St. Patrick's Day – March 17, 2008

The shamrock has three leaves and looks like clover. It is the symbol of Saint Patrick and Ireland. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to explain the idea of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

From green construction paper, cut three 3-inch circles and a 3-1/2-inch tall triangle with a 2-1/2-inch wide base. Fold a sheet of yellow construction paper in half. Overlap the circles on the front of the card and add the triangle as a stem to form a shamrock. On the inside write "The Luck of the Irish to You! Happy Saint Patrick's Day!" or a greeting of your choosing.

First Day of Spring – March 20, 2008

The first day of spring is also known as the vernal equinox (equinox being the Latin for "equal night"). The hours of daylight and night are the same. On this day, do something special to celebrate – take a nature walk and look for new growth on trees or fly a kite.

Create a Springtime Mural

A mural is a large wall painting or image which can be a lot of fun to create! Provide children with paint, markers, crayons, construction paper, assorted art materials, and a large piece of bulletin board paper. Allow the children to create scenes of spring relative to your location using the art materials throughout the month. This gives children the opportunity to continually add to the mural, documenting the changes throughout the month. Is snow melting? Are flowers blooming? What are the signs of spring in your neighborhood? Display the finished mural proudly!

Poison Prevention Week – March 16–22, 2008

Safety Tips

• Remember to store any medicines, cleaning supplies, or other safety hazards far out of reach of children.
• Do a safety check around the room. Make sure that plants in class are nontoxic, as many houseplants can be harmful.
• Talk with the children about taking medicines and vitamins from a trusted adult only. They should never take medicine on their own.
• To contact your local poison control center for emergency assistance, call 800-222-1222 and your call will be routed to the nearest center.

Books to Share:

• Watch Out! At Home by Claire Llewellyn
• Safety First! by Angela Royston
• Always Be Safe by Kathy Schulz

Use the activity pages below for additional fun!

Hoops Activities taken from our Let's Get Fit! book.

Cutting Practice Pages taken from our Scissors Skills book.

Continue Your Professional Growth

Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the comfort and convenience of your own home. With PACE's quarterly online training modules, you will have the opportunity to earn one CEU for each successfully completed PACE module. Click here to learn more about this exclusive online training opportunity.

Online Professional Development from the University of Wisconsin-Stout

In association with the University of Wisconsin-Stout, this professional development program is designed to enhance the training and knowledge base of early childhood educators and administrators. This online course is the perfect way to learn how to be a better early childhood educator, while earning valuable CEUs. Click here to get started today.

HighReach Learning will be participating in the following state and national conferences:

American Montessori Society
March 6–9, 2008
Washington, DC

National Child Care Association
March 13–15, 2008
Long Beach, CA
Visit us in booth 306!

Southern Early Childhood Association
March 27–29, 2008
Covington, KY
Visit us in booth 40!

California Association for the Education of Young Children
April 3–5, 2008
Long Beach, CA
Visit us in booth 320!

Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children
April 3–5, 2008
Columbus, OH

Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children
April 10–12, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
Visit us in booth 301!
                      

Conference Schedule

HighReach Learning would be pleased to be a part of your next association meeting and/or conference by providing catalogs, samples, and door prizes. For more information, please call 1-800-729-9988, ext. 5114 or click here to request materials.

Outside Sounds

Listening Lotto Game

Develop listening skills while having fun playing lotto! Includes 12 game boards, 120 game tokens, and an audio CD for only $14.99. Click here to learn more.

Teaching Tip
Offering children a variety of sensory experiences allows the mastery of basic learning readiness through play. Games give children the opportunity to practice social and language skills. Listening games in particular help children develop the ability to screen out environmental distractions.

Creepy Crawlies

Discover & Do Kit - 50% off!

Use the Creepy Crawlies Discover & Do Kit to explore different kinds of insects, spiders, and worms as well as to discover the life cycle of a butterfly. Now 50% off, just in time for spring! Click here to learn more.

Special offer expires May 5, 2008.

HighReach Learning Curriculum System

We have developed a solution to assist you in creating an optimal learning environment. Our system includes curriculum and resource materials, assessment, and professional development. Join us on a new, exciting curriculum journey, full of discovery and investigative learning this fall! Click here to learn more.

Have You Seen Our New Bright Baby™ Kits?

Prepare your child's body and mind for life! Stay on top of what your child needs at every stage of their development from birth through early childhood. Hosted by Rae Pica, a HighReach Learning Advisory Board member, HighReach Radio offers broadcasts on a variety of child development topics. Click here to listen today!

Flip through our latest catalog! Explore the interactive pages of our catalog online!

To request a HighReach Learning catalog, please call 1-800-729-9988 or click here!