Perky Preschool

  Let the children teach us   something new about things that we  (think) already know... - Ms. Faye - Sorting Out Moving forward in our unit, the Preschoolers started putting ideas to answer big questions.  The 3 Key Concepts: change, perspective and connection help the students be guided towards deeper understanding of the central idea. They brainstormed ideas about their knowledge of the 3 key concepts.   As a class, we came up with a definition for each: Change: From one thing to another; not the same Perspective: What we think might be different from what others think Connection: Things that are the same as others; Like a line - one point is connected to the other point.  After, they answered the prompt questions. They provided personal examples for each key concepts.  They will continue adding on to this visual tool until as they continue with the sorting out stage of the Inquiry Cycle. As inquirers who ask questions, group discussions ...

Don't Grow Up (It's a trap!) - Walt Disney - UNIT OF INQUIRY Creating a Timeline   The students write stories about their developmental milestone from birth until present as  they continue 'Finding Out' about their personal histories.  Seeing how much they have changed over the years help them understand themselves better and who they have become at present.  They see how their family have grown and changed when their sister or brother was was born. As they look back at their past, they also begin to share, compare and understand different perspectives of people. They notice how each and every one of them grow, develop and how families are unique in many ways. In this unit, it is also important to know which countries they are connected with from their parents or grandparents.  To help them understand that, they located and plotted the places where their parents were from and even the places that they have lived or been. They saw how some parents came from two d...

'Child' said the lion, ' I am telling you your story, not hers.'  No one is told any story but their own. C.S. Lewis Memory Box The 'Memory Box' is designed to give the students their voice and choice on selecting the things that tell a story about them.  It gives everyone a glimpse of their personal histories from the objects and memories shared to them by their parents.  These stories told by their parents become alive and meaningful after sharing it with others. The students make connections, which grow into a beautiful narration of their life.  And in that moment, their stories become a reality.   Stories and Objects Two wonderful memories they brought from their childhood with them. Clothes they wore when the were babies as they kept their mom and dad awake at night.  A baby picture and a lucky coin. Tiny shoes worn on their tiny feet. Evidence of change. Springboard to understanding the past and the connection with the present. NUMERACY Mathemati...

  "Students should QUESTION ANSWERS as often as they ANSWER QUESTIONS." As a provocation, we started and read this statement together... Then there were complains and groans,  "My head is hurting Ms. Faye!"  "Huh? What?"  "I don't understand." Then that's the start of the whole idea about QUESTIONS. What are BIG and small Questions BIG QUESTIONS ...a question that makes you think ...makes you ask another question.. and another.. and another ...a question that has many answers ...it is difficult to answer small questions ...are easy questions ... you can answer with just a yes or a no ... specific answer Then, the Perky Preschool worked with a group and came up with questions that they would like to ask each other. They asked about their childhood, family, and ideas about places and time.  They wrote down their questions. It is amazing to see how they have matured and is able to collaborate better with each other. They have also progressed...

  UNIT OF INQUIRY  To understand our Unit of Inquiry better, Preschoolers started unlocking important words choices, personality and character.  The sutdents worked on a Venn Diagram and shared their different choices with their partner.  They noticed that some of their choices are the same and some are different.  We have also started looking at the definition of PERSONALITY. The students draw a tree and outside the tree, they have shared how they perceived the other students which they called TRAITS.   Personality  may differ based on other students perception or your own knowledge of yourself. It is  EVIDENT and VISIBLE to others.   NUMERACY NUMBER BONDS Number bonds are used to help preschoolers see how numbers are combined (composed or taken apart) decomposed. This help them understand how numbers work by showing relationships between numbers.   

UNIT OF INQUIRY Together, Perky Preschoolers came up with their own definition of a COMMUNITY and RESPONSIBILITY.  In connection to our previous school tour, the Preschoolers are looking at the next community they belong to - SCHOOL. They have identified people they see at DSKI. They realised that they have a lot of questions and didn't really know who these people are and what their roles and responsibilities are in the school.  They wonder...... Next week they will FIND OUT the answers to these questions by interviewing people in the school community.  SPEAKERS; Maria's dad Temir Rashidova, who is a CHEMICAL ENGINEER came to school and shared with the Preschoolers what he does. He explained that engineers help make a HAPPY PLANET and clean sky for everyone.      Dr. Sayuri, Shun's mom also came to school today to share with the preschoolers her roles and responsibilities as a DOCTOR. Some interesting wondering of the preschoolers.... Why do you ...