Today was our 100th day of school for this year.

Ever since the first day of school back in the fall, we have been counting the days. We made a number counting chart with 10 numbers across the poster. The numbers are colored coded. The tens column is yellow. The fives column is pink. All the twos are blue and each number after a two makes an ABAB pattern.

While counting the days of school everyday, the students have learned how to count by tens and fives. They have also learned patterning.

We made a big celebration of the special 100th day. The students made 100 day headbands. They counted 100 rocks. They jumped 100 times. They tried to do 100 jumping jacks. They learned 100 in Spanish (cien). 

The big project for today was for each student to do a 100 day project or poster. They were to bring a project from home with 100 things on it. We had posters with 100 stickers, 100 googly eyes, 100 macaroni noodles, 100 beads, and many more very creative projects.

The preschool students made a yummy snack: a melting snowman.

They used a graham cracker for the base and stacked three marshmellows up like a snowman. We used mini marshmellows so it was not too big of a snack.

We put the snack in the microwave for 10-15 seconds just till the marshmellows got soft and started to flatten.

I found these printables on Homeschool Creations for helping preschool students trace and cut on lines.

This was a great activity for forcing the students to slow down and take their time at tracing on the lines and cutting with scissors on the lines. Many of them get in way too big of a hurry and do not do their best work. These tracing and cutting activities make them think about the task.

Today the preschool students celebrated the history of the California Gold Rush.

We hid Mardi Gras doubloons in the sand table. We used those coins because they were big. The students scooped the sand and coins into pans and sifted out the sand until the coins were only left in the pans.

I saw this footprint activity on this site and thought I would try it with my preschool students. The students loved getting to take off their shoe and sock and painting the bottom of their foot. Many of them were very ticklish.

We painted the bottom of one foot with white paint. Then they stepped on dark blue paper to make the footprint. Then we used a paintbrush dipped in black paint to make an eye on the big toe print and the nose on the tip of the big toe. We used a paintbrush dipped in white paint to make a tail on the back of the heel and four leg prints on the bottom of the foot.

All month long in February it is Responsible Pet Owner Month. Talk about pet care. Invite a veterinarian to class to talk about how to be responsible pet owners.

February is National Wild Bird Feeding Month. During the cold winter months, it is important to care for our nature friends. Make bird feeders and provide food for birds outside. String Cheerios or old bread to hang from the fence or tree. Spread peanut butter on a pine cone and sprinkle with birdseed to hang in a tree. If there are peanut allergies, roll the pine cone in corn syrup instead of peanut butter.

February 5: The first wiffle ball was sold. Study the wiffle ball. Talk about why it has holes in it — to make the ball go slower and lighter when thrown. Count the holes. Play a game of wiffle ball.

February 7: Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s birthday. Talk about her role in The Little House on the Prairie books and television series. Read an excerpt from some of her books. Watch an excerpt from the TV series. Set up a dramatic play center where the students use primitive tools and household kitchen items. In the TV series, she was always going fishing. Set up a fishing center with plastic fish and fishing poles. Show pictures of how people during those times dressed, lived, and worked.

February 11: Thomas Edison‘s birthday. Talk about his inventions and contributions to modern-day living. Make a light bulb hat. Cut out a light bulb shape. Paint or color it bright yellow. Paint or color the bottom tip of it black. Staple to the front of a headband to fit around the student’s head.

February 14: Read to your child day. While February 14 is a special day for couples, it can also be a special day for children as well. Have a book day. Invite families to visit the class to read books to the students. Send home a homework assignment: Have children and families read a book together at night before bed. Write down the title of the book and bring it back to school the next day. Make a display board of all the books read that evening.

February 20: Hoodie Hoo Day.  It has been a long, cold winter at this point in February. Many of us are ready to get outside for some sunshine and fresh air. We may have cabin fever from being inside so long. Celebrate Hoodie Hoo Day by going outside at high noon (12:00 pm), put your hands up in the air, and yell Hoodie Hoo. Look for spring.

February 26: Levi Strauss‘ birthday. Celebrate this birthday by declaring Jeans day. Wear blue jeans, jeans jackets, and jeans shirts. Obtain small squares of denim material for the students to experiment and feel and even cut or decorate.