This week, we worked on two sets of homonyms with our friends at circle and in centers. We contrasted notes that you write to a friend with the musical notes that a composer writes. We discussed how you can hammer nails into wood, but you also have nails on your fingers and toes. While we did not put emphasis on the term "homonym" itself, understanding the concept is very valuable as they develop early literacy skills. Using context and picture clues, they can recognize the difference in the meanings of such words.
For notes, friends worked on several exciting projects. The writing center was open throughout the day for friends to write notes to themselves, their families, and their friends. They used inventive spelling to sound out the messages they wanted to write, and they looked to our word sticks for inspiration. On the musical note side, friends used dot markers on staff paper to compose their own music for Teacher Susan to play on her trumpet!
Friends also had the opportunity to try the trumpet for themselves, discussing the ways in which sound is made and changed in different instrument families (wind, string, etc.). Every friend was able to make a nice big sound with the trumpet, and many were eager to come back and try again.
Friends also had the opportunity to explore nails on the play yard, with polish and mallets (for both boys and girls)! They hammered nails into balsa wood, using gross and fine motor skills as well as physical strength.
Then, they expressed their individual style in picking just the right combination of colors for their fingernails. We discussed how many nails we have on our bodies and how they look and feel different from the nails that we hammer into wood.
Through all these activities, friends were able to gain a valuable understanding of a literacy concept while taking pride in themselves for accomplishing new things.
