March 2014 Newsletter

What we are exploring and learning this month:

Spring is almost here and the weather is getting warmer! Our toddlers will have opportunities to go outside and develop their fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor activities include: sand table- using fingers to scoop sand into buckets or pouring sand through their fingers water table- using hands to scoop up water into buckets or splash it around blowing bubbles- using hands and fingers to manipulate bubble wand

Gross motor activities include: riding tricycles- coordinates arm and leg movement throwing/kicking balls- hand/eye coordination navigating the climber/slide- coordinates arm and leg movement

We will also be going for buggy rides around the neighborhood to observe the growing flowers and trees. Teachers will collect tree branches and leaves to use in the sensory table. Children will be able to touch the different textures of the objects and discover new words to describe what they feel (i.e. smooth, rough, thin, etc.).

The books that we will be reading this month include:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell

Reminders:
Our center will be closed March 3rd in observance of Pulaski Day. Ready for fun, food, and funny faces? Our annual Spring Festival is on March 7th! Our wonderful Pre-K teacher, Miss Bea, who is also a childrens face painter, will be on hand to decorate children with spring flowers, insects, or whatever their hearts desire. The festivities will begin at 10am in the Gross Motor room. Hope to see you there!

Community Connections:
Looking for an activity to expand your childs horizon? Here are some museums that have free days: Art Institute (111 S. Michigan Ave., 312-443-3600) - Free admissions every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. Children 13 and under are always free. Chicago Children's Museum (700 E. Grand Ave., 312-527-1000) - Free admissions every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm, and the first Sunday of every month for children 15 and under. Always free to children under 1. DuSable Museum of African American History (740 E. 56th Pl., 773-947-0600) Admission is free to all on each Sunday of the year. Admission is also free on school days to all Chicago Public School students. Smart Museum of Art (5550 S. Greenwood Ave., 773-702-0200) - Always free.

Thanks for reading our newsletter and lets have a great month of March!