Flashback to Ll for leaf and Aa for apple.
Leaf activities
We collected leaves for Ll leaf unit.
Thank God for the parks, gardens and playgrounds near our home. We never lack leaves.
So what did we do with the leaves?
Leaves rubbing of course!
Pressed the leaves and make a leaves booklet. The sweet gum leaf was air flown from Australia. :) Collected a few from our last trip. The rest of the leaves were collected from Ang Mo Kio Garden just next to our block!
Nathanael learned to arrange the leaves according to size.
Having fun cycling through dry leaves.
Science experiments
Did a couple of leaf experiments to show how a leaf will wither and die once it leaves the plant. The importance of the leaf remaining in the plant is an analogy to how we should live and grow in Jesus. And how can we not grow our own plants? Took out my cherry tomato and sunflower seeds and we planted them in small pots.
Bought some celery from the supermarket. Added some blue colouring and left it in a jar for 2 days.
See the blue stain on the celery? We cut it open to further illustrate how the celery takes in water by travelling upwards.
I covered a part of a potted plant with a clear plastic bag, water it and the next day, we observed the water droplets on the bag itself. This concept may be a bit abstract for Nathanael to comprehend but it was an interesting discovery for him.
Writing
Learning how to write Ll was easier.
Making patterns with unit cubes is his fav.
Book activity
After reading "The Leaf Man' from the library, we followed up with a counting activity.
Nathanael's creation with the leaf man.
Inspired by the book, we created these.
On to unit 4 Aa apple, you guessed it. Apples galore!
Apple activities
We looked at the inside of an apple, identify the apple core and estimate the number of seeds. I cut a cross section of an apple and Nathanael was amazed to find a star inside. He had fun with apple printing.
We also did a simple picture graph and made a comparison of the number of apples.
Arranged the size of apples from the biggest to the smallest.
This was a unit with many activities for snacking.
Making fruit salad.
Cooking apple sauce and eating them with his fav cheerios.
Making car apples.
Mr Apple Face
The apple unit was a great way to introduce other fruits. We made a fruits poster.
As I read Galatians 5:22-23, I was pleasantly surprised that Nathanael was familiar with the verses and in fact, could name me some of the fruits of the spirit. Sunday School had done a fantastic job!
The apple tree (still in the process of bearing fruits) next to our dining table is used to encourage the boys to 'bear fruits'.
See the piece of paper Nathanael was holding onto? He made a card for his special friend and even wrote the first letter of her name on the tree trunk, which was traced using his hand.
Writing
We usually start with forming letters using concrete objects such as pattern blocks, pebbles, twigs, marbles, etc.
Then we move on to using do-a-dot makers to print the letters.
These dot markers are really wonderful. Bought them in 2011 from Amazon. Zech enjoyed using them and now Nathanael's using them. :)
Before writing with a pencil, Nathanael will trace the letters on sandpaper and on the salt tray first.
Then he traces his letters on a worksheet printed from http://mamasmonkeys.blogspot.sg/p/mfw-k.html.
Once he's more familiar with the formation of the letters, I proceed to the whiteboard, where he uses the markers to form the letters.
Finally, he writes them on the MFW handwriting student sheet. I don't do all these in a day. Usually spread the tasks out in 2 days.
Book activity
We read the book 'Apple Farmer Annie' from the library. A beautiful picture board book.
I set up a farmers' market for Nathanael to sell his apple products. His mummy and papa took turns to be his customers.
The fun element is important for preschoolers and especially at Nathanael's age, I want him to enjoy learning more than any other objectives I have. As long as he enjoys school, is motivated to learn and stays in Jesus, he will grow and bear fruits. :)
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