FINALLY!
We were able to go outside for recess on Monday. The boys and girls had a great time drawing with chalk. Looking forward to sunny, warm weather next week!
Montessori Culture Introduction
This week, Pre-K students learned all about the Montessori Culture materials in our classroom. They were introduced to the Sandpaper Globe, where they learned the differences between land and water, and the Painted Globe, where they learned that the land is broken into seven different continents.
We then compared the World Map to the globes and discovered that the map was just a flattened out version of the globe! Next, it was time to learn the names of the seven continents and what they look like. The Pre-K students learned that we all live on the continent of North America and practiced tracing its outline to determine its shape. They were introduced to the other continents (South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica). We practiced matching the shapes of the continents to their names.
Once they learn the names of all the continents, each Pre-K child will be invited to make their own world map! We will also investigate animals and people that live on each continent, as well as some famous landmarks that you can find there.
We are beginning a unit on the mail and geography. The students will learn how the postal service works and begin to learn more about different places around the world. Many of our lessons in the classroom are even mail-themed. We are asking that you (and your family and friends) write letters or postcards to the students and mail them to us at school. When they arrive, we will place them in the mailbox that we will have in our classroom. We are planning on sharing the letters at our morning meeting time and then will plot where the letter came from on our world map and/or USA map. The letters can be sent from now through the end of the school year.
We would love to receive mail from as many different places as possible, so please spread the word! When sending mail to the school, please use the following address:
HCA Pre-K
475 Shadeland Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Science
This week in science class we partnered with our friends in kindergarten to investigate darkness. The “Discovering Darkness” episode of Sid the Science Kid helps children understand that darkness occurs when there is no light. Through questions, observations, and simple investigations, Sid and his classmates explore how different light sources, such as the sun, lamps, and flashlights, help us see. The episode encourages curiosity and basic scientific thinking while helping children recognize that darkness is a natural part of the world and not something to be afraid of.After discussing the video, we built our own "cave of darkness" to investigate just like Sid and his friends did. Using tables and our rest towels, we blocked out as much light as possible. The students took turns climbing through the cave and sharing what they saw and how they felt.
They all agreed that the dark was less scary than they thought it would be because they knew it was their classroom. Dr. Kellich even came down to join our fun and brought the students glow sticks to have a glow stick dance party in the dark when we finished.
As an extension of our Discovering Darkness science lesson, students learned about visual impairments and how people who are blind often rely on their other senses to understand the world around them. To experience this idea, students worked with a partner and took turns wearing a blindfold while their partner brought them an object from the classroom. Using touch and other senses, they tried to guess what the object was. After everyone had a chance to participate, we talked about how the activity felt, the challenges they experienced, and how it helped us gain a deeper respect and understanding for people who cannot see.
Board Game Fun
For his 100th Day of School project, Kai and his family created a board game with 100 spaces called "Frights and Flights" (think Chutes and Ladders but Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story themed!). The boys and girls have been begging to play and we were finally able to fit it into our schedule. They practice taking turns, following directions, using one-to-one correspondence when counting, and being a good sport. We had such a great time!
Reminders:
- Wednesday, March 11: something that begins with the /k/ sound
- Wednesday, March 18: something that begins with the /v/ sound
- Wednesday, March 25: something to do with spring/Easter
Let the Adventure Begin! June 8 – August 14, 2026!
Registration for Summer Camp 2026 is now open for HCA families only! Due to the late Labor Day holiday next summer, we’re excited to offer 10 weeks of fun, learning, and friendship from June 8 through August 14. If you have any questions, please contact camp@holychildacademy.com. We can't wait for another unforgettable summer!
Have a great weekend!
