activity at the table that usually involves some sort of fine motor work. I love to start the year with play dough because of it's a calming and relaxing sensory experience. This year I made lavender scented dough for that very purpose, and introduced some gems and smooth stones for loose parts. 

Exploring Play Areas

During the first month of school we are learning a lot about each other and how to work together in our classroom. So learning about and exploring the different play areas and materials that we use is an important part of learning how to be in preschool. This week we explored blocks, the home center, painting, table activities, the sensory table, and our outdoor space. We will continue to learn about using these areas and others in our classroom as the weeks go by.

The kids spent quite some time examining this snail they found outside. 

Dinosaur Play

One book I like to read at the beginning of the year is How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? So I like to include a few dinosaur activities into the week.

Musical Instruments

We also jumped right into exploring my collection of rhythm instruments. I've found that making music together allows even the most shy students to enjoy participating with the group. :)