Pre-K Social Studies Project

Alex came home from school today and said he had something important in his backpack.  Monday is homework day.  The dreaded red folder is sent home with that week's homework, which the children take back by Friday.  Thursday is the blue folder.  This is the folder used for letters, announcements, or anything else that needs to go home to parents.  Alex pulled out his blue folder and opened it.  He pulled out a letter with a picture of a dog holding a heart.  He said (excitedly), "We are doing a project!"  I said, "What kind of project?"  Alex said, "I don't know.  Mrs. Cook won't tell us."  I looked at Alex for a moment and then said, "What?  She won't tell you?"  He said, "No, she said its a surprise."   So, I took the letter, read it, and discovered that it was, in fact, a surprise. It was a surprise for Mrs. Bruner (the assistant teacher) and her husband. Mr. Bruner is stationed in Afghanistan and as a surprise to him and Mrs. Bruner, the Pre-K class is sending a care package to him.  Mrs. Cook also asked the class to draw a picture for Mr. Bruner.  I read the letter aloud to Alex who seemed quite excited about the entire thing.  I honestly think the term "project" just brings out the excitement in children.  I could have said, "Mrs. Cook wants you to clean the play room and help mommy," and Alex would have been like, "Great! Its a project! Let's go!"  Mrs. Cook included a list of items we could bring for the care package.  Alex helped me find a small box.  He put the items he is taking into the box so he could easily carry them to school tomorrow.

After Alex packed all of the goodies into the little box we grabbed some paper and crayons.  He was excited about drawing a picture for a soldier.  He kept saying, "It's like G.I. Joe, mom!" He thought it was so cool. Alex drew his picture for Mr. Bruner and as he drew we talked about why his class was sending the care package to Mr. Bruner.  After Alex finished the picture I said, "Would you like me to write something at the top to go with your picture?"  Alex looked confused and said, "My name?"  I said, "Well, we can tell Mr. Bruner your name. Would you like to write a short note saying 'thank you' to him?"  Alex's face lit up and he said, "Yeah, but you write it, mom."  Alex can write his name.  That is about it.  I got a kick out of him telling me to write it. So, we wrote a short note on the picture and stuck it in an envelope to send to Mr. Bruner.

 

At the top of Alex's drawing we wrote, "Hi, my name is Alex.  I am in Mrs. Cook's Pre-K class.  Thank you for all you do for our country!" Alex was very proud of it and he is very excited about this project.  His teacher stated in the letter that she also plans to show the children where Afghanistan is on the globe and show them pictures of Mr. Bruner over there. We put everything in the little box and set it beside Alex's backpack so we could take it to school tomorrow morning. After we set the box down Alex started singing part of the theme of G.I. Joe. "A real American hero . . . " it was just the cutest little moment with Alex. I know Mrs. Bruner is going to be touched when she finds out about the project tomorrow.  I hope many of the families form Alex's class pitch in and Mr. Bruner receives a package full of much needed items, as well as some treats! And, if Alex learns a thing or two about soldiers and Afghanistan, that would be good, too!