Planets Galore and More!

 

 

Creating Our Own Planets

 

As part of our planet exploration, the children were invited to design and make their own planets.  First they drew plans in their space journals, then they referred to their plans when spraying paper globes with liquid watercolor.  Then the added details, such as rings, clouds and spots, to their plans and then used studio materials to add these details to their planets.  Be watching for the planets to appear hanging from our classroom ceiling soon!

 



 

 

 

  New Focus: Exploring Letters

Of her own initiative, Brooke writes letters at the light table.

This week we launched a new exploration around letters.  As we begin this new adventure, we're asking that you keep an eye out for when your child is noticing and/or commenting about letters or other symbols (numbers, etc.) in the environment. Make note and let us know. It is completely expected for children in our class to be at all different stages.  Some recognize all of their letters, some only a few.  Some know a lot of letter sounds, some are just learning.  We, as teachers, are offering children play experiences to explore letters at whatever stage they are.  While they play and explore, they learn from the activities and from each other!  If you have any ABC books at home, we'd love for your child to bring them in to share with the class. 

Jonah (left) finds a "J" for his name and Henry (above)
practices the sign language alphabet using a book we
read in class.

Emmett plays with Scrabble tiles, builds his name, then copies it.

Heike figures out how to build everybody's names with limited tiles!

Calendar

Everyday, Mrs. Fieldman leads the children in calendar activities.  This consistent experience is one way to help integrate math into an everyday activity.  The children not only learn to identify the month, day and date, but they also get experience counting and patterning.  Songs help them learn the days of the week and months of the year.  Talking about the weather is also part of the calendar experience.  The class calendar helper is a coveted job and changes every day.

 

The Play Environment

The classroom environment in our school acts almost like another teacher in the room.  It is thoughtfully set up to provide children with a variety of sensory, creative, and/or experiential opportunities from which to learn.  Children learn not only by interacting with and manipulating materials, but also by interacting with each other, comparing ideas and, in many cases, co-constructing understanding about the world around them.  Below are but a few of the recent rich play activities the children have had...

 

Many children enjoy playing creatively with the new Pegasus and Unicorn figurines.

Duplo blocks provide a physical building challenge as well as a
pretend, make-believe element.

Building w/ plastic cups is an exercise in balance, patience, and cooperation.

Brooke and Kate do water color on a large mural paper.

Ramps and cars are always a favorite and a lesson in physics.

 

Gross motor play in the hallway after the HS students have gone home
is good exercise and fun!

Music with Ms. Carol adds music and movement elements.

 

The marble maze toy is challenging and requires problem-solving
and cooperation with friends.

 

Heike has some alone time in this special space.

The light table provides another sensory experience.

Children get practice cutting and gluing and creating at the art studio and table.

 Playground Update

 

The Playground Development Team is trying to regroup and get some new elements on place on the playground this spring.  Be looking for some additions which will include:

• a foot bridge near the boat
• sand filling the boat, making it a sandbox
• more loose objects for creative building
• sound elements on the fence and/or in the trees
• garden elements

Using loose parts like a heavy cardboard tube, a tire, and a bench,
the children built (with careful teacher supervision!) this amazing
one-of-a-kind climber.  They worked together and were so proud!

 

Sometimes we just need to rest...

 

 

 Reminders:

 

On April 23rd and 24th, the HS cafeteria will be closed so please send your child with a sack lunch.  We will provide milk.  Remember, no peanut products, please.