Tigers February Newsletter

Transcription

1 Tigers February Newsletter Dear Parents, Welcome to the month of February. February is Black History Month. Americans recognized black history month annually since 1926, first called, Negro History Month. We owe the celebration of black history month and more important, the study of black history to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. He spent his life working in the Kentucky Coal Mines. He finally enrolled in school at the age of 20, earning his Ph. D. from Harvard. He was disturbed to find that history books largely ignored the black American population. He established the association for the study of Afro-American life and history in 1915 and later founded the Journal of Negro history. In 1926 he launched Negro history week as an initiative to bring national attention to contributions of African Americans throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population. This month, we recognize important figures in history that changed the way for us today among the many are; Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Madam C.J. Walker and many more! At our center, we are all made up with different nationalities. This is something that makes us very proud! This month, we will not only be honoring African American figures but also people in history that are from different countries as well. We call Black History Month, Multi-Cultural Awareness Month. Groundhog Day is observed on February 2 nd, both in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, if a groundhog emerges from its hole on Groundhog Day, then winter will soon end. If, however, a groundhog retreats back into its hole on Groundhog Day, then winter will continue for another six weeks. Presidents Day is honored on Monday February 15 th, Presidents Day is a celebration of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln s birthday. This holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of February. Valentine s Day is acknowledged on February 14 th. Valentine s Day or Saint Valentine s Day is celebrated by many people throughout. It is traditional for lovers to express their love for each other by sending Valentine s cards, presenting flowers, and spending time with one another. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent

2 each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. To appreciate the gifts of the heart we would like to introduce our children to the famous Charles Richard Drew who was an American physician, surgeon, and medical researcher. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II. This allowed medics to save thousands of lives of the Allied forces. The research and development aspect of his blood storage work is disputed. As the most prominent African- American in the field, Drew protested against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, as it lacked scientific foundation, and resigned his position with American Red Cross, which maintained the policy until Charles Drew died on April 1, 1950 when the automobile he was driving went out of control and turned over. Drew suffered extensive massive injuries but contrary to popular legend was not denied a blood transfusion by an all-white hospital he indeed received a transfusion but was beyond the help of the experienced physicians attending to him. His family later wrote letters to those physicians thanking them for the care they provided. Over the years, Drew has been considered one of the most honored and respected figures in the medical field and his development of the blood plasma bank has given a second chance of life to millions. Manipulative: This month, the children will make a traffic light, which was invented by a black man named Garret Morgan. The children will use their small muscles to cut a black rectangle and a red, yellow and green circle from construction paper. They will then glue the circles on the black rectangle, creating a traffic light. As the children engage in this activity, they will increase visual perception skills and enhance their fine motor skills. The Tigers will also cut a heart from red construction paper, creating a Valentine s Day hat. This is a fun activity that encourages the children to hold the scissors properly to manipulate them the way they need to go, in order to cut the shape out. We will also continue to practice working with a pencil, writing our names, work with small puzzles and much more! Social Development: As children engage in this area, they learn about themselves, about their families and the world around them. They also learn to engage in cooperative play and take turns. This month, we will be talking about friends. We will ask questions such as; How do you become a friend to someone?, What is a friend?, How do you show love and affection?. We will also talk about Black History Month. We will introduce the children to African American Inventors and also other inventions from different cultures. We will discuss how these people made it easier for us today. The Tigers will also play Wake up Bear and Do what I do. Creative Art: As children engage in this area, they develop hand-eye coordination and observe color, textures and line composition. They also learn to express themselves through their work and experience with creative process. This month, the children will create an airplane, in honor

3 of the first black woman pilot, Elizabeth Bessie Coleman. The children will cut an oval and three rectangles out of construction paper. They will look at a model and glue the pieces together to resemble an airplane. They will then get to decorate the airplane using their own creative techniques. We will also make a Valentine s Day flower. We will place the bottom tips of three to five hearts together, glue a small circle over the tips for the center of the flower and then attach a stem and use green hearts for leaves. The Tigers will also make a baseball to honor Jackie Robinson and a spaceship. Cognition: Cognitive activities are any kind of activity that encourages us to think. It is the process of learning, perceiving, and acquiring knowledge. This means numbers, letters, ordering, comparisons etc. This area helps the children to understand classification skills by using their senses and experimenting and exploring to understand relationships. Thinking on this, the children will make a broken heart puzzle. The puzzle will be shaped as a heart that has been broken into pieces. The children will use their thinking skills to piece the heart back together and glue it to a piece of paper. They will also be ordering baseball bats that will have the letters A to E and numbers 1 to 5. The children will be making this activity in honor of the first African-American to become a professional baseball player, Jackie Robinson. We will also continue to work on letter and number recognition. Science: As children engage in this area, they develop an understanding of the biological and physical environment that surrounds them. they also develop observation and prediction skills. This month, the children will play Visible Germs. What is this, you ask? This is an activity that will help the children understand germs and how they spread. We will introduce flour as germs. We will discuss how germs make us sick and how they spread when we don t wash our hands. We will then put the flour on hour hands and touch the toys in the room. Doing this, they will see the flour on the toys that came from their hands and begin to understand how germs spread. This activity will definitely encourage us all to wash our hands often! The Tigers will also taste ice-cream. This activity is in honor of Augustus Jackson, who is an African- American inventor of the flavors of ice-cream. We will also talk about the coldness we feel in our mouths when we eat ice-cream and why it needs to be cold to stay frozen, and what it feels like when it melts in our mouths. Literacy: As the Tigers engage in this area, it increases their appreciation of the printed word as they develop an appreciation of ideas. This month we will be reading a variety of books from the centers collection such as; Germs are not for sharing, I love you more, Will you still love me?, I love you as Big as the World, Bright Eye, Brown Skin, Max found two sticks, The Black Snowman, The colors of us, Three Wishes and Designed by God So I must be Special. Music/Movement: This area familiarizes children to music of various cultures and groups and helps the child develop language skills. We are going to learn some new songs this month for Valentine s Day: Do you have a Valentine? and Here is a message for you (in the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

4 Here is a message just for you It is old and not so new But it says what I want it to Only three words, but they are true I love you is what they say Please be mine on Valentine s Day And The more we get together, together The more we get together The happier we ll be For your friends are my friends And my friends are your friends The more we get together The happier we ll be! Parent reminders: 1. All children need hats and mittens for outside play 2. Children need a change of clothing 3. Children need blankets and sheets for their beds Valentine s Day Party on February 12 th we would appreciate parents help with some goodies for our party. i.e. Cake, Chips, Cookies, Juice and Candies. Children assessments are coming up and parents will be called to set up a time to meet with teachers. Your child s report is very important! Please come to hear and see the wonderful things your child or children are doing. Thank you! Ms. Sharon Fletcher

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