Mass Audubon Field Trips

    

Mass Audubon Ipswich River Sanctuary visited SMART START last spring and again this winter for on site field trips at our school. These programs enhance our units of studies as well as enrich the education for our students!  

     Audubon programs are filled with endless captivating material.  The educator naturalists that present to our group are phenomenal and engage their audience through a variety of hands- on activities.

  The children's eyes and ears become fixated as information is shared, stories are read and items are passed around to explore.

Last year's "spring into nature" program was thoroughly enjoyed! Miss Rita our educator showed different wildlife as our group embarked on a nature hunt at school.  Items showcased throughout the hunt were a wasp nest, fossils, toads, tadpoles, frogs and more!  The children had the opportunity to get up close and personal with said nature's treasures. They held them while learning  fun facts and inquiring information about each. SMART START naturalists worked on identifying types of trees, leaves, bugs and more in their backyard at school ,otherwise known as the outdoor classroom!

2018:

Today, Miss Stephanie our educator along with eager SMART START explorers went into our new outdoor classroom for a winter animal observation! Peers searched together the entire backyard. Findings were a deer horn, fox skull, raccoon , rabbit, beaver and many other forest animal artifacts. In addition they played games and pretend play activities. Pictures and puzzles of animals and facts were introduced as well as animal foot prints and tracks made were displayed.

Thank you miss Stephanie for a exhilarating morning! Classmates are already anticipating an Audubon field trip for next fall or summer! 

2019:

Preschoolers were full of intelligent and appropriate questions for our guests and continued talking about the field trips and their happenings throughout both days! Encounters of this sort impact each and every one of our students! They simply love being carefree outdoors embracing their environment, while continuing to be curious and inquisitive about all things nature! Hands-on experiences such as these instill a lifetime desire to learn.

Thank you for allowing your child(ren) to participate in our continued on-site field trip programs!   

Your support and willingness allows our school to continue educating , enriching and enhancing the lives of our SMART START students!

💙 Mary and Francesca 💙

Veterinary Unit of Study and Field Trips

Last fall as well as this winter SMART START friends were introduced to the veterinary field. Here at school  we have both a love and passion for animals and share that with our students on a daily basis. Pupils interact with class pets, as well as take part in their care. Class pets include rabbits Pilot and Harriet  and chickens, Caroline and Charlotte. Gertrude the guinea pig, made a guest appearance last year during the unit of study. The children have grown to love all the pets and have learned so much about them. The animals have also contributed to the growth of our young learners in the following areas and values;

• Self-esteem
• Responsibility
  
• Compassion
  
• Empathy
• Teamwork
• Sharing.    

    SMART START friends love to listen to and read books. We lined our bookshelves with materials surrounding the veterinary field and animals.  During our group story time the children eagerly asked questions and shared personal stories.  We take great pleasure in hearing their stories as they are told with such joy and pride.  Nature lovers were excited to have story time outside.  Barny the Barn Owl even joined in!  We think Barny especially loved this unit of study!

    Our animated group were quite fond of dress up and dramatic play. They put on veterinarian uniforms, took plastic vet tools into their hands with confidence as they cared for all the animals in the classroom, even our beloved class pets. SMART START vets were proud and passionate as they treated the animals.  They worked together beautifully which assisted keeping pets at ease. Young vets pretended to listen to hearts, administer shots and check eyes and ears.  Both Pilot and Gertrude, as well as the stuffed animals, were well groomed with brushes. We were proud of our students and was a pleasure to witness all drawing upon their newly attained knowledge and skill set. A job well done!

     Our arts and crafts portion entailed creating a pet carrier for a take home dog that each child received.  SMART START artists decorated a small box by drizzling glue and covering with multi colored tissue paper and glitter. The Carriers looked fabulous! SMART START vets each had a check list  and performed specific actions such as listening to a heart beat, using a Band-Aid and applying an ace bandage. Young learners also answered questions about their dogs such as name, how they are feeling, etc. All were proud of their creations and excited to take their new pets home.

🐰 Veterinarian Field Trip 🐰  

     SMART START vets were thrilled for field trip day! As always, the children dressed in the SMART START field trip t-shirts and behaved wonderfully during the field trip.  The veterinarians happily shared information about what their jobs entail and stressed what an important part of the community they are.  Below are pictures from 2018 and 2019 field trips!

2018:

 2019:

     We hope your child(ren) enjoyed our veterinary curriculum here at school!  Thank you for your support in our on site field trip program!

💙 Mary and Francesca 💙

Welcome Winter

     Winter is upon us and the children are absolutely thrilled to welcome this cold and snowy season!  They have embraced winter themed educational lessons and activities with warm hearts.  Bundle up as you join us on the beginning of our winter journey!
     Seasonal books were arranged on a snowy table for our young learners. With so many good choices, it was hard to pick just one! 

     Friends enjoyed picking out a few favorites to read along together.  Preschool conversations were filled with winter and the fun activities it brings. 

     As the season changes, temperatures drop! Students took turns observing the thermometer and practiced reading the outside temperature.  We discussed what we do to prepare for the change. Most notably how to dress for play both inside and outside . Ideas and suggestions were shared how to provide extra warmth for our outdoor classroom pets. 

 No matter the season you can always find our SMART START students outside playing!  Everyone was all smiles as they sported their snow attire while playing with friends! 

     There is no one more excited than a young child when the snow falls for the first time!  Anxiously awaiting to go outside, peers quickly put on their winter gear! Many thanks to our shoveling crew for clearing our walkways!

          Time to make class snow angels!  Snow lovers plopped down and created divine imprints!
     
      Mittens and gloves covered little hands working diligently forming snowballs. Fun was had by all while tossing  ,throwing ,and playing games with the snowballs.  Structure climbing , swinging on swings and other favorite activities kept our active bunch enthralled with the wonder and magic of it all!  Let it snow!

     Don't Break the Ice!  A perfect game for a cold winter day!  It challenges the mind, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.  Enthusiastic team players tapped away at the ice as they laughed together!  Don't be the one to make the penguin fall in!  

     This hands-on math learning game involved snowballs, a bucket and a lively group of students. All worked together to count the snowballs as they were added and subtracted from the bucket. Turn taking making simple equations to solve problems individually and with peers was a fun way to learn beginner addition and subtraction concepts. 

     Miss Francesca read to our snow-loving group. They happily sat in the snow as they were delighted by captivating tales!

     When it's too cold to go outside, we bring the snow inside.  Well our pretend snowballs that is!  The children worked effortlessly to create a snowman and other standing towers! They also released their energy and giggles as they engaged in an indoor snowball toss!  These are great activities to further develop gross motor skills, as well as foster hand-eye coordination!  There's always an interesting way to integrate learning and development into our curriculum!

  

   

     Creative minds put on their artistic hats and created beautiful winter scenes.  On a large piece of white poster board  glitter, glue, cotton balls,  tissue paper,  markers and other art media were used to design their very own winter wonderland!

     SMART START's top chefs assembled a winter themed treat!  Each received a bagel, cream cheese, raisins, puffs and chocolate chips to create a snowman bagel!  young learners spread the cream cheese and decorated with the other ingredients for the eyes, nose and smile!  What an adorable and tasty snack!

     Snowflakes are a quintessential winter decoration.  Students designed their own paper snowflakes by folding a piece of white paper in half and cut out different shapes using scissors.  They opened the snowflake up and brought it to life using glitter glue, glitter and jewels.  So gorgeous and sparkly!

     Just as no two snowflakes are alike, neither are children's learning styles. SMART START's curriculum most often overlaps fields of study with different methods of teaching for our students.

     Our pupils are excited to learn each day here at SMART START ! Our hands-on activities engage each and every child. Through structured and unstructured play our students excel in learning . The mixed age classroom allows each to be an individual while learning at their own pace as we focus on and elicit their unique abilities and interests.

       Click below to see more Welcome Winter Fun at SMART START!

     We hope you enjoyed our winter journey!  All of us at SMART START sure did!


❄ Mary and Francesca ❄

All About Kinsley

     Our "All About Me" presentations are rolling along beautifully.  Kinsley was so excited to share her poster! She beamed with pride and high self-esteem as she informed her classmates about herself. We are so proud of her tremendous growth and development this past year. Here are some new things we learned about Kinsley: Favorite color - red Favorite animal - dog🐕 Favorite food - cookies 🍪 Favorite thing to do - hangout with Cody Favorite place to visit - beach When I grow up I want to be - a mommy 👩 If I had one wish I would wish for -  candy 🍬
     Kinsley was all smiles as she received the "Student of the Week" award! She was thrilled to show her big brother, Cody! We loved learning more about you Kinsley! 

     We had a fantastic time celebrating Miss Kinsely's 2nd birthday here at school! Friends enjoyed cupcakes and goody bag favors that Kinsley brought in to share with the class. The children gifted Kinsley with a birthday book and sang "Happy Birthday."  We simply adore Kinsley (our youngest student) and it is an absolute pleasure taking part in her education and care.  She is sweet, sassy and smart! We look forward to spending the next year with you and all the adventures it holds!

💙 Mary and Francesca 💙

Happy Thanksgiving

     The season of thankfulness was experienced by all at SMART START! Students learned about the history of this holiday through an assortment of educational lessons, hands-on learning activities, outdoor play, arts and crafts and a delicious thanksgiving feast prepared by all!  We were honored to share in these celebrations with your child(ren). Come along on our festive journey!

  

     November is the time of year to be full of thanks, gratitude, appreciation and more! The children  happily posed with the November month sign with big smiles and open arms! 

     Our book display was full of vibrant fall colors and Thanksgiving décor.  A variety of informative and imaginative books were available for our early readers.  During this season of thanks, we are particularly grateful to be learning and playing at our new school on Elm St.!

     Preschoolers enjoyed Thanksgiving materials both in our indoor and outdoor classrooms.  Independent and group story time opens the pathways to early reading as our students listen intently, learn new vocabulary, and acquire new information.

     

     Crafty artists created beautiful festive wreaths!  They worked diligently wrapping patterns with ribbon.  Miss Francesca assisted pupils with hot gluing colored leaves.  With style and ease, a quintessential autumn  wreath was designed and brought home to proudly display for the coming holiday.

     Thanksgiving enthusiasts had a lovely time engaging in pretend play using seasonal figurines while using the knowledge recently acquired during educational lessons.  

     Our young learners pulled up a chair and set their minds and hands to work.  Each received a string and an assortment of different colored and sized beads.  This activity was advantageous as it focused on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, color recognition, sequencing, patterns and counting.  Upon completion, the children were thrilled at what they had designed. 

     Thanksgiving would not be complete without timeless Pilgrim and Indian attire.  Teachers assisted as pupils gathered around the table to construct a hat. Examples were placed in the middle to serve as visual aids to assist along with audible instruction. Foam pieces were assembled and glued. Stickers and glitter were added.   

          Hand and footprint projects are memorable keepsakes.  Thanksgiving called for the classic turkey! Miss Francesca assisted classmates as both hands and one foot were covered in paint.  They pressed each hand and foot down on white poster board to create the body and feathers. Once dry, an eye, yellow beak and colored ribbon were added for finishing touches. Crafts such as these stimulate a child's senses while providing them opportunity to visualize on an abstract level. 

    SMART START chefs worked passionately in the kitchen preparing apple pie for the Thanksgiving feast.  The children washed, peeled, chopped and seasoned many apples. They also took part in one of their favorite SMART START Thanksgiving traditions....making butter! Friends added whipping cream, a pinch of salt and a marble to a container before each took turns shaking and shaking. All are amazed each year at school when the liquid mixture forms into a mass of butter!

   

     The season of fall is host to leaves, leaves and more leaves! They serve as the ideal playing ground for active children.  Our young learners absolutely adored their time outdoors running and crunching through the crisp Autumn leaves.  Large piles were made and all jumped in, tossed up in the air again and again. A magical and lifting sensory experience!  

     The time finally came to host our traditional Thanksgiving feast!  A big thank you to all our families who generously volunteered to send in an item to share with the class. These items, in addition to our preparations at school, made for a delicious meal .The children looked adorable fashioning hats made. Manners were impeccable and all were quite proud to serve and pass around the different dishes to one another.
    

Click below for more Thanksgiving highlights at SMART START!

We are so thankful to take part not only in your child(s) education and care, but also to share holiday experiences with them.  As always, your kindness and support is recognized and appreciated! 

 🦃 Mary and Francesca 🦃

SMART START Holiday Workshop

SMART START Preschool Drop Off Holiday Workshop

Monday, December 17th from 9-11am for ages 2-5 years

Arts & crafts, baking, stories, and other activities

$25 snack included

Email Mary at contact@smartstartandover.com 

💙 Mary and Francesca 💙