Teaching Preschool

I just wanted to journal a little bit about my teaching experience when it was my turn to teach preschool on October 20, and then this last Monday, as well. I absolutely love teaching and the way I can connect with children, so of course I have been looking forward to this. Last month, when I taught, our lesson was, "The World Around Us: Sun, The Night Sky, and Nature."
After reading books about the world around us, I put on a nature sounds CD, and we all used our bodies to practice being tall mountains and trees, a flower swaying in the wind, a boat floating down a wild river, the sun, moon, and stars. Then we went on a nature walk in the backyard and picked up all kinds of leaves, flowers, sticks, wood chips, and rocks. Then we created tree rubbings using the items we had collected. After that, we sang some cute little songs together.

At snack time, I gave the kids orange circle slices (sun), jello circles (moon), cauliflower (snowy trees), triangular bread slices (mountains), and water with drops of blue food coloring (river). Their favorite thing to eat was the sun and the moon. For some reason, the snowy trees weren't a big hit, even with a little bit of snow (ranch dressing) on the side to dip it in. ;)

Play time in the backyard after class!

On Monday when I taught preschool again, our lesson was, "Food and Harvest: Grains, Dairy, and Meat." Elaine, who I team-teach with, taught the first part of the lesson the week before, about fruits and veggies. After I read them books, including The Little Red Hen and Green Eggs and Ham (two of my favorites), they helped me grind wheat into flour using my wheat grinder, and then I showed them the homemade bread I had made using the wheat. Then we made homemade butter, by whipping heavy cream with a electric mixer. They kids were so excited about these experiments! Even I was amazed by the home-made butter when Wade did a test run for me earlier. It was pretty cool. :)

Afterwards, we created a grain collage, using wheat, rice, and popcorn. And then I had everyone line up, and showed them a food item, and they had to race to it's matching group. When I pulled out the ice-cream, rather than running to the dairy group picture, they ran to me, and said, "I want some...please, please, please!" kind of like the birds on Finding Nemo (mine, mine, mine, mine) It made me laugh!

Finally, we had snack time, which was a slice of my home-made bread with the home-made butter on top, cheese, ham, apples, and a glass of milk. Next time I teach this lesson, I'll make home-made ice-cream rather than home-made butter, and the kids will really love me! I did send a mini loaf of bread home with each child, so maybe they'll come back anyway. ;)