A Star is Born!

Wednesday, October 13, was Joshua's first preschool "field trip." I'm not sure why they call it a field trip since they stay at the preschool, but it certainly was a special day. In addition to it being "Community Service Days," it was Joshua's first time to bring snack and have his turn at show and tell. When a child in the class brings snack, he or she also is the 'star of the day' which includes being Mrs. Dearborn's helper and the line leader. They also get to wear special 'bling' as you'll see in the pictures. Instead of their normal play time, they started off the morning with a writing activity at the tables. Each child had to find their name and trace the letters on the sheet. Some of the kids were really good at writing. Others not so hot. I'm still in awe that Joshua continues to choose his left hand for writing. Maybe Daddy will have his left-handed pitcher after all!

After their writing time, they all found their names on the mat while Mrs. Dearborn played a song and they got all their sillies and wiggles out.

Next I helped grab the coats for the kids. There was one other mom who volunteered to help that day, too. I was surprised that there is a special needs child in Joshua's class, which takes extra effort on the teacher and aide's part. With a class of 16 students, they already have their hands full! But, they do a good job. Notice how Joshua is the line leader with his special necklace on. He actually asked to keep the necklace, but Mrs. Wolfe told him no - haaa!!! Each child takes turns. I told him we can make necklaces this weekend if we have time.

Our first stop of the day was the playground. They highly enjoyed it! Here's Joshua, a little boy named Seth in the orange and one of the two Jacob's in the class.

A couple kids asked to swing, and Joshua joined in. There's Mrs. Wolfe pushing them.

Then one little boy shouted "ice cream...come get your ice cream." Joshua ordered his fake ice cream cone, then he went into the playhouse to help serve it.

I enjoyed watching him run and interact with the other kids. There are so many compared to last year, but it's a good mix.

Soon it was time to leave the playground and head inside to meet the fireman. I was highly impressed with this presentation. It was by far the best of the day, in my opinion. They showed the man in his suit, but first he got undressed. The other firefighter stayed in his plain clothes and did a majority of the talking. He told the kids that this was a fireman, and while he may look scary when he's all dressed up in his suit and mask, he's really friendly and helpful and not scary at all.

They handed out little fire hats for the kids to wear, which they enjoyed for part of the morning. We ended up carrying most of them later.

They explained that in a fire, you should GET OUT and call 9-1-1. If you're stuck in the hosue in the fire, you need to get low to the ground and stay where you are. Don't try to find mommy & daddy because it's difficult to see in smoke and easy to get lost. Instead, stay put, get low to the ground, and YELL! Say "Mommy, Daddy, I'm in here! HELP!" Even if there are firemen in the house, it's important NOT to be quiet but to instead yell so they can find you. The kids were very quiet, attentive, and took in every word. Joshua repeated the instructions back to me at lunch time, so I knew the presentation left quite the impression on him.

Then the firefighter got into all his clothes, and they heard him call out with his mask on. They allowed the kids to go up and touch his mask and outfit, saying how nice he was. They explained that often kids are scared of the firemen and hide, which can lead to more deaths. It made me sad to think about kids hiding. It was an excellent presentation, which I am thankful for. Hopefully we'll never need the info, but it's great to have just in case!

The kids listened closely and enjoyed the presentation.

As we left, the firefighters told us to ask the firetruck driver about his purple monkey. That was our next stop. They got to see a great big firetruck and climb inside. I helped hoist each child into the truck (and I can't believe how heavy some of them are!) They got to explore and were helped out the other side.

The man told them that this firetruck is so long that it takes two drivers, one in front and the other in back. Then Joshua held up his hand and told the man that sometimes firetrucks drive slowly near us. It's true - during the parade each year, the firetrucks lead the way and drive slowly as the kids in costumes walk the streets. Other kids volunteered whatever was on their minds as well. The man then showed them the jaws of life for vehicles where entrapment has occurred.

Finally he climbed up and showed them the purple monkey, which hangs down from their ladder. He noted that this is for their depth perception because it's hard to tell when you're on the ground and the ladder's in the air, but they need it to be at least a monkey's length above the roof, or when the men get on, it will bounce down and hit what's below.

We took a class picture of everyone but one student named Jacob who cried that he didn't want in this picture.

Then we moved onto the police officer with his car. Joshua said this was his favorite part of the day. The police man asked for differences in his car compared to mommy's and daddy's cars. The children noted the lights on top and the computer inside. Then he also pointed out the screen in between and how the doors don't open and the locks don't work in the back. He showed them all his keys, including a key to turn off traffic signals and a key for handcuffs. One little boy noted that he had handcuffs at home. Joshua told the officer that when he's bad, he has to go sit in jail, too. Many kids were chatty all morning long and would try to tell anyone and everyone whatever came to mind, but for the most part, Joshua didn't speak up. The few times that he did, though, I cracked up.

The officer also noted that policemen are friends and if they ever get lost, they will help the kids find their mommies. He also went over with them once again to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency.

Then he let the kids climb in the backseat and out the other side. I tried to get pictures of all the kids, but here's the one of Joshua:

After each child had went through twice, we moved on to the ambulance. I remembered this guy from last year. He also told the kids to call 9-1-1 if there was an emergency. Then he let them climb in the ambulance, and I was impressed that the whole class fit!

He asked them to look around and describe what was in there. They said there was a bed, and one child said that it was for sleeping. He explained that it was for sick people to lie down and be transported to the hospital. Joshua noticed that the bed had a buckle, and the EMT said that was to drive safely with. Then a little girl pointed out the phones, and he explained that they call the hospital to let them know that they're on the way. Finally, they noticed the teddy bear, and he said that was a boo-boo bear. A child said that was for sleeping, too.

Pretty soon, the kids climbed out and were asked to line up on the sidewalk.

Then the man handed out little safety packets of crayons and coloring books, and the children carried them back into the classroom.

While the children stopped at the potty and washed their hands, I filled their pockets with all the things they had gathered from the day - the packets and firefighter hats, etc. Then we went back into the classroom, and we served the snack. We had taken pretzel bags that were in a pumpkin sack and grapes.

One of his classmates must have severe allergies because she always has a special snack sack, but she enjoyed the grapes with the rest of the class.

When they finished eating, they were allowed to go to the reading corner and pick out a book until their other peers were finished, too.

Then it was time to go on the special circle again, in the spots with their names on them. They sang songs and then it was Joshua's turn to be the big helper of the day!

They sang the song "days of the week" to the tune of the Adams Family. They discovered that it was Wednesday. Then she asked him to report on the weather. He said it was cold but sunny, which was true for that day. She asked him what month it was, and he replied October.

Then they counted all the days that had gone by, and he got to add the 13.

They also talked about what their memory verse was: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Next they asked what the shape was, and it was a square, which they drew in the air with their imaginary pencil finger.

Finally, it was time for his show 'n tell. The theme for this month was things that remind the children of fall. The first thing Joshua had picked was a pumpkin, and he told her that we carve pumpkins into "Jack." He had taken a much smaller version. Then he had picked an acorn, and told her that Jumpy Squirrel gathers acorns for the winter. Then she got right up and sang the squirrel song, which Joshua LOVES. I didn't catch it all, but it starts out "Gray squirrel, gray squirrel, swish your bushy tail." He grinned from ear to ear.

Lastly, he had picked a leaf, and he told her that leaves fall down and then they get to jump and play in them. That required another song about leaves falling down and jumping in them, but again, I can't remember it even though I wish I did. It was soooo cute!

They ended the morning with her reading Curious George & the Firefighters. It was really Joshua's special day because Daddy met Caleb & I at the fields to watch the Bean play soccer shots. He loved that Daddy was there! I grabbed the kids a special chocolate milkshake afterward for the Bean being the star of the day.

It was a great day!!! I love my little star! And his little brother!