Field Trip to the Fire Station

Last week we paid a visit to the local fire station. Some children were under the impression that we were going to a burning building and were relieved to find that that wasn't the case. The firefighters were very kind. They explained their equipment, showed us around their vehicles, and even let the children dress up as firefighters.

Please review your family's emergency plan with your children this week.

We rode the bus to the fire station (an adventure in itself).

A saw for cutting into buildings.

We got to walk through a brand new ambulance that hadn't been used yet.

Gear lined up for quick access.

Getting dressed up like a real firefighter.

Yes sir!

Group shot with some firefighters.

Enrollment Campaign Extended Again

Extended until December 18! Due to high demand and our inability to accommodate all of the sample lesson requests, we have extended the Autumn Campaign until December 18, the last day of school before winter vacation. Get more information here.

Sweet Potatoes

Last week we took our annual walk to a nearby vegetable field and dug up sweet potatoes. It's amazing that there are places like this right in Tokyo.

Rocks

We learned about David and Goliath recently. Our "My World" theme was rocks. Once again Yuki made a great bulletin board.


We took advantage of the nice weather to go out to the park and paint rocks, which led of course to painting sticks, pine cones, and acorns too. We want to spend lots of good time outdoors while the weather is still nice.

Painting with intensity.

Colorful leaf (and hand)!

Finished Products

Fall Campaign Extended

We are extending our fall enrollment campaign for one week, until November 6, because of the two-day school closure earlier this week. Here is a link to more information.

More Ideas for Home Study

Some children have gotten over the suffering part of influenza and are into "feeling-fine-but-waiting-to-be-noncontagious" part. Looking for something to do with your child? Playisessential.net is a blog with tons of great home-study ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. Here's an example that lines up nicely with our "rock" theme at the preschool this week.

Today you can find Rocks.

As you walk collect rocks.
Discuss their size, shape, color, textures, and if they are pretty.

Bring your rocks home and paint them to be pet rocks!
You can give your rocks hair, googly eyes, nose, and mouth.
You can let your toddler paint the rock and after it is dry, you can put the face on it for them.

Preschool at Home

Here is a student who was feeling better after being hit by the flu and wanted to do preschool at home. (Her mom shared the pictures. I asked for and got permission to post them here.)

Calendar Time

Letter of the Week and Coloring Projects

Bible Time

She made this card and sent it as a fax to us teachers. I love it!

Baking Bread

Our Bible story this week was from the book of Ruth. Ruth gleaned barley and wheat to get food for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. We learned about loyal friendship and how wheat becomes flour to bake bread. On Friday, we capped off the week by baking bread. It was great fun and the fresh baked bread was delicious.

Wheat becomes flour.

Measuring the ingredients (math and practical life skills)

Shaping the rolls (motor skills)

Yummy!

Fall Field Day

We spent a beautiful Tuesday at Hikarigaoka park. Here are several thousand words' worth of pictures.