Cathy Maurer’s Newsletter
Balls week 3
April 18th – April 21st
Next week, we will continue our unit about balls. We will be talking about and experimenting with
bouncy balls. Next week, we will again be reading; “ABCs of Balls” by Nina Snyder, “Watch Me Throw
the Ball!” by Mo Willems, and “Round Like a Ball!” By Lisa Cambell Ernst. At table toys, the children will
continue to play with our blue play dough, testing how high balls will bounce, and rolling balls back and
forth to a friend. In the block area, the children will be able to explore many different balls of many
different sizes and shapes. Some will be small enough to roll through the paper towel tubes that we
have left over from our recycling unit. Other balls will be bouncy and cam be tossed in a basketball
hoop that we have in the block area. Adults in the classroom will help children to use the balls
appropriately and to problem solve how they can roll balls through the tubes. We will prompt the
children to see what happens; when the tube is raised, when the tube is lowered, and when it is flat on
the ground. What can you do to make the ball roll faster? Next week, I will be adding ramps in the block
area ant the children can experiment rolling their balls down the ramp at different angles. At the art and
craft table next week, each child will be working to make their own bouncy ball. Next week, I will have
dry chickpeas in the feeling table. I have colored the chickpeas with different liquid water colors. The
children can scoop them up in their hands or a cup, roll them around in their hands, and pour them
back into the table. They are a fun and unique sensory experience. I will be sure to get pictures of the
children exploring in the feeling table next week.
Check the classroom Shutterfly site every week for new pictures.
https://mscathysclassroom20162017.shutterfly.com/
Have great weekend! Ms. Cathy [email protected]
Learning Targets for the Ball unit
Learning Targets: following classroom rules, walking in a line, Whole Body Listening, counting,
identifying numerals, identifying uppercase letters, and letter sounds.
Vocabulary: ball, roll, bounce, round, up, down, heavy, light, fast, slow, big, little
Social Emotional: whole body listening, turn taking, waiting, sharing, greetings, cooperative play
The color for the month of April is: blue
Dates to Remember:
April 9th through April 16th – Week of the Young Child
Friday, April 14th - Non-Attendance Day
Saturday, April 22nd - Jet Fest 10:00AM until 12:00 noon
Friday, April 28th - Wellness Bingo Boards are due
Wednesday, May 3rd - Instructional Kindergarten Meeting 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Jefferson
Friday, May 5th - Spirit Day (wear red/white/blue or Spirit wear)
Wednesday, May 31st - Tentative Last Day of School and Family Gathering
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Cathy Maurer’s Newsletter
Homemade Bouncy Balls (We will be making these homemade bouncy balls at
school later in the ball unit. You are welcome to experiment at home with this recipe)
2 bowls, measuring spoons, A stir stick (a wooden paint stick works well), 2 tbsp hot water, 1/2
tsp borax, 1 tbsp glue, 1 tbsp corn starch, Food coloring (optional)
Pour the water and borax into one bowl and stir the mixture until it is dissolved.
Pour the glue, cornstarch and food coloring into the second bowl and mix.
Add the mixture from the first bowl into the second.
Let the ingredients sit for 15 seconds then stir.
Once the mixture becomes difficult to stir, scoop it out of the cup, and roll into a ball. Enjoy!!!
Music and movement
Take Me Out To The Ball Game! (song)
Take me out to the ball game.
Take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks.
I don't care if I ever get back.
Cause it's root, root root for the home team.
If they don't win it's a shame!
And it's ONE, TWO, THREE strikes you're out!
At the old ball game!
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