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April News 2016

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

Spring has sprung some beautiful weather here at Discovery Isle! Speaking of beautiful weather, this month’s theme is all about “Loving Our Mother Earth”. Lady bugs, butterflies, recycling and growing gardens, The Lorax story time; we have so many exciting things planned this month to show our appreciation to our beautiful planet.
Our Spring Camp just ended and our campers had a blast with all the fun things planned. Summer camp registration will be due by Friday, April 29th.
Middle of the month, we will celebrate the “Week of the Young Child”. We are promoting Children’s Art, Music and self appreciation. We will have a week of fun planned for the children.
Third, Judith Housel will be back for her annual trip to Discovery Isle to share her talent for cutting free handed silhouettes of your child. What a great keepsake for moms and grandmas. So cute!
And lastly, thank you so much for the love and support during our school construction. We are so happy to be back to normal.
Until next month…. enjoy the weather and keep smilin’!
Christy Lang, Principal
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Week Of The Young Child

Discovery Isle is pleased to announce this year’s theme for “Week of the Young Child” is Art, Music and Self Appreciation!

We are going to learn, love, laugh & play all week long.
Here’s what we have planned for this week.
Music Monday
Sing, dance, celebrate & learn
Through music, children develop math, language & literacy skills. We will be listening and learning a large variety of music while singing and dancing.
Taco Tuesday Potluck
Healthy eating & fitness at home & school.
This fun, food-themed day is about more than just cheese & salsa. Cooking together connects math with literacy, science & more.
Work Together Wednesday
work together, build together, learn together.
When children build together they explore math & science concepts & develop their social & early literacy skills. The children will be given a variety of building materials—from a fort with sheets to a block city.
Artsy Thursday
Think, problem solve, create
Children develop creativity, social skills & fine motor skills with open-ended art projects where they can make choices, use their imagination & create with their hands. On this day we celebrate the joy & learning children experience when engaged in creative art. We will use materials such as crayons to paint, clay to crafts.
Family Friday
Sharing family stories. Engaging & celebrating families is at the heart of supporting our youngest learners. Share pictures & stories about your family.
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EXTRA, EXTRA…

“Earth Day Celebrations” It’s all about Mother Earth!
I love that we get to spend this month talking about Earthy Day, but we have lots of work to do. So don’t miss out on all the fun!
Here are some of the amazing things we have planned to
celebrate our Mother Earth!
All our classes will be reading the story “The Lorax”. We will talk a lot about recycling to encourage  all to taking care of our Earth. We will then explore and create new gardens, learn about bugs  and all the things we need to do to keep our earth happy and healthy!
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Christy’s Crafty Corner

Today is Earth Day! Take time today (and everyday) to teach your kids the importance of treating our earth with kindness to preserve it for future generations! These are great Earth Day project your child can help you make and assemble.

birdfeeder BF3

Directions:
Using a popsicle stick,cover outside of toilet paper roll with peanut butter. Roll the peanut butter covered toilet paper roll in the bird seed until covered.Thread a piece of twine through the toilet paper roll and knot.Hang where birds can enjoy.

BF 2  HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!
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Linking Learning with Nature

Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Now is a great time for children to explore these environmental changes happening in the world around them.
Not only are children curious about nature, but research shows that it has a profound influence on their problem solving skills, creativity, imagination and cognitive ability. Because of this, our teachers incorporate nature in all aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum.
Below are ways we connect learning with nature, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.

INFANTS/TODDLERS: 
In the classroom: After reading a book about springtime, teachers bring children outdoors to explore and investigate objects in nature. The children have fun crumbling leaves, smelling flowers and looking at clouds.
At home: Take tummy time outdoors and allow your infant to explore different sights, sounds and textures. Encourage him to move and grab things by placing objects just beyond his reach. For toddlers, ask questions like, “Who made that chirping sound” or “Can you point to the flowers?”
Recommended reading: Wake Up! Wake Up! A Springtime Lift-the-Flap Book by Kathryn Davis, Welcome Spring by Little Scholastic

BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginners read books about seasonal changes, then bring the story to life by going outdoors to find real-world examples.
At home: Help make your child aware of the seasonal changes going on around him. Talk a walk with him and ask questions such
as “Why do we see flowers growing now?” or “What do flowers need in order to grow?” Encourage him to use his creativity when answering.
Recommended reading: Over in the Meadow by Olive Wadsworth, Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Students plant seeds in their school garden and learn about the importance of caring for them. Through this activity, they practice math skills such as measuring, sorting, counting and making predictions.
At home: Set up a bird feeder outside a window that your child can easily see. Let him help you fill it with birdfeed. As the birds come to eat, ask your child to talk about them. “What color are they?” “Are they big or small?” “What are they doing?”
Recommended reading: Little Seed by Eric Carle, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Pre-K and Pre-K 2 students explore the sounds they hear in nature while playing outdoors. They then use recycled and natural materials, such as string and pine cones, to make their own wind chime.
At home: Reuse junk mail for a fun arts and crafts activity with your child. Encourage him to look through flyers and magazines to find words and pictures that he recognizes. Then, ask him to create a collage by cutting and gluing them to a piece of paper or poster board.
Recommended reading: And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, About Springtime, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to think creatively and imaginatively about the world around them. By setting this foundation, children build confidence in their own unique thoughts and maintain a thirst for learning as they enter elementary school and beyond.

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