Costello Building Blocks- Weekly Happenings: January 12- 16, 20, 21, 2014

Description
Plan-DoReview

Small
Group
Activities

PLANNING Time, WORK Time, RECALL Time

This three-part sequence is unique to the HighScope Curriculum.
Occurring daily, it includes a 10- to 15-minute period during which
children plan what they want to do during work time (the area to visit,
materials to use, and friends to play with); a -minute work time for
children to carry out their plans (or shift to new activities that interest
them); and another 10- to 15-minute period for reviewing and
recalling with an adult and other children what they've done and
learned.
1.

Magic Milk :

Experimenting with milk, dish soap and food coloring, children dipped
their q-tip in dish soap and watched what happened when they held it
in their bowl with milk and drops of food coloring

KDIs

Approaches to Learning: initiative, planning, engagement, problem solving, use of

resources, reflection

Social/Emotional: self-identity, sense of competence, emotions, empaty,

community, building relationships, cooperative play, moral development, conflict
resolution

Approaches to Learning: initiative, planning, engagement, use of resources,

reflection
Social/Emotional: self-identity, sense of competence, community
Physical: healthy behavior
Language: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, concepts about print
Math: number words, counting, part whole relationships, data analysis
Science: observing, classifying, experimenting, predicting, drawing conclusions,
communicating ideas, natural and physical world, tools & technology
Social Studies: diversity, decision making, geography

2.

Snowflake Shapes :

Using Snowflake Pattern Block Mats and pattern blocks, children used
the blocks to fill in their snowflake patters by carefully matching each
shape to its corresponding spot on the map. After the children
successfully matched each shape, they used a marker to color in that
shape on their mat.
3.

4.

Emotions:
Using emotion eggs children discussed different facial
expressions and what emotion they represent. Children then
used the eggs to create their own story involving characters
and different emotions they experienced throughout the
story.

Paper Towels + Makers+ Water:

Children experimented with paper towel, makers and water. First,

children drew on their paper towel. Afterwards, children used a
paintbrush dipped in water to paint over their drawings. Next, they
sat back and watched what happened when their marker drawings
and water combined.

Physical: fine motor

Language: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary
Math: counting, part-whole relationships, shapes, spatial awareness, patterns
Science: observing, classifying, predicting, drawing conclusions, communicating
ideas
Social Studies: diversity, decision making
Physical: fine motor skills
Language/Literacy: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, book knowledge,
writing, concepts about print
Math: spatial awareness, shapes, data analysis
Creative: art
Science: observing, classifying, communicating ideas
Social Studies: diversity, decision making
Physical: fine motor
Language: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, concepts about print, book
knowledge
Math: spatial awareness
Creative: art
Science: communicating ideas, natural and physical world, tools
Social Studies: diversity, decision making

Costello Building Blocks- Weekly Happenings: January 12- 16, 20, 21, 2014
5. Playdoh:
Children used playdoh and their imaginations to see what they could
create using only playdoh and their hands. Children came up with
many creative ideas including snowmen (3-6 circles tall), snakes
(mommies and babies) and many other creations!

Large
Group

Physical: fine motor,

Physical: large & fine motor skills, body awareness
Language/Literacy: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary
Math: number words and symbols, counting, part-whole relationships, spatial
awareness, unit, data analysis,
Science: observing, classifying, experimenting, predicting, drawing conclusions,
communicating ideas

6. Family Portrait:
Using card stock and various art mediums (crayons, markers, colored
pencils), children created family portraits. Children were encouraged
to include every member of their family in their drawings including
pets.

Social/Emotional: self-identity,
Physical: fine motor skills, body awareness
Language/Literacy: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, book knowledge
Math: spatial awareness, part-whole relationships
Creative: art
Science: observing, classifying, communicating ideas
Social Studies: diversity

7. Scrap Art Creations:

One area of our classroom that doesnt get very much love is our
scrap art area located within the art area. Often ties there are
various materials available to children (empty Kleenex boxes toilet
paper rolls, random buttons, etc.). Noticing this, we decided to reintroduce this area and the items to the children through small group.
Children used these materials to come up with their very own
creation. Tape, glue, markers, crayons and scissors were also available
to children.

Approaches to Learning: initiative, planning, engagement, use of resources,

reflection
Social/Emotional: self-identity, sense of competence, community
Physical: fine motor, body awareness
Language: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, book knowledge
Math: number words, counting, part whole relationships
Creative: art
Science: communicating ideas
Social Studies: diversity, decision making

Songs, Fingerplays & Activities:

Song
Birthdays
Seven Days of the Week
The Days of the Week
Them ABC Bones
Today is Monday
Learning Letter Sounds
Scamper, Scamper
The Freeze
Your Face
Kids in Motion
Put Your Finger On

Approaches to Learning: engagement

Social/Emotional: sense of competence, community
Physical: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, body awareness
Language/Literacy: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, phonological
awareness
Math: number words and symbols, counting, part-whole relationships
Creative: music, movement
Social Studies: diversity

Costello Building Blocks- Weekly Happenings: January 12- 16, 20, 21, 2014

Literature:

Book Title
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do
You Hear?
Wacky Wednesday
Froggy Gets Dressed
Polar Bears
There Was An Old Lady Who
Swallowed Some Snow
Over The River
Scardey Squirrel
Martin MacGregors Snowman

Sensory
Table

Author
Henry Holt
Dr. Seuss
Jonathan London
Laura Marsh
Lucille Colandro

Lydia Maria Child

Melanie Watt
Lisa Cook

Sand & Sand Tools

Language & Literacy: comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, phonological

awareness, alphabetic knowledge, concepts about print, book knowledge