UPDATE! MCPS and GSLP are now CLOSED Thursday, November 15th! Please remember that GSLP will also be closed on Friday, November 16 for a staff professional development day. We will see everyone again on Monday, November 19th.
GSLP will open at 10:30 A.M. 11-15-18 due to emergency weather conditions
GSLP will open at 10:30 A.M. 11-15-18 due to emergency weather conditions
November GSLP Home + School Connection Newsletter Available
This month’s newsletter features suggestions for fresh new book recommendations from our staff (including one book from the GSLP Family Lending Library!), strategies for building up a parent network, info on upcoming holiday breaks, cold weather tips, family activity suggestions, November songs and fingerplays, and more! Download a copy today or check your child’s tote bag this week.
Puffy Paint
Puffy paint is a wonderful sensory experience for children, both while it’s wet and after it dries. It’s hard to resist feeling these puffy pumpkins in our halls! To make puffy paint at home, mix equal parts shaving cream and white glue. Tint with paint and adjust the mix until it reaches a consistency you like. Cover a table with old newspapers, put on a smock, and dollop some puffy paint on a piece of construction paper. Then let your child loose! Encourage them to push the soft foam around with their hands. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours before hanging your child’s masterpiece.
Autumn Sensory Bottles
A sensory bottle is simply a clear bottle filled with items that stimulate the senses - and children’s curiosity. GSLP teachers feature a variety of sensory bottles to explore at their classroom Science and Discovery Centers. Mrs. Stockton’s Early Pre-K 3 classes made these autumn-themed bottles by first dyeing pumpkin seeds green with food coloring, water, and a bit of vinegar (much like dyeing Easter eggs). Once those were dry, the kids worked in teams to fill the bottles with fall-themed items: acorns, leaves, cranberries, the green pumpkin seeds, and more. This project incorporates art, science, sensory exploration, and fine-motor skill development.