Friday
Community Collections
Monday
Fire Safety & Prevention
During the month of October, SMART START observed Fire Safety & Prevention Month. Our young learners have been acquiring knowledge on how to prepare for emergency situations through an assortment of interactive activities.
Follow Along Below π
Future firefighters dramatic played with trucks, hoses, action figures, magnets and their creative imaginations. All pretended there was a fire on their swing set and acted the role of fire chief (and a Dalmatian too!).
Safe students executed exact steps to take if their clothes ever catch on fire: STOP where you are, DROP to the ground, COVER your face and ROLL back and forth.
View STOP, DROP, COVER & ROLL Below
Everyone eagerly awaited the annual visit from North Andover Fire Department. Five firefighters along with two fire engines came this year. Lieutenant Davis discussed prevention protocols and was most impressed with questions and answers from the class.
View N.A.F.D On-Site Presentation
Fire Safety & Prevention Discussion (Click Link)
Fire fighting friends gathered to work on pages in their themed activity books. Pre-K/K pupils practiced identifying what number to call in the case of an emergency (911) while preschool peers colored related materials.
To conclude this unit, other community heroes were explored. Occupation flashcards were matched to corresponding figurines. This lesson prompted conversations about what our aspiring group wants to be when they grow up. Classmates' career aspirations included firefighters, police officers, farmers, doctors, librarians, pilots and even the tooth fairy!
View More Fire Safety Highlights Below
π₯SMART STARTπ₯
Saturday
Welcome Fall!
Monday
Frogs πΈ
- Frogs are amphibians
- The branch of zoology that focuses on amphibians & reptiles is Herpetology
- Vernal Pool: a pond/wetland habitat for many creatures such as fish, frogs & insects
- Adult frogs eat insects with their long, sticky tongues
- A group of frogs is called an army
- Frogs do not drink water, but absorb it into their skin
- Life cycle of a frog:
Friday
SMART START Send Off! π
Sunday
Dinosaur Day π¦
SMART START ventured back to prehistoric times to learn about dinosaurs! Students experienced these captivating creatures through a variety of hands-on lessons and activities.
Read About Dinosaur Day At School Below! π
Preschool Paleontologists put on aprons, goggles and gathered tools to prepare for an exciting excavation. All received their own fossilized egg with a dinosaur hidden inside. After chipping, picking, dusting, cracking and sanding, various species were discovered such as Triceratops, Velociraptor and Spinosaurus!
SMART START Artists gathered in the outdoor classroom to decorate a wooden dinosaur magnet and a jumbo T-rex Linked Here! Paint, glue, tissue paper, markers and Do A Dot bonkers were used. Each creation was labeled with a child's name and "OSAURUS" for a personal touch.
Classmates enjoyed playing a cooperative learning board game "Dinosaur Escape." The class collaborated to save the dinosaur pieces before a volcano erupted! Activities such as these promote positive social skills such as turn taking, team building, sharing and good sportsmanship.
Friends formed a circle to listen to a themed read aloud. After the story, questions regarding the subject matter were asked and answered.
Here are some facts we learned:
- Dinosaurs and many other animals have gone extinct (no living members in a group/species).
- Scientists believe that a large asteroid hit the earth and caused the dinosaur extinction.
- Dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic Era. The three periods are: Triassic, Jurassic & Cretaceous
- Some dinosaurs were carnivores (ate meat) and others were herbivores (ate plants).
- Chickens (Like our outdoor classroom pets!) are closely related to dinosaurs.
Future Archeologists constructed a "SMARTSTARTOSAURUS" using pretend play fossils.
To conclude this unit, friends free played with various dinosaurs, nature items and their wild imaginations!
Learning about dinosaurs in Early Childhood Education is an essential introduction to history and STEM (science, technology, engineering & math). These studies foster an interest in the sciences, develop critical thinking, expand vocabulary, instill a desire to discover and so much more. Young learners are fascinated by these topics and their natural curiosity should be encouraged!
π¦SMART STARTπ¦
Saturday
Geography π
SMART START young learners embarked on an expedition around the globe! From touring the United States to "studying abroad", our young learners fully embraced this introduction to Geography.
Come join us on our travels below! πͺ
Our journey began right here in the U. S.! Classmates collaborated to complete a puzzle displaying all 50 states and capitals- Linked Here. We discussed the famous landmarks pictured on each piece and the various places pupil have visited. Future historians were most intrigued by the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania.
The New England state of Massachusetts was highlighted during outdoor circle time. MA is currently home to our school and students. The book "I Am Massachusetts" which portrays numerous cities and sights was read aloud to the group. The class conversed about their favorite spots in the state such as Cape Cod, Newburyport, Salem and the capital, Boston.
Time to leave the continent.... Next stops Europe, Asia, South America and more! SMART START tourists selected an activity page featuring a country of their choice. Vocabulary was expanded through word searches, cognitive abilities were enhanced travelling in mazes and fine motor skills challenged via handwriting. This lesson provided a glance into diverse cultures and customs worldwide.
Eager Geographers concluded this unit through a variety of fun and games! Friends inflated a blue ball and used a globe to accurately place continent and ocean stickers. Afterwards, all played "Wonder Globe" (Sit in a circle, play music, pass globe, stop music, person holding globe picks a continent that they wish to visit). "Points on the Map" was enjoyed next (Hang up large map, line up, close eyes, one at a time approach map and point, open eyes, see which state/country is landed on). Lastly, the inflatable globe was incorporated into water play. While splashing in the sprinkler and sliding down the waterslide, peers pretended they were on the five major oceans: Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean & the Arctic Ocean.
Educating children about the world around them is an essential component of SMART START's curriculum. These teachings aim to instill a sense of wonder into our young learners and to ignite their natural desire to explore and discover. We hope you enjoyed accompanying us on our global adventure!
πSMART STARTπ