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<\/a><\/p>\nAltimar Williams was the lucky student to have his name drawn by his teacher, Mary Dodson, from the five remaining names. He had the honor of revealing the day\u2019s surprise activity for Monday, June 11.<\/p>\n
\u201cAltimar, do you want to pop it or do you want me to cut it with scissors?\u201d Dodson asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to pop it,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cCover your ears because it\u2019s loud,\u201d cautioned one student. \u201cNo! It\u2019s not loud,\u201d countered another.<\/p>\n His first attempt, met with gasps of anticipation and hands clutched over ears, was unsuccessful.<\/p>\n The second attempt resulted in a loud POP! <\/em><\/p>\n The pre-kindergarteners squealed with delight on the carpet. The morning ritual was just as exciting on the 14th<\/sup> day of the countdown as it was on the first.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready to reveal it?\u201d Dodson asked Williams after he located the small scroll of paper that was inside the balloon.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know these two beginning letters\u2026P and P,\u201d prompted Dodson as Williams looked at the paper with her. \u201cIt\u2019s parachute play!\u201d<\/p>\n More squeals of joy from the pre-kindergarteners upon hearing the day\u2019s special activity.<\/p>\n Dodson created the 18-day countdown \u2013 one balloon for each of her 18 students \u2013 as a fun way to wind down the school year. A different student\u2019s name is drawn each morning to pop a numbered balloon with a new activity for the afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a nice little ritual for us,\u201d said Dodson. \u201cI just felt like we needed some closure for the end of the school year, but one that wouldn\u2019t create anxiety for our students \u2013 one that\u2019s more exciting: You\u2019re going to have summer and become a kindergarten student and a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve also tried to pick activities that we have done through the school year so they can reflect back on when they did it earlier,\u201d continued Dodson, noting she also mixed in some treats and unique activities.<\/p>\n The countdown kicked off with a dance party on Day No. 18, and was followed by: shoes off in the classroom, read outside, popsicles, sidewalk chalk and picnic lunch.<\/p>\n Day No. 12 was a snowball fight. With real snowballs?<\/p>\n \u201cNooooo,\u201d was the group reply from the class.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were fake snowballs,\u201d explained Ka’ron Murphy. \u201cThen we got on teams and we throwed the balls.\u201d<\/p>\n They threw water balloons on Day 11 and had fun in the days that followed by blowing bubbles, having extra recess time, drawing murals on tables and chewing gum.<\/p>\n Day No. 7 might have been the most popular day so far \u2013 shaving cream on the table. It was a repeat activity from earlier in the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThey did the shaving cream in a station and it was really for fine motor skills and for practicing sensory and practicing writing their name or their numbers,\u201d explained Dodson. \u201cThis time I said: You can do whatever you want \u2013 make a big mess on the table. They really had a blast doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n Parachute play on Day No. 5 brought an equal amount of smiles and laughter.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n