Happy Holidays 2020

    Holiday Happenings at SMART START commenced December 1st! Young learners celebrated this magical month through a variety of engaging, hands-on activities. 

Please join our festivities below:

 📅 Christmas crafters created a Santa Claus countdown calendar. Materials used included: red paper, white poster board, Santa face paper plates, cotton balls and glue. 

Poem/Instructions: 

Santa's beard is very bare 

on his chin there is no hair 

so each day add a puff of white 

when it's full he will come that night!

HO HO HO CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

🤶 Mrs. Claus visited our school all the way from the North Pole! Students had a holly jolly time delighting in classic carols, music and movement games and placing their letters/wish lists for  Santa inside Mrs. Claus' "Letters to Santa" mailbox. 

Mrs. Claus At School

🍞 Merry and bright bakers measured and mixed ingredients to make gingerbread loaves. Older peers had the opportunity to put on oven mitts and place the bread in the oven all by themselves. 

Baking Spirits Bright

🎄 Everyone enjoyed trimming the tree and decking classroom halls while listening to traditional tunes. Afterwards, surprise presents for friends from home were placed underneath the tree to be exchanged at our holiday party.

Oh Christmas Tree

🎀 Yuletide traditions continued on as fine motor skills were challenged while weaving wreaths using Ribbons, string, bells and bows. "Snow" was sprayed as a finishing touch. 

Tis The Season

☕festive friends wore pajamas and brought cookies to swap with each other on "Holiday Hot Cocoa & Cookies Day" A Hot Chocolate center was arranged for all to make a custom cup of cheer. 

Oh What Fun

🧸 SMART START embraced the season of giving by participating in two donation drives. Classmates contributed and collected gifts for "Toys for Tots" and non-perishable food items for "Lazarus House Ministries" The children were grateful their offerings brought good tidings of comfort and joy. 

 

Giving Is Better Than Receiving

🕯 Hanukkah was observed on the first day of its season. The meaning of the menorah was taught and reinforced through a worksheet and group discussions. 

🕮 Winter holidays celebrated around the world were introduced at the indoor book display and outdoor story time. 

Here are some facts we learned:

• Hanukkah lasts for eight days
• The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black and green
• Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and is usually on December 21st.
• Santa Claus has many different names: Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas etc.

🧝 SMART START Elves were busy in their workshop making school-made presents for their parents. Hand sanitizer was formed mixing aloe & alcohol and sachets were constructed using scented pine cones, netting and ribbon. 

Elves Hustling & Bustling

🦌 Our holiday extravaganza was a joyous event! Pupils painted ornaments, played bingo, exchanged gifts, freeze danced and ate delicious treats. All were astonished when Santa Claus himself came to visit and deliver toys for our classrooms! 

Party Highlights

🎵 SMART START Chorus assembled to sing "Feliz Navidad." This enhanced our Spanish language studies as lyrics were translated to "Merry Christmas." In addition, classmates practiced their counting and colors in Spanish playing jumbo UNO.

Feliz Naviad

🎅 The enchanting essence of Christmas Eve was embraced through a fun finger play:

 

When Santa comes to my house 

 

           I'd like to take a peek               

         but I know he'll never come           

 

                    until I'm fast asleep              

 Finger Play Performance

⭐SMART START⭐

All About Brooke!

    Miss Brooke was ecstatic for her very first "All About Me" assignment and to be the star student of November. Brooke showcased her poster project at school with the utmost confidence. All of her friends were impressed by Brooke's animated presentation and her ability to rise to the occasion. We are so proud of you, Brooke!

Brooke's Poster

Class Presentations

    Time to celebrate Brooke's 3rd birthday! Brooke brought in ice treats and goody bags for her party at school to share with friends. Classmates sang "Happy Birthday" to Brooke and gifted her with a book on Amelia Earhart (who Brooke portrayed during women's history month). 

    Brooke has grown leaps and bounds since starting SMART START at just 15 months old! Brooke is bright, daring, full of charisma and enjoys life to the fullest. Although she is one of our youngest students, age holds no limits for her as there is not anything Brooke cannot do. You brighten everyone's day, Brooke!

💗SMART START💗

Thanksgiving 2020

    🍂Throughout the month of November, SMART START celebrated the essence of Thanksgiving. This served as a time to foster feelings of gratitude in our students through a variety of fun festivities. 

We are most thankful to partake in these special formative experiences with our young learners!🍂

Read about our Thanksgiving unit below :

  
    📚The history of  the holiday was discussed during both indoor and outdoor storytime times and book displays. 

Here are some facts the class learned:

• The pilgrims left England and sailed to the "new world"/North America on the Mayflower ship
• The Mayflower landed in Plymouth, MA and formed a colony. 
• Life in the new world was difficult for the pilgrims
• The first Native Americans to help the pilgrims were named Samoset and Squanto.
• The pilgrims learned how to fish, hunt, plant and more from the Native Americans
• Both the pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated their gratitude by having a feast together 
• This meal began the tradition of Thanksgiving 

    🎨Appreciative artists decorated napkin holders using paint, glitter and other materials. The children wrapped their finished product to be given as a gift, saved for Thanksgiving day or to be used as décor.

   🖉Our grateful group gathered in the outdoor classroom to share some thankful thoughts on an "I am thankful" pumpkin chalk board. 

  📑  To reinforce the significance of gratitude, classmates compiled a list of what they are "So Very Thankful For" as a homework assignment. These were displayed in our classrooms for all to admire.  

  🍞🧈  Beginner bakers beamed while making school-made bread and butter. Pupils patiently poured all of the ingredients together to bake the bread and used their muscles and a marble to mix the butter. Both tasted delicious!

   

  Bread Recipe 

   🥕🥔Festive friends eagerly awaited SMART START's annual "Friendsgiving Feast". All brought in an item to share for the event and participated in preparations at school. 

   💛 Prior to feasting, peers proudly performed a thanksgiving poem. 

   🍽  Our memorable meal was a school-wide effort!

Thankful & Grateful for our SMART START families! Without them our school would not be possible🧡

Click below to view more Thanksgiving highlights 

🦃SMART START🦃

Election Day 2020

    Election Day in the United States occurred on November, 3rd. SMART START observed this monumental event by educating our young learners on their right to exercise their vote. 

SMART START Election

    Pupils participated in a mock election at school to elect their new class president. The two nominees were Barny the Barn Owl & Freddy the Fox. Each candidate displayed their agenda and students scrutinized these at our "debate". 

    All received a ballot and proceeded to the polls. Those in support of Barny marked their ballot with a "B" and those in favor of Freddy signed their ballot with an "F". After much contemplation, classmates cast their ballots and received an "I voted (kids vote too!)" sticker.  

    Parties assembled to hear the anticipated election results. Ballots were counted and a winner was announced... Freddy the Fox! Everybody was excited to inaugurate their new class president. 

    The group gathered to reflect on the election process. This time served as an opportunity for every child to express who they voted for and why. It was impressive how informed and assured they were when discussing their "political views". Peers pondered over their opposing opinions, but learned a valuable lesson of respecting differences in their friends. 

Click below to view SMART START's Election Highlights 

Children are the future and we hope to instill in them that their voices matter and should be heard!

🗳SMART START🗳

All About Kinsley!

    

    Miss Kinsley Rose eagerly embraced the role of "student of the month" during October. She proudly displayed her "All About Me" poster to her peers. Kinsley's enthusiastic energy was exhibited throughout each presentation. Extraordinary work, Kinsley!

Kinsley's Poster 

Class Presentations

    Celebrating Kinsley's 4th birthday party at school was such a treat! She brought in chocolate and vanilla cake pops and sparkly goody bags to share with friends. The class gifted Kinsley with a book and sang, "Happy Birthday" to her in English and Spanish. 

    Kinsley Rose began her education at SMART START when she was just an infant! We have witnessed her evolve from an adorable and bright baby to a perceptive and compassionate preschooler. Each year we are awed by Kinsley's growth as a student, classmate and person. We know you will continue to blossom, Kinsley!

💜SMART START💜

Happy Halloween!

🎃SMART START🎃

Health & Wellness

    Due to COVID-19, SMART START has enhanced its existing health and wellness curriculum. Educating our young learners on maintaining the well-being of themselves and others is our priority. 

Read below to learn more about our recent comprehensive unit:

Hygiene 🧼

    Pupils have been sporting their PPE (personal, protective, equipment) while participating in overall good hygiene habits such as handwashing, sanitizing and covering coughs & sneezes. 

    The class enjoyed learning the necessity of these practices during outdoor storytime. All have been encouraging one another to do their part in order to prevent the spread of germs. 

Nutrition 🍎

     Novice nutritionists have been considering what comprises a healthy diet. Foods containing essential nutrients and how they affect the body were discussed. All applied acquired knowledge to create a meal using a plate template and stickers of the four crucial food groups: protein, fruits, vegetables & grains. 

     Chefs mixed a variety of snacks to make a delicious and nutritious trail mix. 

    Preschoolers enhanced their math skills playing "Count the Cookies", an addition and subtraction game while Prekindergartners and Kindergartners engaged in a literacy lesson making "Sight Word Sandwiches." 

    Books and other related materials were observed at the themed display. 

    Problem solving, sequencing and concentration skills were increased while completing fruit patterns. 

    Peers played "musical strawberries" to songs about the importance of eating fruits. This music and movement activity was a rendition of "musical chairs." 

    The group gathered in our outdoor classroom to listen and learn about all things nutrition

    Classmates classified food groups by sorting items into five categories: protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains. 

Human Body 🧠

    SMART START scientists studied all about the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Internal organs and their functions were taught through an informational read aloud. Each had a turn to wear our "What's Inside Me?" costume which portrays inside parts such as the heart, intestines, the brain and more!

    Future physicians examined X-rays using magnifying glasses, matched organs using magnets and tended to the needs of their "patients". All used their newfound understanding of the human body during this hands-on activity. 

    Students used stickers of internal organs to precisely label their human body template. 

    Prospective surgeons strengthened their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while playing the classic game "operation". This time also served as a pretend play opportunity as all wore gloves, medical masks and imagined they were performing an actual surgery.

    Friends had fun assembling and creating their own bodies using potato head toys. 

     

🔍SMART START🔎