Zz is for zoo!

 

This week we are listening for and looking  at the letter Zz. We are going to the zoo!

Our KDI for the week is measuring-children measure to describe, compare and order things. We'll use animals as our comparison items. What is bigger, a giraffe or a monkey? How much bigger? Animals smallest to biggest, etc.

Table Activities-Our table activities for the week include creating a zoo with popsicle sticks, playdough, rocks and little animals, create animals with animal print paper, safari necklaces with animal beads, measuring toy animals with unifix cubes, animal coloring pages and zoo bins.

Small Group- Our small group activities this week are coloring and cutting out an animal and "sewing" it into a cage, painting our favorite animal from a picture and adding Zz is for zoo to our journal.

Large Group- Animal actions outside and zoo bins outside.

Field Trip to Indian Creek Zoo on Wednesday, May 10th. If you are unable to attend the field trip, no school that day.

Books of the Week- "Daddy's Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow" by Tom Paxton and "Put Me in the Zoo" by Robert Lopshire.

Bible Story- Our story for this week takes us to the shores of the Sea of Galilee again. Peter, Andrew, James and John had gone back to their old occupation- fishing. Other disciples were there with them as well. As they were out in their boats, they saw a figure on the beach. He asked them if they had caught anything. When they replied they hadn't, he told them to put their nets out on the right side of the boat. When they did, their nets were immediately full and breaking. The Bible even says they caught 153 fish! As soon as that happened it was evident who was on the shore! It was Jesus! Peter jumped from the boat and waded to shore, they were only about 100 meters out. Jesus had started a coal fire and had some bread. When the disciples brought the fish and the boats to shore, they brought over some fish and they had breakfast there on the beach. 

Peter had denied Jesus three times on the Thursday evening/Friday morning before he was crucified. After they were finished eating, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter replied, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you!" Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Then Jesus asked a second time, "Peter, do you love me?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you!" Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep!" Then Jesus asked a third time, "Peter, do you love me?" Now Peter was feeling a bit hurt, since Jesus asked three times. He replied, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep." He then told Peter that someday he would be led where he did not want to go.

History tells us that Peter was martyred for his faith. He would not stop telling others about the God who saves and forgives. He fed the lambs and sheep God had entrusted to him until God took him home to be with him.

May we tell others and feed the lambs and sheep with the true word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd!

Xx is for box.

 

This week we are going to look and listen for the letter Xx and play and imagine with boxes.

Our KDI for the week is Gross-motor skills- Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance and timing in using their large muscles. As we build with boxes, large and small, we'll need to use our big muscles to lift, hold and balance one box on top of the other. 

Table Activities- Our table activities this week include coloring inside and outside of large boxes, building with boxes, pounding golf tees into boxes, decorating boxes, folding and making a box, matching boxes and activities based on the book, "Not A Box".

Small Group Activities- We will each decorate a box, make a gift to go in a box, add Xx is for box to our journal and make a "not a box".

Large Group Activities- We'll take some of the boxes outside to have fun with there too!

Books of the Week- "Not a Box" by Antoinette Portis and "What to do with a box" by Jane Yolen.

Bible Story- This week we hear about Thomas. Often we put the word "doubting" in front of the name Thomas. Thomas, also called Didymus, which means twin, was not there to see Jesus Easter evening. The Emmaus disciples had run back to Jerusalem after they had seen Jesus and then there Jesus was, right in the midst of them! They were amazed, scared, rattled! But Jesus said, "Be at peace." Jesus ate with them to prove he wasn't a ghost and their faith was strengthened. 

But Thomas didn't see it, he didn't hear Jesus voice, he didn't touch Jesus hands and feet. He wasn't sure what the disciples had seen, but he was pretty sure it wasn't Jesus. He proclaimed that he would not believe unless he touched the wounds himself.

The next week, all the disciples were in that locked upper room again and Jesus once again appears. He approaches Thomas and says, "Touch my hands, touch my feet, put your hand in the wound in my side. Stop doubting and believe!" Thomas immediately fell at his feet and declared, "My Lord and My God!" Then Jesus talks to us- How blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

We haven't seen Jesus, but we believe. He comes to us through his Word each and every day! Read it, spend time with Jesus! Get to know your Lord and your God! He will strengthen you each day.

Some pics from our yarn week-