#Thinking Thursdays

Let’s Find Out Magazine

In our Pre-K classroom, we are always looking for ways to spark curiosity, build early literacy skills, and nurture a love of learning. One of our favorite tools for doing just that is Scholastic Let's Find Out — a classroom magazine designed especially for young learners.

Here’s why we love using it and why it’s such a valuable part of our daily routine.

📚 1. It Builds Early Literacy Skills

At the Pre-K level, children are just beginning their journey as readers. Let’s Find Out introduces:

• Simple, predictable text
• Repeated vocabulary
• Clear sight words
• Engaging read-aloud opportunities

Because the text is designed specifically for early learners, students can participate in shared reading experiences with confidence. They practice listening comprehension, vocabulary development, and early print awareness — all foundational literacy skills.

🔍 2. It Encourages Curiosity About the World

Young children are natural scientists. They ask questions constantly — Why? How? What happens if…?

Each issue of Let’s Find Out focuses on age-appropriate nonfiction topics such as:

• Animals
• Weather
• Community helpers
• Seasons
• Science concepts

The real-life photos and engaging topics help children connect classroom learning to the world around them. It supports inquiry-based learning and encourages students to ask questions and make observations.

🧠 3. It Supports Multiple Learning Styles

Our classroom includes visual, auditory, and hands-on learners. Let’s Find Out supports them all through:

• Bright, real-world photographs
• Interactive questions
• Simple charts and diagrams
• Movement and discussion prompts

We often pair each issue with hands-on activities, dramatic play extensions, art projects, or simple experiments to deepen understanding.

💬 4. It Strengthens Language and Conversation Skills

During whole-group reading, we pause to:

• Make predictions
• Practice new vocabulary
• Turn and talk with a partner
• Answer comprehension questions

These structured discussions help students learn how to express ideas, listen to others, and build confidence speaking in a group.

✂️ 5. It Connects to Play and Centers

After reading, we extend learning into our classroom centers. For example:

• An animal-themed issue might inspire a veterinary dramatic play center.
• A weather issue might lead to a science observation station.
• A community helpers issue might expand into block-building activities.

This makes learning meaningful, hands-on, and developmentally appropriate.

❤️ 6. It Makes Learning Exciting

There’s something special about receiving a “magazine” just like older students. Children feel proud and grown-up when they explore the pages together. The engaging visuals and interactive elements keep them excited about reading.

🌟 Why It Matters

In Pre-K, our goal isn’t just to teach letters and numbers — it’s to build confident learners who are curious about the world around them.

Scholastic Let’s Find Out helps us do exactly that by combining literacy, science, social studies, and joyful exploration in one developmentally appropriate resource.

We love watching our students light up when they discover something new — and Let’s Find Out helps us create those moments every week.

#Thinking Thursdays

What Are Vestibular Activities?

Vestibular activities are movement activities that help children understand how their bodies move in space. This system is located in the inner ear and tells the brain when we are moving, spinning, swinging, or balancing.

In simple terms, the vestibular system helps children know:

• Where their body is
• How fast they are moving
• How to stay balanced

Why Are Vestibular Activities Important?

Young children need lots of movement to help their brains and bodies grow. Vestibular activities help with:

• Balance and coordination – learning to walk, run, jump, and climb
• Focus and attention – movement helps prepare the brain for learning
• Body awareness – understanding how their body moves and feels
• Confidence – feeling secure and comfortable moving in different ways

When children get enough movement, they are often calmer, more focused, and ready to learn.

Examples of Vestibular Activities for Preschoolers

• Swinging on a playground swing
• Spinning gently in circles
• Rolling down a grassy hill
• Dancing, jumping, and hopping
• Climbing playground equipment
• Rocking or swaying

The Big Picture

For young children, movement is learning. Vestibular activities are a natural and fun way to support healthy development. By moving their bodies every day, children build strong foundations for learning, play, and confidence.

#Thinking Thursdays

Scissor skills in early childhood refer to a set of fine-motor, hand-eye coordination, and bilateral coordination abilities that children develop as they learn to use scissors safely and effectively. These skills are an important part of early childhood development and support later tasks such as writing, drawing, dressing (e.g., using zippers), and manipulating small objects.

⭐ Why scissor skills matter

• Fine motor development: Strengthens the small muscles of the hands and fingers.
• Hand–eye coordination: Helps children track where to cut while controlling hand movements.
• Bilateral coordination: Children use one hand to hold the scissors and the other to hold/turn the paper.
• Focus and planning: Following lines and shapes improves attention and visual-motor skills.
• Confidence and independence: Mastering cutting builds self-esteem and supports school readiness.

🧒 Typical scissor-skill milestones

(Ages are approximate—every child develops at their own pace.)

2–3 years

• Able to hold scissors with help.
• Opens and closes scissors using the whole hand.
• Makes random snips along the edge of paper.

3–4 years

• Cuts along a straight line (not always perfectly).
• Begins cutting simple shapes like circles or squares (may veer off the line).
• Uses non-cutting hand to rotate or stabilize paper.

4–5 years

• Cuts more complex shapes with curves and angles.
• Cuts out simple pictures with accuracy.
• Improved control and fluidity in hand movements.

5–6 years

• Cuts detailed shapes.
• Cuts various materials (cardstock, fabric strips, clay) with good control.

✂️ How to support scissor development

Start with prerequisites

• Tearing paper
• Using tongs or tweezers
• Playdough squeezing and cutting
• Finger strengthening activities (e.g., pom-pom pickup, clothespins)

Introduce scissors safely

• Use child-safe, blunt-tip scissors.
• Teach: “Thumb up, scissors point forward.”
• Remind: “Thumbs together”—thumb of the cutting hand and paper-holding hand facing up.

Begin with easy cutting activities

• Snipping straws or playdough snakes
• Cutting fringe along the edge of paper
• Cutting thick lines on cardstock
• Cutting straight lines → zigzags → curved lines

Move to shapes

• Simple shapes (square, triangle)
• Circles
• Complex shapes with curves and details

🚨 Safety tips

• Always supervise young children with scissors.
• Teach walking—not running—when holding scissors.
• Store scissors safely and out of reach when not in use.

🧩 Fun activities to practice scissor skills

• Cutting up magazines for collages
• Cutting yarn or ribbon
• Cutting playdough or soft clay
• “Cut the fringe” crafts (grass, hair on a paper character)
• Paper snowflakes
• Cutting around stickers or simple drawings

🩺 When to consider extra support

If by 4–5 years a child:

• Cannot open/close scissors effectively
• Avoids cutting tasks
• Shows very poor hand coordination
• Cannot use both hands together during cutting

…you may benefit from guidance from an occupational therapist.

#Thinking Thursdays

🎨 Why Learning About Artists Matters in Preschool

When we think of teaching preschoolers, we often focus on the basics: letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. But there’s one area that’s just as valuable—and often even more magical—for young learners: learning about artists.

You might wonder, “Isn’t that too advanced for preschoolers?” Not at all. In fact, introducing children to famous artists and their work can have a powerful impact on their development. Here’s why:

1. 🎨 Inspires Creativity and Self-Expression

One of the greatest gifts we can give children is the freedom to be creative. When preschoolers learn about artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, or Kusama, they’re introduced to new ways of seeing and making art. They begin to understand that art doesn’t have to look “perfect”—it just has to express how they feel or what they imagine.

Through these lessons, children gain the confidence to say, “I can be an artist too.”

2. 👀 Builds Observation and Thinking Skills

Art invites children to look closer. What colors did the artist use? What shapes do they see? Is it a painting or a sculpture?

These simple questions help develop critical thinking and visual literacy, even in very young children. They start to notice details, describe what they see, and form opinions—key building blocks for learning across all subjects.

3. 🌍 Encourages Cultural Awareness

Artists come from all over the world and reflect many different cultures and life experiences. Learning about them gives children a window into traditions, styles, and histories that are different from their own.

For example, exploring the bold patterns of Yayoi Kusama or the earth-toned sand paintings of Indigenous artists teaches kids that there are many beautiful ways to create art—and many different stories to tell.

4. 🗣 Boosts Language and Communication

Talking about art naturally sparks conversation. Children begin to use descriptive language as they explain what they see or how a piece of art makes them feel. They might learn new words like “abstract,” “portrait,” or “collage.”

Even better? These discussions help strengthen listening, storytelling, and expressive language—skills that are essential for early literacy.

5. ✂️ Supports Fine Motor Development

Learning about artists often goes hand-in-hand with creating art. As children experiment with paintbrushes, glue, scissors, or clay, they’re developing important fine motor skills. These small muscle movements are the same ones they’ll use for writing later on.

Art is not just expressive—it’s physical, too!

6. 🌟 Sparks Imagination and Joy

At its heart, learning about artists brings joy and inspiration to the classroom. Whether it’s painting like Pollock, sculpting like Calder, or playing with colors like Matisse, children light up when they get to explore the world through an artist’s lens.

Art time becomes a highlight of their day—and one they’ll remember long after preschool ends.

Final Thoughts

Integrating artist studies into preschool isn’t about memorizing names or facts. It’s about encouraging curiosity, creativity, and connection. By exploring the lives and work of artists, children learn that art is all around them—and that their own ideas matter, too.

Our five-year-old classes learned about the artist Hans Arp.  We created our own “Elmer the Elephant” using his technique.

Our four-year-old classes learned about the artist Wassily Kandisky.  We created our own “Elmer the Elephant” using his technique.