This was a great week learning about the wonderful futures of our young pirates. We talked about various jobs community members hold to help us where we live and asked the children what jobs their parents hold as well as what jobs they can do around the house to help out their family.
We started off the week as fire fighters saving the day by spraying water onto toy houses that had been 'painted' with shaving cream 'fire'.
After fighting fires we looked at various equipment people in certain jobs need by drawing matching lines from an object like a fire hose to a picture of a fire fighter and a hammer to a construction worker.
Speaking of construction workers, our pirates because engineers, architects and construction workers this week as they designed and built many structures like houses, buildings and bridges with a variety of materials over the course of the week.
We drew pictures of ourselves in our future careers and learned some of our pirates plan to be farmers, veterinarians, police officers, and themselves when they grow up. All pretty nobel ideas!
We also painted various images associated with careers of the future and have shown some here to allow you to see the variety of abilities we have in our program. Some children are in the beginning stages of painting and using a paint brush while others are learning to mix and match colors and stay closer to being in the lines. Practice makes progress and we see more and more skills improve each week!
After singing a few songs this week about our community helpers and what they do for us as well as jobs people have within their families we made our very own stethoscopes and pretended to listen to each other's hearts!
We acted as farmers this week sorting various beans and seeds to "sell" at market. This also worked their fingers for fine motor development and math skills as we sorted and counted our crop.
We used those fingers from fine motor work to cut out hats worn in different jobs like a chef hat and fire fighter helmet and glued them to the image of that career to match them.
We played the part of scientists and astronauts this week as we used some science to shoot off soda rockets outside while making hypothesis about which soda would make the largest reaction and highest amount of fizz!
As bakers we drew and wrote letters in flour then rescued animals around the room like the heroes in emergency situations.
We read lots of books both as large groups and small groups alike this week all about specific careers as well as roles family members play with one another at home to take care of the house and each other.
The last this we did for the week was play hair stylist! We discussed the special schooling that people who cut our hair have to go through before they can cut our hair which is why any of us in the classroom cannot cut our own hair; we haven't gone to school for that. 
Then we learned how to blow into a straw and blew watercolored paint all over a paper to added colorful hair to an image. Some children wanted to add more style with a paintbrush but whether they used a straw or a paint brush all the hair looked amazing!
What's Coming Up?If you don't have plans on Sunday at 4:00, stop by Elgin Community College to see the story if the Lion King in musical dance form!
Monday and Wednesday this coming week we will be talking about food and nutrition in preparation for Halloween next week with activities starting this Friday.
Thursday, October 25th is the FREE Trick or Treat night at Palatine High School, come with the whole family and enjoy games, photo opportunities and sweets!
The Halloween Party for Pirate Pete Preschool is Wednesday, October 31st from 10:30 - 11:45 AM. We will trick or treat together (families and teachers alike) and then head back to our classroom for treats.
