Spring into Learning

Spring is in the air at SMART START! Our young learners have been embracing the season through nature based, hands-on learning. 

Read Along Below! 

🌱Students began their seasonal studies by planting green beans. Materials included cups, soil, seeds and water. Green beans are a great way to introduce gardening indoors and can be replanted outside late spring. 

🧩Peers partnered together to complete a puzzle. These collaborative activities foster skills needed to accomplish projects as a team. 

🎲The group engaged in games galore: board games, memory match, fine motor fun, and more! 

Here are links to class favorites: Eric Carle ABC Game, The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Surprise Slides, Lucky Ducks

📖 Classmates circled outside for a read aloud of the classic children's book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. The story was read in both English and Spanish. This storytime assisted in reinforcing Spanish vocabulary of fruits/foods and days of the week as well as two bonus spring words: caterpillar = oruga and butterfly = mariposa.  Book Linked Here

🍃The class contributed to spring cleaning their school by raking leaves and collecting sticks. 

The cutest cleanup crew!

🎨SMART START artists decorated the sticks they gathered using paint and glitter. 

⛅Spring has officially sprung in our outdoor classroom. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and creatures are crawling about. Friends have been observing these changes while learning and playing in nature. 

Thank you for reading about spring at SMART START!

                      🌷SMART START🌷

Happy Easter

                            🐰SMART START🐰

Dr. Seuss Day/ Read Across America

Read Across America Day is celebrated each year on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday. This annual event is intended to promote literacy and encourage a love of reading. 

Our young learners had a fantastic day engaging in Dr. Seuss related activities. 

 Read below 📖

🔢 Dr. Seuss Day at school commenced with memory and counting games. Classmates enjoyed matching classic characters and practicing their counting skills. 

📕 Peers pondered over some Dr. Seuss stories. We discussed the career of an author and the process of writing a book. All were interested in this concept and were curious about other authors from our classroom collection. 

🖍Friends completed themed coloring pages and worksheets. Cognitive and fine more abilities were enhanced through letter tracing, mazes, connecting the dots, finding what is different, drawing missing items and more. Activity Books Linked Here

🍳The class brought the Dr. Seuss classic, “Green Eggs & Ham” to life. Using eggs from our outdoor classroom chickens, students made their very own green eggs and ham. This hands-on project consisted of cracking, mixing and coloring the eggs. SMART START Scientists were fascinated as they mixed blue and yellow food coloring to create the color green. Afterwards, all ate their lunch while listening to the story that inspired the meal. Green Eggs & Ham Book Linked Here

The significance of the book was explained to the group- always be open to trying new things! This message is especially important for young children as they are often cautious of eating different foods. In addition, March is National Nutrition Month and this “Green Eggs & Ham” lesson was a fun and delicious way to begin our extended nutrition studies. 

Thank you for reading all about Read Across America/ Dr. Seuss Day at SMART START!

                     📚SMART START📚

Snow Much Fun

 Our young learners have had ❄Snow Much Fun❄ celebrating the season of winter! 

Read about our seasonal studies below😀 

⛄Classmates decorated large felt snow people using markers, glue, glitter and other materials. Similar Craft Linked Here

❅SMART START scientists concocted their very own snow using baking soda and hair conditioner. This simple chemistry experiment also served as an exciting sensory activity. 

🥞Pancakes and Pajama Day at school was a delicious and cozy event!

🧤Gross motor abilities were enhanced while shoveling and playing in the outdoor classroom. Similar Shovels Linked Here

➕Peers practiced basic math skills while adding and subtracting pretend play snowballs. Flashcards were utilized to reinforce number recognition. Snowballs Linked Here

⭐Students did a fabulous job presenting a special item from home for the "Snow & Tell" assignment. Introducing public speaking exercises in Early Childhood Education promotes high self-esteem, increased vocabulary, conversational capabilities, social skills and so much more!

📘Seasonal stories were enjoyed in both our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Class Favorites Linked Here

🛷Friends assembled a ramp outside to use for sledding! Sleds Linked Here

The group engaged in various games such as "Don't Break the Ice" (linked here), "Penguin Tower" (linked here), a snowball scavenger hunt (linked here) and more!

🧊Winter artists used ice cubes, watercolor paint and doilies to create colorful snowflakes. 

🥣 Beginner bakers put on their chef hats and aprons to bake and frost cake loaves. 

🌨The class was curious how long the winter season will last. It was discussed that winter will officially end on March 20th this year. In addition, the holiday, "Groundhog Day" and its traditions were explained. Classmates constructed their own groundhog using paper bags, scissors, paper, markers and more. Afterwards, all used their puppets outdoors to identify shadows. 

Thank you for reading about "Snow Much Fun" at SMART START!

❄SMART START❄

Goodbye Fall 🍁

 Our young learners had a memorable time Fall-ing in love with learning through an abundance of autumn inspired activities. 

🍂 Fall-ow along below 🍂

🖍Autumn academics commenced with the seasonal staple of leaf rubbing. Stencils and crayons were utilized to form the perfect fall leaf. We discussed the different shapes of leaves from various tree types such as maple, birch, oak and more. Similar Product Linked Here!

🔠 Alphabet skills were reinforced during a “leaf letter” matching game. Students were tasked with pairing all uppercase leaves with their corresponding lowercase leaves.

⛅Learning about seasons through nature exploration is an essential aspect of our curriculum. Students explored and discovered nature’s treasures brought by fall: leaves, pinecones, insects, animals etc. all while playing in the fresh air with friends.

📖 The group gathered in the outdoor classroom for a seasonal story and snack: Apples! 

🟠 Peers picked their very own pumpkin from a pretend play pumpkin patch. The pumpkins were saved for a special project. 

🔢 A felt board was incorporated into a basic math lesson. Felt pumpkins and squirrels were utilized to add to ten and then simple subtraction problems were solved such as, 10-3 squirrels= 7 pumpkins. Felt Board Linked Here

💦Creative classmates used watercolors to paint wood leaf shapes. The final products portrayed beautiful, brightly colored leaves. Wooden Leaves Linked Here

🌳Number recognition was reinforced while playing the game Apple Tree Counting. Everyone received an apple tree card and had to place the quantity of apples that correspond with the number on the tree. Bushels of fun! 

🎨Autumn artists were eager to paint the pumpkin they picked from the school pumpkin patch. Paint, glitter, tissue paper and stickers were used for decorating. 

⭐Students were tasked with a “Fall About Me” poster assignment. All did a fabulous job completing the poster at home and then presenting it at school. Friends learned some fall facts about each other while also enhancing their public speaking skills. Projects such as these promote high self-esteem, language development, conversational skills and more!

🍞Bakers geared up in aprons and chef hats to make apple pumpkin bread loaves and muffins. Mixing ingredients, lining and filling pans, putting muffins in the oven and frosting bread loaves were among the responsibilities- learning life skills through hands-on fun!

🍁SMART START friends enjoyed some gross motor play, raking and jumping in leaves. This quintessential New England activity is always a class favorite! 

🍏Parts of an apple (stem, skin, flesh, core & seeds) were discussed as all ate the delicious fall fruit.  Afterwards, this lesson was reinforced with a color by number worksheet. 

🍂Autumn scenes were designed using poster board, stickers, crayons, glitter, ribbon and imaginations. Each masterpiece came out unique and beautifully represented each child’s vision of fall.

Thank you for reading all about fall at SMART START!

🍂SMART START🍂

All About Animals

    Animal appreciation is an important aspect of SMART START'S curriculum. Our daily activities often center around learning about nature and wildlife in the outdoor classroom. This month our young learners engaged in an enhanced unit dedicated to animal studies. 

Read along below! 

📚Interests were piqued as peers pondered over books and figurines at a themed display. Animal types, behaviors and habitats were discussed and explored. Reptiles and amphibians were a favorite!

ABC Upper and lowercase letters and sound identification were strengthened using jumbo animal alphabet cards. Safari Hats Linked Here!

🧩Fine motor and cognitive capabilities were utilized while completing puzzles and playing memory games. Various skill leveled materials were provided for our multiage classroom. This Montessori style environment enables student-led learning. Whether they choose to challenge abilities with older friends or to practice with a younger age group, students are encouraged to learn and develop at their own pace. 

📸Picture frames were decorated in preparation of the Curious Creatures animal show. These formative years in early childhood are crucial and photos encourage the formation of memories. Frames Linked Here!  Animal Stickers Linked Here!

🐍The Curious Creatures presentation was a success! This educational hands-on experience consisted of an assortment of animals interacting with the class. A snake, parrot, scorpion. alligator, tarantula, tortoise, hedgehog and tree frog were among the creatures shared. We were so proud of our pupils for bravely holding and petting each animal (some even crawled/sat on their heads!). 

🕮 Names for groups of animals were discussed during an outdoor story time. Book Linked Here!

🐅Future zoologists created their very own zoo outdoors using animal figurines. All organized each animal type into "exhibits" for classmates and teachers to observe. Learning through play is essential for children to fully comprehend and express the subject matter. 

🐘Animal recognition was reinforced during a game of bingo! This was a fun way to conclude this unit of study. 

Thank you for reading all about animals at SMART START!

🐍SMART START🐍

Fire Safety & Prevention

October is fire safety and prevention month! SMART START celebrated by incorporating enhanced emergency preparedness protocols into our daily curriculum.  Our young learners embraced these essential life skills through realistic, hands-on activities. 

Learn About Fire Safety & Prevention Below!

📕The class circled in their outdoor classroom for a storytime and group discussion. 

Here is some information we learned:

• Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency
• If your clothes catch on fire: STOP where you are, DROP to the ground, COVER your face and ROLL back and forth.
• Stay LOW and BELOW while escaping a fire (prevents breathing in smoke)
• Know the sound of your home and school fire alarms. 
• Designate a meeting spot at home and school in the case of an emergency. 

🔥 Imaginations were ignited as future firefighters explored fire safety using magnets, figurines, engines, trucks, costumes and more! In addition, we acted out an emergency situation and completed an evacuation drill. Peers fulfilled their roles by either crawling out of the "burning building", hosing down the "fire" or sounding the alarms. These pretend play opportunities allow for subject matter to be reinforced. 

Learning through play is one of the most effective ways for children to learn!

✎Firefighting friends engaged in themed fine motor fun. Classmates created their very own firefighter using stickers and colored a fire safety worksheet. 

Fire Chief Costume Linked Here

Firefighter Sticker Activity Linked Here

🚒The North Andover Fire Department visited SMART START for their annual fire safety and prevention presentation. Our students listened in awe as the "real firefighters" shared their knowledge and expertise. Afterwards, everyone gathered by a hook and ladder truck to learn some fascinating facts. 

Thank you, community heroes Lieutenant Matt Davis and Firefighter Chris for providing such an educational, enriching experience! We are very grateful for your service!

Thank you for reading all about fire safety and prevention!

🧯SMART START🧯