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Just to let you know, New Hope Summer Preschool is happening this August.

Check out the information in English or Japanese.

You can also apply online in English or Japanese.

See you there!

Hooray for Letter A

This week at the preschool we worked on the letter “A” with this song that I found here. I changed the words a bit by accident.

Hooray for Letter A

(To the tune of "Farmer in the Dell")

Hooray for letter A

Hooray for letter A

Let’s sing for letter A today

Hooray for letter A

Apple starts with A

Ant starts with A

Alligator starts with A

Hooray for letter A

Here are students working on fingerprint apples and ants to reinforce what they learned with the song.

And the final product.

May 11-15, 2009

Bible Story: Shipwreck! (Acts 27)

Memory Verse: "Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord." Colossians 3:17

Character Issues: How we can help others

"My World" Topic: Water

This week we told our Bible story in five parts and stopped at cliffhanger moments each day. Click Acts 27 to read it yourself.

For the “My World” topic of water, we discussed the three states of water (ice, liquid, and steam) and melted ice and boiled water to illustrate. The highlight was Mr. Isaku’s presentation of soluble (salt) and insoluble (sand) substances and sinking and floating objects. Do you think the children were excited to share what they had learned?

"S" is for Spider Web (and Snake)

In our afternoon preschool program, we introduce a letter each week. This week's letter is "S" so we made spider webs by dipping yarn in white paint and applying the paint to dark construction paper.

First, use the yarn to practice the letter of the week.

Then, holding the two ends of the yarn, dip it into white paint and lay it across the paper to leave a "strand" of the spider web. Repeat until finished.

The children loved this activity!

I'm editing this post to add another S activity that we did. "Snake" is another great word that begins with "s" especially since snakes make the same sound that the letter does. For this activity, we had dip a finger in glue and write a large "s" on construction paper (We wrote a light pencil guideline for the three-year-olds). Then they laid a piece of yarn on the s-shaped glue and stuck it down. Finally they drew the outline of a snake around the yarn and added snake-like patterns. A fun multi-sensorial way to practice the letter of the week.

May 7-8, 2009

Bible Story: Paul Helped by his Nephew (Acts 23:12-27)

Memory Verse: "Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well." 1 Timothy 2:2

Character Issues: Following instructions and safety from strangers

"My World" Topic: Police and Self Defense Force

This (short) week, we learned about Paul's rescue from those who had planned to kill him. His nephew overheard the plot and warned Paul who ended up being escorted in protective custody by over 200 soldiers.
The children learned how to be safe around strangers (stay away and go to a trusted adult!), how to dial the police (110), and what to do if we hear people talk about doing something dangerous or bad (tell a trusted adult). We learned that police officers work to serve and protect us and that we should appreciate them. The children made their own police hats and badges and wore them proudly.

"Officer Buckle and Gloria" is an award winning book about a police officer who gives safety tip presentations and his dog who pantomimes illustrations. You can borrow it from the preschool library or purchase it here.

April 27 - May 1, 2009

Bible Story: Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:22-34)

Memory Verse: Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Ephesians 6:18

Character Issue: God deserves our praise.

"My World" Topic: Earthquakes

We learned this week that God is with us and can hear us wherever we are: at school, church, in the bathtub, in the dark, on the train, when we are with others and when we are alone. God deserves our praise however we happen to feel because God is good! The children wrote a song of their own with which to praise God. It is sung to the tune of "Jesus Loves Me" and goes like this:

God is strong and beautiful.

God loves everyone of us.

God is strong and beautiful.

God loves everyone of us.

Yes, Jesus loves us (3x).

The Bible tells us so.

Our "My World" topic was earthquakes. We learned what earthquakes are, what causes them, how they are measured, how to prepare for earthquakes, and what to do when an earthquake strikes. It's a good time for you to make sure you have an emergency supply bag packed and a clear emergency plan for your family. The U. S. Geological Survey has a good site for parents and children to learn about earthquakes together. Here's a link to a printable disaster preparedness coloring book put out by the Red Cross.

He’s simulating a seismometer by trying to draw a straight line while a friend shakes things up.

Duck, cover, and hold on!

Click here to shop at amazon.co.jp for recommended children's books about earthquakes.