Leela’s Mom read to the children.
Oliver observed and explored the half unit (squares) and triangle blocks. He created an alignment of squares, and on two specific areas of his structure, he adds two squares next to each other. I wonder why he decided to create that pattern at the center of his composition. Children are always forming and testing their ideas. They learn based on how they choose and explore the materials in the environment. Oliver is acquiring knowledge and self-confidence as he continuously engages with different blocks.
Teacher: “Oliver what are you building?”
Oliver: “A city!” (Oliver is pushing the blocks as he connects them and makes the sound beep, beep)
Oliver: “It getting longer. It is longer, the city.”
Teacher: “Who lives in the city?”
Oliver: “You live in New York City.”
As he tentatively placed the last block, the triangle shape, and moved his hands away, he appeared pleased about his arrangement.
Oliver: “A New York City!”
Leo Shaftel: “This is a building and I’m going to make a train for Leo!”
Leo Shaftel: “I making a train for him.”
Rohan: “Look what I made!”
Teacher: “Rohan, what you made with the play dough?”
Rohan: “A box!”
Teacher: “Who is inside the box?”
Rohan: “A bear. He sleeping.”
As the children engaged, they used their arm muscles to drive cars through the paint. They pushed the cars through one color and then rolled them on the paper. The children discovered that if they drove the cars in the opposite direction, the paint would get mixed. They appeared excited as they interacted with the materials.
The children used their hands and rollers to spread the paint without getting paint on their hands.
Some of the children said it looks like a spider and a butterfly.
Blue, white, glue, and shredded paper was used for this art activity.
One of the children called this art piece, a pick-up truck.
Today was Cooking with Diane last day. The children had strawberries, bananas, and ice cream.
The children had a lot of fun in the upstairs gym.
The children had a wonderful and fun day!
Rohan needed help with his shoes; therefore, Alexandra and Leela took the initiative to help him. They pulled, pushed, and pulled again.
But they did not succeed. The children tried and independently decided to help Rohan
Art
Painting on Tracing Paper, promoted a different kind of texture as children stroke the paintbrush.
Some of the children began decorating their Paper Roll bracelets. They used glitter and glue, and others preferred to add some sequins as they applied the glue.
We want children to explore and be creative as they investigate. As teachers, we always like to create different drawing tools. The children seemed curious as they dipped the button into the paint and onto the paper.
As he explored the Button Printing tool, he appeared interested in how they remained in an upright position as he stopped painting. He decided to have several of the tools stand alongside each other. He articulated, "A bridge!" Children's experiences, interactions, imagination, and creativity contribute to their structure or painting.
The children painted a Congratulation poster for the Pre-K class.
They enjoy exploring and manipulating this particular type of Model Magic. We usually have white; however, color model magic elicits curiosity as they pat, mode, and create. As children continuously strive to make sense of their environments, objects, and materials that are stark and bright are more stimulating and exciting. We also added some props, large buttons.
James: “A long snail!”
Cooper: “Big snake!”
Leo: “A sandwich!”
The children collaborated with the teacher in making Salt Dough. Only two ingredients, salt, and flour were needed. As the teacher kneaded the dough, the children appeared curious, and some expressed the words oil and water. They recalled the other two ingredients to make play dough. It was interesting to see them intrigued and ready to explore something that looked like play dough.
Blocks
The hollow blocks are being used frequently by the children. As they construct, they are creating different configurations. James is building a road. Large muscles and imaginations are hard at work when the children build with these easy-to-grasp blocks.
Teacher: I noticed you put some hollow blocks one on top of the other. What are you building, Leo?
Leo: “It’s a building. I am trying to make it higher.”
Teacher: "Who lives in the building?"
Leo: "Sister, mommy, daddy, and me. That's my family I live with."
What do you all do in the building?
Teacher: "Who lives in the building?"
Leo: "Sister, mommy, daddy, and me. That's my family I live with."
Teacher: “What does your family and you do in the building?”
Leo: “We build!”
Circle Time
The children have learned many colors through different interactions and activities. The objective was to select an orange peg from the basket, and then the child who picked the color will place them in the Ziploc bag. The children are familiar with this activity. They were eager to choose the color and count how many pegs were in the bag. We have always counted in English and Spanish. Implementing Spanish in our activities reinforces what they are learning with the Spanish Specialist.
Spanish
The children had a great learning experience in Spanish. They each received a Certificate of Graduation. Unfortunately, Ernestina was unable to attend the last session; nevertheless, another teacher sang some songs with the children and submitted the certificate to the children. The children expressed their excitement as they received it.
Cooking with Diane
Today coking with Diane was about comparing fruits, sweet and sour. She also asked the children which one they liked best. Many chose grapes and bananas!
Soccer
Music
We went out for a stroll and visited Washington Market Park. A class from another school placed their ladybugs in the garden. The children had the opportunity to get a glimpse of them as they walked the garden.
The children enjoyed the walk as they observed the plants and flowers.
Sensory
This smooth and powdery texture is inviting to the children. Pouring, scooping, filling cups, and pretending to cook, are the different areas the children are exploring.
James: “Look, I made a smoothie!”
Manipulative
These versatile manipulative were very popular during the week. Rohan placed several pieces on the refrigerator. The art arrangement with the different shapes looked magnificent.
The children are collaboratively connecting and building a box using Magna-Tiles.
Charles demonstrated focus and concentration as he connected the different color squares. Even though they were all the same geometric shape, Charles carefully observed, selected, and arranged the color squares.
Alexandra, what are you building?
“I making a house!”
James: “A doggy house!”
The children have always enjoyed interacting with the Colander and Pipe Cleaner activity. It improves, fine motor skills, concentration, and focus as they insert the pipe cleaner into the hole.
The children shared and took turns as they engaged in many activities. As we implement different activities for children to explore, we often pair them to work together. It helps improve their social/emotional development.
Gym
Circle Time
Nate’s mom, Melissa, came to visit and read to the children. The children listened as Melissa reads one of their favorite books.
Art
Painting with Cups and Bottles
Painting with the color blue and yellow and shaving cream! As the children mixed both colors they created a secondary color, green!
Foil Painting!
Rohan is painting with his hands, paintbrush, and the opposite side of the paintbrush he indicated, "I'm drawing!" He used three different techniques to explore painting on foil paper.
The children applied glue on a white canvas with a paintbrush. As they finish, they glued recycled top pouches on the canvas. The beautiful recycled art piece is displayed on the classroom wall. Recycled materials are innovative! We have created and used many recycled materials.
Blocks
James: “It’s a boat. I’m going on vacation!”
Cooper: “I building a house. A man live in the house.
Teacher: “ What is the man doing in the house?”
Cooper: “He is inside the house. He’s doing something.”
Teacher: “Nate, I like the way you are connecting the Bristle Blocks. What are you building?”
Nate:”A train. Dad’s in the train. I’m in the train, too!”
Teacher: “Where are you going?”
Nate: “I’m going to Penn Station!”
Manipulative are hands-on materials that enable children to grip, maneuver, and create amazing constructions, as they use their imagination. The children continue to extend their creation as they manipulate each Bristle block. As they move their hands and fingers to connect and disconnect each shape, they explore and discover new techniques to create.
The sensorimotor stage is the first of the four stages in Piaget theory of cognitive development. In his theory, he emphasizes this period as a time of growth and change. Children experience the world and acquire knowledge through their senses and motor movements. As children interact with their environments, they go through an amazing cognitive growth. During this time, children begin to move towards understanding the world through mental operations rather than purely through actions.
Hollow Blocks facilitate the learning of spatial concepts and simple geometry. Building with blocks promotes skills that involve the whole child. Each child moves their muscles differently to build and create structures.
Alex has been discovering how different blocks feel in her hands and about space and shapes. She develops ideas and interests of her own as she selects the blocks she wants to use. She investigates and aligns them. Size and shape are essential features that help children to decide how they want to build their structure. Blocks are stimulating and rewarding. They contribute to Alexandra creativity and imagination as she explores.
Some of the parents opened the gift the children made for them for Parent’s Day!
Leo's grandmother came to visit classroom 1B. It is always a joy to have grandparents visit and read to the children. They looked intrigued as she reads, explains, and asks questions about each page.
Monday afternoon, Karate
Tuesday, Spanish with Ernestina
The specialist introduced different sea animals using cue cards and articulated their names in English and Spanish.
Wednesday, Soccer
Thursday, Music with Emily
Thursday afternoon, Yoga
We enjoyed a stroll to the park, and the children enjoyed walking in pairs to the gazebo at Washington Market Park.
We have used different tools to create unique art pieces, painting with Popsicle sticks, feathers, pipe cleaners, clothespin with yarn, pom poms, clothespin with cotton balls, and the popular rubber band painting tool. It’s also amazing what you can do with recycled materials or how the children maneuver and manipulate a painting tool. They are creating a different pattern, texture, and it allows children to explore and discover new things. Creating art expands a child’s ability to interact with the world around them, and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Learning about colors, mastering fine motor skills, and when children experiment with materials, they dabble in science. Most important, art helps their self-confidence; children feel good while they are creating.
We read a variety of books, and among the many songs we sang were:
ABC
Johnny works with one hammer…..
Head and Shoulders…..
Mr. Sun
You are My Sunshine
7 days in a week
What’s the weather
Where is thumpkin…..
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Hello, how are you? Good Morning Song
Jump in the water
The Wheels on the Bus
Watermelon
Specialists:
Monday afternoon, Karate
Wednesday morning, Soccer
Tuesday morning, Spanish
Tuesday morning, Cooking with Diane
In honor of Parent’s Day, Diane made another body and foot soak, using Epson salt and orange water. The teachers also received one. Enjoy!!! The aroma is relaxing!
Thursday morning, Music
Music is essential because it helps the body and mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self-expression. For children and adults, music helps strengthen memory skills.
It's lovely to see and hear as children sing songs along with the music specialist, Emily. Toward the end of the session, the children had the opportunity to touch the strings of her guitar. They appeared very excited!!!
Thursday afternoon, Yoga
Art
Painting with Popsicle Sticks
The children have experienced manipulating and maneuvering different drawing tools during the year. Each child has created beautiful work of arts as they explored. Each painting tool provided different experiences.
Painting with Forks
The children seemed to enjoy dipping the fork into the paint and then pressing the fork down onto the paper. They appeared surprised, as they noticed the pattern they created. I enjoy exploring and discovering new things for the children to investigate.
Pipe cleaners glued on recycled paper rolls, made an interesting art tool. The children selected three colors and rolled back and forth the roller, creating straight and wavy lines.
They are painting with Aluminum Foil paper using paintbrushes, sponge-like brush, sponges, and their hands. Foil painting is also a sensory activity. Rohan preferred to use his hands to explore the paint. He seems to enjoy the texture of the paint.
Whether you are packing boxes or using it to protect a gift, bubble wrap painting is a fun and interactive activity for young children. Revisiting art on bubble wrap paper, the children still manage to pop the bubbles before painting.
A dexterity exercise like this one is a fun way to play and get those muscles of the hand moving and strengthened to improve endurance and positioning.
The teacher asked Alexandra where your eyes, ears, mouth, and hair are? She pointed to each as she looks at herself in the mirror. Then she created a self-portrait on canvas using pipe cleaners.
Wire Sculpture Self-Portrait
The joy, creativity, and the imagination of children always inspires us. As I observe the children exploring and manipulating pipe cleaners, the concept of creating self-portraits using pipe cleaners emerged. The children gradually learn about their different facial features as they maneuver the writing tool during each month’s self-portrait sessions. They notice each location of their eyes, nose, mouth, and hair are. As they look in the mirror, they see different changes. These changes are significant because they reflect self-identification. Using pipe cleaners to create a self-portrait, provided an opportunity for self-study that accorded with their persona as an artist. Each child selected the color, lengths, and shape that pipe cleaners offered.
The self-portrait canvases are on the classroom wall. Please, take a peek at their artwork. The children have explored, discovered, and investigated many materials as they learn about their environment. All the information they have absorbed has helped shape their personality. They are all unique learners!
We used tape and a square canvas to create each child's first letter of their name. The children selected the color of their choice to paint over their letter, and then the tape was removed. Each canvas is displayed next to their picture.
The children have always enjoyed painting on the small tabletop easel. It gives them a different perspective on painting; for example, arm and hand movement. Charles appears focus as he paints and adds details to his paintings.
The children are collaborating in the Art Fair by painting boxes and creating a painting, using pom poms.
It's a beautiful sight to have a parent come in and spend a few minutes with their child and interact with the other children before they depart after drop-off.
Sensory
Model magic is a lightweight and spongy material that does not stick to your hands. Model magic is a physical activity that allows children to explore and express themselves through sculpting, molding, and squishing.
Oliver: “Look, a snake!”
Alexandra: “A worm!”
The children touched scooped and filled small cups with colored sand.
Problem-solving
Leela's top from her sippy cup came off. We asked the children how can you fix Leela's cup. Leo, Rohan, and Nathaniel immediately explored the cup. They were trying to find a way to insert the top. It was amazing to see these toddlers at work, and it was a team effort without asking them to work together! What can you use to fix the cup? "A stick!" they replied. A popsicle stick was offered to the children. Nathaniel tried, and then they all worked together, including Leela. They didn't find a way to fix her the cup, but the team effort and their initiative were as important.
Leela, took her cup momentarily from them, to take a sip of her milk. She returned the cup to the children continued working.
Measuring children using unit blocks
We are almost done measuring all the children! The last time we measured them, was in January. On some children, we are adding a half pillar or unit block. The activity promoted math (counting and geometric shapes) and encouraged them to interact with the unit blocks. When the teacher called the children to measure their height, they immediately retrieved the unit blocks and aligned them before placing themselves in a horizontal position next to the blocks. That was amazing to see!!
Alexandra is a new student in our classroom. We welcome Alexandra and her family to the 1B class!
Circle Time
During circle time, the teacher drew different geometric shapes on an erasable board. As she erased the shape, the children guessed which one it was. Another part of this activity was writing a number inside a geometric shape. The children had to think about the number. Many articulated the number and shape. It was a fun, educational and interactive experience for the children.
Art
Creativity and imagination are in all the children’s unique art pieces. As they develop that are mastering their cognitive, physical and language development.
The children are creating and painting special art projects!
Creating an art piece using acrylic paint!
Painting with sponges!
The children explored finger paint and shaving cream. It also a great sensory experience!
Some of the children decided to continue exploring by applying paint on their faces!!
Manipulative and Blocks
What are you building with the Bristle Blocks, Leo? "Building a train!"
Who is on the train? “Mom, dad and me going to the beach. Get a crab, turtle, and shells.”
What are you building, Rohan?
"I building Buckle My Shoe!"
Who goes to Bucke My Shoe?
"Mommy and daddy!"
We created an art table with crayons, small pencils, scissors, paper, and small staplers that make heart and circle shapes.
Nathaniel and Leo joined Leo Shaftel at the Block Center. Leo Shaftel articulated, "I made a road!" The all shared the space as they used the cars.
Karate
Karate sessions have been great for the children. They appear to have fun and are interactive with the different materials that the specialist implements in each session. They have confidence as they participate and are focused on the instructions.
These repetitive motions are an integral part between mind and body. I am so happy that the children had the opportunity this year to experience Karate!!!
Spanish
The Spanish Specialist brought in a tasty treat, nacho chips, and guacamole, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican Holiday.
Cooking with Diane
The children visited classroom 3A during the week. They interacted with the children and engaged with different materials in the classroom. They particularly enjoyed observing Pinky, the pet rabbit.
Charlie took home the caterpillars in their chrysalis stage over the break. During their stay with Charlie, they emerged into their adult stage, butterfly. Charlie, dad, and grandma came to bring the butterflies to school. The children were eager and excited to see them! Thank you, Charlie!
Collaborative Painting
All the children are participating in painting their train. They selected the color red, and it's going to be called the A train!
Painting with watercolor and pipe cleaners, as the painting tool.
Splatter Painting!
The children created a painting for our Science Fair.
Before washing their hands for lunch, we had a letter recognition game. The children had to recognize and point the first letter of their name. When they have identified it, they will erase their letter and wash their hands.
Counting and identifying, where is the bear? The bear is on top of the box, inside and outside the box.
I recycled the flowers Janet gave me for my birthday. We turned the petals into a Flower Collage!
A collage is a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials. The art of making collages, enable children to use their imagination and create a composition that expresses their creativity. The children used natural petals and leaves; for example, white and pink petals. They applied and spread the glue with a paintbrush. The children seemed to enjoy exploring the materials, as they focused on placing the flowers on the cardstock. This activity promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and imagination.
Before our Spanish session, the specialist pointed to the butterflies and counted how many butterflies we have in Spanish; the children listened and repeated!
Before our break, Diane talked about birds, and she wanted the children to try and create a bird using raisins, a slice of orange and two pieces of carrots. Some of the children did a fantastic job!
Rohan was counting with his fingers as the teacher counted the butterflies. We had six caterpillars that are now six beautiful butterflies.
We released the butterflies on Thursday. The children appeared excited and curious as they noticed a butterfly landing on Katy, behind Rohan and on the teacher (Sandra). It took the butterflies a little while to leave their nest. It was interesting to watch the butterflies develop in our classroom.
Where do you think the butterflies are going?
Leela- "The trees!
Oliver- "In the sky!"
James- "In the water!"
Nathaniel- "To the water!"
Leo- "To the park!"
Rohan- "Home!"
Leo Shaftel- "To the mountains!"
Charlie- "Their home!"
We read a variety of books and sang many songs throughout the week. Toddlers enjoy holding a book, turning the pages, and looking at the pictures. Experiences interacting with books teach him/her how to handle books. They learn that there is a front and a back to the book. Young toddlers often show clear preferences and will ask to have a book read over and over again. Reading is useful for toddlers; it will help your child relate what he hears to the words and letters on the page. When reading with a toddler, the primary goals include: developing his/her interests in books and language.
Specialists:
Spanish
Cooking with Diane
This particular dish is called, Mama bird pineapple, blueberry, and yellow feathers nest. The children enjoyed eating the different flavored jams and having a design of a bird on their bread.
Karate
Soccer
The children are engaging, listening and enjoying, as coach Yo Yo teaches and encourages them to play soccer.
Music
Yoga
The specialist explores the sensory scarfs with the children. They are great sensory props to lay over the face; they see the world in a different color or blow with all their might to see the scarf fly up into the air. The children seem to enjoy when they were covered with the scarfs. They also stretch their leg and used their foot as a pretend phone.
Highlights of the Week:
Blocks
Leo: “I made a square. I put a jumping board for people to jump in the water,”
Nate: “A steaming bridge.”
Art
The children were gluing and pasting their choice of color pom poms on the Popsicle stick, creating caterpillars. They used small and big Popsicle sticks, and paint sticks. These caterpillars will be displayed in the classroom wall.
James: “My caterpillar boat!”
James and Oliver’s caterpillar.
As Cooper interacted with the Magna-tiles, he arranged the big and small squares on different areas of the light table. Amazing!! He described his structure, "A octopus!"
Circle Time
The teacher noticed Leo aligning the ducks and invited him to count. He gradually counted one by one pointing to each duck. Before learning to count children need to understand one to one correspondence, which means a child who touches each object in a row and says the number name aloud for each object touched, "One, two, three, four....." is demonstrating the ability to count with one-to-one correspondence. We practice this early math concept with all sorts of different objects; particularly in our counting sessions during circle time.
Counting!
Sensory
Sensory Day!
They are exploring sand, flour, and cornstarch in water. As the children investigated, they are also learning about texture and color.
Manipulative
Nathaniel: “A choo choo train!”
Nathaniel: “I made towers!”
The children peeled the adhesive tape and placed the shape on the contact paper. It's an excellent activity for fine motor skills and color recognition.
Our Neighborhood Stroll
There was a change, and the children noticed it immediately. They articulated that it had leaves, green leaves. As we continued walking and observing our environment, the children appeared excited to see construction workers and an excavator! We briefly stopped for the children to observe the men working together to make our street save.
As we pass the balloons store, we articulated the different colors and counted each balloon.
Annie, Charles mom, took the caterpillars in their Chrysalis stage, home. Charles will be taking care of them over the break.
Children's first learning years are a crucial time for cognitive, emotional and social development. Early childhood education plays an essential role in fostering children's progress before the age of 5. Young children are naturally full of creativity and curiosity to explore the world around them. It's truly incredible what a child can pick up just through informal play, social interaction, and observation.
We celebrate and embrace each family for their part to their child’s education and thank you all for coming in and participating with your child in the activities.
It is important to feel at ease and comfortable in your child’s classroom
Highlights of the Week:
The children helped make a smoothie by pouring some strawberries, bananas, and blueberries in the container. We also added some yogurt.
The children decorated their flower pot using the colors of their choice. Each child maneuvered the painting tool differently, creating distinctive lines and circles.
On work together Wednesday, the children voted on what they were going to build with the boxes. The choices were: a horsey, box, cow, elephant, pig, a heart, and two votes for a train. Therefore, the train won! The all arranged the boxes together to create the train. The teacher squeezed as they spread the glue with the sponge-like brushes.
The children will continue working on their train next week and vote on the color they are going to use to paint the train.
The children had fun, fun on Thursday, Artsy Day!
They used different tools to create a fantastic and creative art piece: feathers and rubber-band on a Popsicle stick, yarn on a clothespin, pom pom on a pipe cleaner, and toothbrushes.
Young toddlers learn by observing, exploring and investigating. Open-ended and hands-on art activities are fun and interactive. As they engage with the materials, they use their imagination, develop creativity, fine motor and social skills.
The children were changed into the buckle my shoe shirts, and their socks and pants were removed to explore oobleck with their feet.
We have also been observing our caterpillars. They are entering their chrysalis stage since Thursday.
Specialist:
Spanish
Cooking with Diane
The children made a nest out of a cucumber, shredded carrots, and chickpeas.
Soccer
Yoga
The children had a lot of fun during the Week of the Young Child! In each activity in which they were involved in, fostered socialization, communication, language, participation, and creativity. As teachers, we try our best to guide and teach them to grow and thrive in all areas of development. We want them to become independent thinkers as we create activities for them to interact and engage with their peers.
Art:
We are creating a poster with all the children's handprint for the Week of the Young Child.
Buckle My Shoe is decorating the window and 1B is making caterpillars using egg cartons and butterflies out of coffee filter paper to have them displayed.
Shaving Cream, Tempera Paint, and Glue: As children participate and collaborate in the different art activities, they learn to wait their turn, share what they see developing, and work together to create a beautiful and exciting art piece. The teacher applied shaving cream unto the paper, and the children squeezed different colors and glue. Then it was covered with a plastic bag. They patted, squeezed and pressed the bag.
Painting with Strings using Clothespins : The children used clothespins to hold the string and dip the string into the paint and onto the paper. As they select their colors and distinctive movements, they create their design.
Revisiting Ball Painting: The art activity involved the upper body as the children focus on rolling and pushing the sensory ball with their hands. They each selected the colors, and as they moved the ball back and forth, the ball left a trail of painted dots as it rolls across the paper. The children enjoyed this activity since it involved paint and movement.
Concentration and eye-hand coordination are two crucial elements that kept the ball moving back and forth. Another important aspect of the activity is that the children worked as a team to create beautiful artwork. As they develop, their receptive and expressive language increases. Children become increasingly skilled at remembering and practicing the language.
What do you see when you roll the ball back and forth?
James: “The color red. Dots and lines!”
Nicole: “Green dots.”
Taking turns is an essential skill for children. It will benefit them in school as they interact with other children. The best way to teach a toddler or preschooler to take turns is through practice.
Charles: “Blue!”
Leela: “I see blue and purple color. Dot, circle and oval shape.
We are revisiting, Ball Painting with different partners. Leo and Oliver seemed to enjoy passing the ball to each other. The children are developing their language skills, and as they pass the ball to each other, they articulated what they saw in the painting.
Oliver: “Look, I made dots.!”
Leo: “I see circles!.”
Oliver was reluctant to use his hands, the first time he engaged in this activity. However, today he was non-hesitant as he pushed the ball with his hands and got paint on them!! The children are developing their language skills and building their self-esteem. Oliver seemed comfortable as he engaged in the activity he was involved in. Next week, we will continue this activity with the children that have not had an opportunity.
Blocks:
Cooper has been discovering how different blocks feel in his hands, and about space and shapes. He develops ideas and interests of his own as he selects the blocks he wants to use. Cooper did not express what his structure was about but continued putting them into precise adjustment. Size and shape are essential features that help children to decide how they want to build their structure. Blocks are stimulating and rewarding. They contribute to Cooper’s creativity and imagination as he explores.
Nicole, out of her own accord made a replica of the block structure that was created last week. She is curious and developing interest.
Sensory:
Exploring Oobleck (cornstarch and water)!!
Manipulative Toys:
Sharing and working together is a difficult concept for our young toddlers to understand. However, with practice and discussions, they formulate an understanding.
Gym:
Meditation:
Circle Time and Reading Sessions:
I deliberately divided the crayons and teddy bears to provide the idea of a different set of items. Then we counted them together in Spanish and English, to make one number, 9.
Oliver’s mom, Natalie took a few minutes during drop off and read to the children.
Leo’s mom, Allison, is reading one of their favorite books, Hooray for Hat!
We have six caterpillars in a small jar. We will be observing and watching them grow into an adult, they go through 4 stages: The Butterfly Life Cycle
-Egg
-Larva (caterpillar)
-Pupa (chrysalis stage)
-Adult (butterfly)
Specialist:
Cooking with Diane
Spanish
The Spanish Specialist sang the weather song and read The Hungry Caterpillar in Spanish. The children appeared curious as she read one of their favorite books they have listened to many times.
Soccer
The children are engaging, learning and having fun!!!!
Music
Karate
Books we read:
The Dot
It’s Okay to be Different
How Do You Hug a Porcupine
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Llama Llama Time to Share
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night
I will be Okay
How do I Feel?
Donde est la Oveja Verde?
These were among some of the books we read to the children. The children have been enjoying listening to many of the new books. We also sang a variety of songs.
Highlights of the Week:
Leo’s mom, Flora read to the children, Harry the Dirty Dog. They all seemed interested as she read the pages.
James mother, Adriann, read to the children. Thank you!! I enjoy watching children observe and listen to other adults reading to them. Reading aloud presents books as sources of pleasant, valuable and exciting experiences.
I am pleased to inform you that we will have an intern working with us every Thursday morning!
Circle Time:
During each circle time, we like to implement something educational, fun and interactive for the children. We also use circle time as a time to reflect on the materials we have learned or are learning. Many of the children are using their expressive language as we ask questions. Their voice is important in our classroom community.
We have children that have similarities and differences as they develop ideas. We often create a story from their ideas by drawing on an erasable board; for example, a story about firefighters trying to put out a fire, or the five little monkeys jumping on the bed and singing the song as we look at the drawing. It builds language and cognitive development.
During the week we asked the children, "What color are you wearing today?" They immediately look at their clothes and articulate a color or colors, but only one can be selected. They are going to look for the first letter of their name and place it on the color. The activity promotes color and letter recognition.
The children are enjoying listening to the new books we received from our wish list.
The children enjoyed wearing different hats for literacy week. Some hats will be available for them to use all the time. Children enjoy dressing up in costumes and engaging in dramatic role-playing. Whether your child is a dragon, a princess, or wears a big hat, using a telephone, and pretending to speak to someone, your child’s brain is going into high gear when he/she puts on a costume! Playing is the work of the child, and children benefit cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally through dress-up play.
Through the different facial expressions, the children are identifying and articulating their emotions.
Art:
Exploring painting and drawing with sandpaper.
Nicole and Oliver were mixing colors using a sponge-like paintbrush.
Exploring and revisiting painting with one color tempera paint helps children recognize, identify and recollect colors.
Young children enjoy working with watercolors because the water allows the colors to bleed together, creating new colors. Some of the children worked quickly, applying just a few strokes of color, while others spent a great deal of time working creating lines on their paper.
The Benefits of Working On An Easel
Fine Motor: Moving the painting tool from the paint container to the easel surface requires focus and control.
Large Motor: Because of the angle of the arm, using the easel works the shoulder and entire arm. The bigger the surface, the more exercise this area of the body gets.
Cognitive Skills: There is a lot to figure out while using an easel, such as how the paint will get on the paper and how to handle the drips that occur.
Leo: “I’m painting a princess!”
Oliver: “The letter A!”
Blocks:
We all participated in making a road for cars and walking on using the hollow blocks!
Manipulative:
Rohan: “Building a tower!”
It's lovely to see how the children are more interactive with hands-on material and creating their structure with extreme caution.
Science:
We placed some drops of food coloring over the milk and dipped a Q-tip into some dish soap. Then, with the drop of soap directly onto the food coloring and we watched the colorful fireworks! The children looked excited to see the colors spread. We will redo this experiment next week, so all the children can have the opportunity to participate.
Sensory:
Hands-on activities are crucial for their development. They are naturally exploring by using their hands and fingers. Fine motor skills and texture are learned skills in these activities. Playdough always elicits curiosity on these young developing minds. As they squeeze, touch and mold their piece of playdough or clay they are formulating ideas and techniques.
Taking pictures of their hands and fingers as they are exploring, enables the teacher to observe more closely their techniques and movements they use to manipulate the play dough.
Specialist:
Spanish
Cooking with Diane
The children helped Diane make soup with broth frozen vegetables (peas and carrots.)
Soccer:
Music:
Literacy week is to recognize and acknowledge the importance of reading to children, and celebrating all authors. Reading aloud to toddlers expand their listening skills, continue to associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings while learning about words and language, and make links between pictures and stories in books and things and events in their world. They also remember and join in with repetitive rhymes and phrases.
As we celebrate Literacy Week, we invite parents, extended relatives, and friends, to read to the class. Charles mom, Annie, read to the children one of their favorite books, Hooray for Hat! The children wanted her to continue reading Hooray for Books! And Hooray for Today! As she read all the books, the children focused and listened carefully.
We gradually are receiving books from our wish list. Thank you for your donation.
Art:
Art comes in different forms. The children painted recycled egg carton with the color of their choice.
Ziploc Painting:
Charles spreads the paint with his hands and fingers, allowing the colors to move in different directions. He looked curious as he pressed, patted and noticed that he did not get paint on his hands. He continued exploring, creating an art piece of three different colors.
Painting Letters!
For literacy week we also recognized Jackson Pollock, an artist that was famous for his splatter painting effect. The children created their splatter painting by using paintbrushes and rubber-band painting tools. The rapid movement throws the paint from the brush onto the paper, forming distinctive thick and thin lines and droplets of color.
Manipulative:
Children are becoming more imaginative and creative as they interact with Magna-tiles and blocks ( bristle, Lego, and unit). Their expressive and receptive language are increasing as they develop.
Nathaniel: “Look, Sandra, I making road. Where is truck?” He goes to get a truck and rolls it on the road.
We counted and articulated the colors in English and Spanish, and then demonstrated the number in a written form.
Lacing is an excellent activity for fine motor skills.
As they use different writing and drawing tools, they learn to grasp the tools differently with their fingers and hands. These movements are good exercises for the development of the pincer grasp.
Sensory:
Oliver's grandmother was able to stay with us a little longer after she read a book to the children. She helped mix the flour, oil, and water to make play dough!
The children were excited to explore soil! The soil is one of the natural element for planting. They squeezed, touched, clutch some in their hands to pour it into a cup. They scooped and emptied small cups. We also included some props in the soil, to make the exploration fun, exciting and realistic.
One of the children's favorite book, Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won, is a book about friendship and how to make a friend feel better when they are feeling sad. We also have two other books by this author Hooray for Books! And Hooray for Today! We decided to celebrate this author during Literacy Week and have a variety of hats for the children to wear and share.
Pajama Day
Exploring Colored Clay:
Leo: “I made a worm!”
Leela: “I made a small pancake!”
Rohan took a piece of clay and rolled it back and forth creating coils. Using his hands and fingers in a back and forth motion, he created the coil thickness.
Oliver: “Choo Choo train. Make a big, big choo train!”
Specialist:
Cooking with Diane:
For Literacy Week, Cooking with Diane was to create a caterpillar using a celery stick, representing the caterpillar and adding the other small bites on the celery.
Soccer
Spanish
Happy Holi
A parent from 1A invited us to join their classroom at this special event. Part of their celebration is for everyone to dress in white and beautiful bright powder colors are thrown on their clothes.
Art: Art is a diverse range of activities in creating visual and imaginative, conceptual ideas. As children engage with different tools, they develop techniques that allow them to maneuver the painting tool to create an art piece. Exploring with sticks, painting recycled paper rolls for an art project, gluing, and painting on different surfaces (plastic wrapped around a table) are various areas in which children transpire their ideas through art.
A Stroll in the Neighborhood:
As we observe our environment, we are also absorbing and learning a variety of information. The teacher asked the children What color are the leaves? "Green!" they said. James pointed to the stroller and Leo Shaftel, to the leaves from the flowers.
The teacher pointed to a tree and asked the children what do you think is missing on the tree? Cooper immediately said, "Leaves!" We took a picture of that tree and will return to observe if there are any changes in the next few weeks.
Specialists
Karate:
Spanish:
Cooking with Diane: Bread, strawberry and blueberry jam.
The children practice spreading the jam on the bread using a spoon, and some used the piece of bread to scoop the jam.
Soccer:
Music:
Yoga:
Circle time:
Each child had a sensory bottle. As they observed what was inside the container, the teacher asked, "What do you see inside the bottle?"
Leo:”Beads!”
Leela: “I see purple, pink, red!”
Nathaniel:”Blue and water!”
James:”Red!”
We counted blocks in Spanish and English, articulated the colors and the geometric shape. The different learning aspects of the activity enabled children to learn naturally and cohesively.
As young toddlers play, they build their physical skills, learn concepts, apply thinking skills, and assert their independence. As teachers, we encourage children to explore with manipulative toys. We promote socialization by encouraging children to play with one another, and we create activities that enable children to work collaboratively. Oliver and Cooper were at the manipulative center sharing the space. They were playing cooperatively, as they quietly interacted with the materials. They each were taking turns placing a puzzle piece on the puzzle board. Socialization is an integral part of early childhood. How children behave during play and how they respond to that behavior is essential to their social development. They develop independent behavior through the process of socialization.
Songs we sang:
Muffin Man
Mr. Sun
Jump in the Water
There are 7 day in a week….
What the Weather?
5 Little Speckled Frogs
5 Little Monkeys
Old McDonald Had a Farm
Head and Shoulders
Bubble Gum
Watermelon
Color Song- Incorporating color songs during transition times- Example, Nicole is wearing red today, Nicole is wearing red today, go, go, Nicole, go Wash your Hands.
Mr. Sun
ABC
You are My Sunshine
Spanish Songs
We read a variety of books everyday! Every week we create lessons plans that enable children to develop on all areas of development: Physical, Language, Cognitive, and Social and Emotional development. As teachers we want all the children to thrive in all areas.
We welcome parents, extended family, and friends to read to the children. The children enjoy the special time they share with other adults. Please, let us know when you would like to volunteer 15 or 20 minutes of your busy schedule. Thank you!!!
Art:
Recycled plastic cups are an excellent art activity. The children create not only a fantastic art piece, but they learn about colors and shapes. Leo used a square shape and Nathaniel a circle shape cup.
Leo and Charles are painting with cardboard paper rolls. They both used them as binoculars as well. Fantastic idea! We can make binoculars out paper rolls. Recycled materials are always welcome!!
The children created a splatter painting design on a square black canvas, and the poster board that was protecting the floor from getting painted is our beautiful unintentional art! We will incorporate Jackson Pollock, a well-known artist for his splatter painting art in our splatter painting exploration.
Fine motor activity using tape!
The children can peel it off and stick it back down. Great for building hand strength!
Leo: “Look Sandra, my muffin!”
Sensory
The children helped the teacher make oobleck by combining water and cornstarch. The teacher mixed the ingredients and added food coloring. Some students express the words soft, hard, cold, warm, powder, and WOW! as they engage in this sensory/science activity.
We are exploring colors and lines. The children applied glue on black construction paper and placed one, two, three or more color strips on their paper. Their lines went horizontal, vertically, and parallel. Every arrangement is distinctive and unique. We will continue exploring how simple lines (strip of paper) can create an art piece and learn about colors and lines.
Cooking with Diane
The children ate Pasta with tomato sauce.
Spanish
Music
Yoga
We sang and read a variety of books!!
Highlights of the Week
Children always enjoy having other adults besides their teachers to read in the classroom. Parents and extended families are welcome to visit, read, or do an activity with the children.
We had a special visitor today, Oliver’s grandmother. She read to the children during snack time and engaged with Oliver as he interacted with the Bristle Blocks.
Painting with Tempera Paint and Corn Syrup
The children explored three different colors using paintbrushes and then shaving cream was added to create a different texture, which also caused the color to change. Some of the children began to explore with their hands. Shaving cream is great for sensory exploration and provides endless opportunities for children to play and discover. Sensory play promotes many experiences:
-Sensory play encourages children to manipulate and mold materials, building up their fine motor skills and coordination.
-Sensory play uses all five senses, but the sense of touch is often the most frequent. Toddlers process information through their senses; therefore, they learn as they explore.
-Is unstructured, open-ended
-Encourages imagination and creative play
-Develop social skills (taking turns and sharing)
-Language development (experimenting with language and descriptive words )
Some of the children were reluctant to touch the shaving cream with their hands. A new and different sensory experience promotes an insecure feeling. It is essential always to provide various tools to explore. Providing choices allows children to explore their options and feel at ease with the activity.
Ziploc painting is a color, sensory, imagination, and fine motor skills all in one fun activity. Fine motor skills are those that require the ability to use and coordinate small muscle groups. Giving children opportunities to play with different types of textures and objects helps them to build new ways of talking about the world and building language. This type of sensory play is also calming for children. It helps regulate their internal discomfort, whether that discomfort is restlessness or some other kind of agitation.
Cooper and James looked eager and interested in exploring this activity. They were curious about how they were able to press, pat and point to each color without getting some paint on their hands. Cooper used his hands and fists. James also used his fists, but also used his elbow and fingertips, creating imprints. Cooper and James's puzzlement allowed them to continue exploring. They applied pressure using their hands to spread the paint and observed how the colors mixed and created another color. As they continued to manipulate the paint, they discovered that they were able to control the paint inside the plastic bag without getting paint on their hands.
Painting with Tempera Paint and Corn Syrup
Lego Printing: Nicole recognized and verbally identified each color, red, blue, and purple. She selected purple for her art piece.
We used pieces of cardboard as a stand for the children's model magic sculptures. They each selected and painted the color of their choice. We had them dry for a day and then glued their sculpture on their stand. Please look at their beautiful and creative designs and the documentation that corresponds to their work.
Exploring different surfaces prompts curiosity and provide different stimuli. The idea was to give a tactile exploration as well as let the children experiment and investigate how art materials interact with various surfaces. Exploring and discovering different methods, enable children to understand their ability to change their process art.
Creating a collage using items and textures with the different colors we have explored.
GYM
BLOCKS
As children interact with materials and engage in different activities, they learn to create patterns or a replica of something they have seen in their environment. Oliver is aligning the manipulative toy that he interacts with and refers to them, "Choo, Choo train." He is also beginning to count as he arranges them. Using one-to-one correspondence, Oliver counted 1-6.
Rohan connected four blocks in an upright position and pressed them down to secure them. He stacked three more and was adding another. It would seem that he wanted the stacks to have an equal amount of blocks.
Leo continues to interact with the Magna-tiles and as he creates his structures, his imagination, and creativity increases. Leo used only the square shapes to construct small boxes in a horizontal position. He carefully connects each square to extend his structure.
Did you know that the journey to being able to write correctly should start long before your child really even knows how to form letters or shapes? It starts with the strengthening of fine motor skills. We do various activities, lacing cards and taking shoestrings and threading them through holes in specific shapes.
Some puzzle boards have knobs. These knobs are vital to young toddlers finger and hand muscle development. Each time they grip the knob would help them develop the pincer grasp. By using the index finger and thumb, or the index and middle fingers opposing the thumb, to pick up small objects. It is essential to guide children to master this grip, which will help them hold writing, drawing and eating utensils properly.
CIRCLE TIME
The children showed interests on farm animals, as they enjoy singing the Old McDonald Had a Farm song. I asked the children "What farm animals do you know?" We listed all the different animals they articulated and printed pictures of those animals: cow, horse, sheep, pig, and donkey. We made the sounds each animal makes and asked the children, what kind of food do they think a horse eats?
Nate: "Hay!"
James: "Hay!"
James and Nate simultaneously said hay. We will continue learning and discussing different farm animals.
Sensory
The children know the different ingredients that are needed to make play dough. Play dough is a sensory/science activity that is fun and beneficial for their development. For example, Fine Motor Skill Development: great for strengthening muscle tone in little hands – squishing, squashing, rolling, flattening and encourage prewriting, and other skills such as cutting with scissors, and holding writing and drawing tools.
Exploring white clay with their hands and clay tools.
During a transition time, we expose and articulate the first letter of their names, and have them articulate and erase the letter before washing their hands for lunch. It is a fun way to learn as they absorb the information.
SPECIALISTS
Karate- Monday Afternoon
Spanish- Tuesday’s
During Spanish, the Specialist demonstrated exercise movements. Walk slow, fast, stop, jump high and low, and stop.
Cooking with Diane- Tuesday’s
Cooking with Diane: "Soup"
Ingredients: Vegetable Broth, Thyme and Oregano and Frozen Mixed Vegetables.
The children helped Diane prepare the soup. During the morning she warmed the soup and brought a bowl for each child during lunchtime. It appeared that the soup was delicious to these children because they ate all their soup.
Soccer- Wednesday’s
Not all children participate in soccer; some need a little time to adjust and observe. Nicole observed and listened to the Specialist as he guided the children. Leo approached Nicole and articulated, "Come, Nicole, kick the ball! He tried to persuade her to join her peers. That was very kind of him!! Perhaps next time Nicole will kick the ball!
Yoga- Thursday Afternoon
Painting
Our guiding study of the year, Social and Emotional Development, continues as our curriculum extends to our theme of the year, Painting. Paint incorporates many hues. It allows us to choose from a variety of colors as we create an art piece. Color is everywhere and on everything.
Our mind is engaging with varying shades of hue consistently and associates them with different things; for example, flowers. Even though we are so familiar with colors, there is a broad spectrum of uncertainty when it comes to using color for art. But what brings us to select a color. Is it the vividness?
The colors pink and blue have been culturally decided to be the norm for boys and girls, pink for girls and blue for boys. Why? In our canvas painting activity, one girl selected brown, another red. As the children explore and enjoy the process of paint, they will develop a preference and choose colors that are inviting to them.
Color can be associated with a person’s mood, or enhance and influence their learning. For example, a child chooses the orange hue almost all the time and smiles as he explores the color with a paintbrush. As children delve into a painting activity, each color has some significance as they investigate. Color can have an impact on how a painting is created and how children learn and absorb information through their art.
Painting is also a sensory experience!
When children are asked to select hues for their art project, they observe all the colors, before pointing or articulating their choice. There are many different colors, textures, and variety of paint that children can use to explore and create art. As they work, they develop techniques and select the color of their choice. The pictures represent how each child chooses a tool and have their unique style of investigating paint and color.
The right color decision is the foundation for a beautiful and engaging design.
Thank you, for attending our second Curriculum Day!
Before our curriculum, we had music with Emily!
Rohan's grandparents and cousin came for a visit. Rohan’s grandmother read Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina to the children. The all focused and listened to the story. Rohan appeared excited as his grandparents and cousin interacted with the children and teachers.
Exploring with Water and washing babies!
Exploring and discovering new ways to create an art piece, is essential to investigate different tools. It allows children to use their imagination and be creative in their artwork. Paintbrushes, sponge-like paintbrushes, and a tassel were among the various tools Rohan used to paint on foil paper.
Some of the children painted with Q-tips at the small easel. As they explore colors, they maneuver the Q-tip up and down and side to side, creating distinctive lines to their artwork.
The idea behind "process art" is that the activity is more about the process itself than the end product. The children enjoyed, dipping the feathers in the paint and watching what happened as they tapped or dragged them onto the paper.
Nicole is matching puzzle pieces at manipulative center .
Curriculum Day Art Work!
Specialists:
Monday, Karate
Tuesday, Spanish
Tuesday, Cooking with Diane
After the children helped Diane mix the ingredients, she poured the mixture into ice trays. These were their treat for Valentine’s Day!
Wednesday, Soccer
The children enjoyed soccer for the first time! They all were engaged and had a lot of fun as they focused on kicking the ball.
Thursday, Music
Thursday, Yoga
Art:
Art and craft instill excitement, self-confidence, and accomplishment in each child. These elements have limitless exploration, as the children use their young developing minds. The children delved into the paint and maneuvered their paintbrush in a circular motion to cover the paper plate. The children decorated Valentine Wreath’s with red tempera paint, glued tissue paper (red and pink), and a touch of glitter. They also selected one, two or three colors to paint a heart shape on the canvas; a gift from them to their parents.
Painting with feathers!
A poster board, white paint, and paintbrushes were placed on the table for the children to interact. It was 8:15 in which this activity was put on the table. Our 8:30 and 9:00 group arrived; however, no one engaged with the materials. I will set this activity again next week! The objective is to learn and understand how color can make a difference.
Ice Painting:
Last week ice painting was introduced to the children. They seemed to enjoy watching what happened to watercolors as the ice starts melting. Therefore, we explored this sensory/science activity again using different size of ice blocks. Their curious minds allow them to explore and discover how their environment works. We invited the children to touch and brush the block of ice with their hands and paintbrush. As they painted, they noticed the texture and color changed. They also saw the ice started melting. As they interact on this hands-on activity, they are also learning new vocabulary, solid, liquid, ice, melting and what happens to ice as it is left outside for too long.
Learning about our environment!
We are observing and exploring our classroom environment as we discuss circles. I asked the children briefly before lunch, to observe their classroom environment and look for circle or round shapes. Many pointed and articulated, fan. Rohan expressed and pointed to the small light we have near our reflection board. Great observation!! Leo Shaftel said, "The small circle on the fan!" He was referring to the circle shape switch that turns as you adjust the fan. Another great observation! As we explore our environment, we can learn about many geometrical shapes.
Movement:
They are numerous benefits playing on the slide, including developing motor skills, testing their strength, balance and spatial awareness, and also social awareness. They are also having a lot of FUN!
Interacting with different materials:
Leo pointed to the two Hallow Blocks: “Two tall buildings?”
Teacher: “Leo who lives in the buildings?”
Leo: "Two sisters live in each building. They playing!”
Oliver: “A choo choo train!”
Leo called his structure, boxes. He first asked the teacher to help him connect the squares when he began to construct his first box. He then independently and carefully added one box on top of another joining the necessary squares.
Some of the children helped me make Oobleck! The children touched and patted the powdery substance before adding the water. They each took a turn pouring the water as I mixed the two ingredients and then added some green watercolor.
A stroll through the neighborhood and Washington Market Park:
We read a variety of books and sang different songs as well.
Highlights of the Week:
We celebrated Nathaniel’s Birthday together with his mom, Melissa, and dad, Amit. We sang Happy birthday, ate a special snack, and Melissa and Amit each read story to the children.
The class patiently wait their turn on picture day, as they sit on the bench singing and listening to stories.
Fine Motor Activity for toddler with Tape
Leo touched and smelled the ice. He picked up the ice and repeatedly, said “Cold, cold!”
A hands-on activity in early childhood is an avenue that links new concepts to ideas that children already understand. Piaget and Vygotsky are two educational pioneers, their theories, learning occurs as children acquire new concepts; from their interaction with people and experiences, and all the information is stored in their mind until they can make sense of it. Experiencing new ideas with paint enhances imagination and creativity. Painting is a hands-on activity that allows children to explore their senses, color, explore process and outcomes.
Painting on ice incorporates science, texture, and color recognition while observing the ice go from solid to a liquid state. As the children engaged in this activity, they explored the ice by touching, smelling and painting. The children brushed the watercolors on top of the ice block. They noticed what happens with the watercolors as the ice started melting. The textures began to change, as well as the colors. Sensory experience is the fundamental element of learning and understanding how everything works in our environment.
Nicole, painted the ice over and over until she noticed that the paint was not sticking but slipping from the ice.
During clean up, the children were helping clean the table before sitting for circle time. Independence is part of growing and learning to share responsibility in the classroom. Simple tasks, for example, placing their sippy cup in the brown basket or cleaning the table together allows them to feel proud of their accomplishments. They all did a fantastic job!!
Neighborhood Stroll: Today we went on a neighborhood stroll and walked to Washington Market Park. As we observed our environment, Leela was singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Leo B., The Muffin Man. As we walked through the park, we notice a few squirrels and one up on a tree.
Celebrating Chinese New Year together with Nicole and Justin, Nicole’s father. They shared with the classroom a special snack and Justin also read a book about the Chinese New Year.
Art:
Valentine Wreath’s
The children are finishing their Model Magic Sculptures. Many of them are up to step three, painting! These sculptures will be displayed in the classroom very soon.
Cardboard Tube Printing: Sometimes the best artwork comes from using recycling materials. Recycling material promotes many craft ideas that will transpire into a work of art. Natural materials are accessible and reusable, and influence children’s creativity, and imagination. In this activity, we used paper rolls and cut them into small pieces. The activity is excellent for young children, due to the easy-grip the cardboard tubes promote. The activity encourages sensory and fine motor development and eye-hand coordination.
All children have learned to identify and recognize facial features through different activities. The children are now helping the teacher complete a portrait as they articulate the different features. Today the teacher drew Oliver! Sandra is not the best artists, but tries! After each portrait, we write the first letter of the child's name.
Manipulative
The journey to being able to hold a writing tool correctly should start long before your child even knows how to form letters or shapes? It begins with the strengthening of fine motor skills.
Matching Puzzles Pieces: Matching games improve concentration, increase attention to detail, improve the ability to find similarities and differences in objects.
Blocks:
The children are not only connecting, building structures but counting how many blocks they are using. As they count each block with the teacher, they are learning one to one correspondence.
Nate: “I make a train!”
Teacher: “Who's on the train?”
Nate: “Mami and people!”
Oliver: I am making the The Wheels on the Bus.”
Specialists:
Cooking with Diane
In celebration of Chinese New Year, Diane selected different colorful fruits for the children to eat: apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, and raspberry.
Karate
Rohan was very active in the Karate session. He was involved and focused on each activity, and Rohan also managed to break the board. The board is given to the child has a souvenir.
As children explore, learn and understand how things work in their environment, they develop techniques in how to interact with materials. Every child is unique as they engage in art, manipulative, blocks, music and books. As teachers, we want children to have fun learning, investigating, discovering, and manipulating their environment. As they develop interests, we will provide an addition to extend their creativity.
When they work on a project, painting, building, or just turning the pages of a book, they are using many skills (fine and gross motor, cognitive, language, and social/emotional).
Songs we have sang throughout the week:
Mr. sun
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Jump in the Water
Bubble Gum
5 little Monkeys, Ducks, and Frogs
Mr. Muffin Man
Twinkle Little Star
If your happy and you know it clap your hands……(English and Spanish version)
Watermelon
On Little Finger (English and Spanish version)
and many more……..
We also read a variety of books. Among their favorites are Hooray for Hats, We are going on a Lion Hunt, A Pocket for Corduroy, and Even firefighter go to the Potty!
Highlights of the Week:
Pretending to be on the bus and steering the wheel, is a fun and interactive way to learn songs and language.
The children can recognize and identify their facial features. We sometimes like to draw someone's face and ask the children to help us along. This week all the children participated in identified all Diane's features including her eye-glasses. They articulated hair, nose, two ears, two eyes, mouth, teeth, tongue, and glasses. Great job!!!
Art:
Painting is a way for children to learn to recognize, identify and explore colors. With Splatter Painting, we can experiment with different color combinations. In this activity, the children used black or white construction paper, marbles, and placed them in a box. Then they squeezed the colors of their choice. The children were shaking and moving the box from side to side. As the paint splattered on the paper, the marbles simultaneously formed simple, thick or thin lines. During each movement, Leo peeked inside the box. He appeared curious and interested in how his movements changed his paintings. Different movements created different paintings. Each art piece is unique in color and style!
Painting with Pipe Cleaners!
Sensory:
Children explore and discover new things every day through their senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. As children engage with different materials, they gain knowledge of how things work. Model Magic is a unique lightweight material. It is a soft, smooth to use and extremely pliable modeling compound that lets you create keepable art, and create anything from simple shapes to intricate dioramas. It can be reused or be air dried resulting in a smooth and resilient finish. Model magic promotes fine motor skills, imagination, and creativity. Sensory exploration is a natural way for young toddlers to understand their environments.
The texture was inviting and intriguing, as they manipulate the material with their hands and fingers. Each time they manipulate the model magic it transforms. They touched, poked, squeezed, and selected some pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks and colorful feathers for adorning. They appeared proud of his model magic structures!!
Blocks:
James has been discovering how different blocks feel in his hands, and about space and shapes. He develops ideas and interests of his own as he selects the blocks he wants to use. He investigates the unit blocks, half pillars, half units, and train tracks and aligns them. James expressed, “A train!” Size and shape are essential features that help children to decide how they want to build their structure. Blocks are stimulating and rewarding. They contribute to James creativity and imagination as he explores.
Manipulative:
Children are creating and using their imagination as they built and connected. Rohan articulated, "Tower!" as he carefully combines each peg and pushes it to secure it. Leo articulated, "A tall building!" and Charles didn't stack them but carefully place them in a horizontal position.
The children are learning more to respect their space and share.
Leela constructed three different structures using the Magna-tiles. Each selection and connection she made helped her to formulate her composition.
Specialists:
Karate
Spanish
Music
Yoga
Cheerios and Raisins
Sensory:
Their little hands and fingers delved into the soft and warm powdery substance. The consistency of the dough appeared to be intriguing to feel and hold. The children filled and emptied small cups; whereas others, were busy scooping. Flour is an exciting sensory experience that provides children with endless fun.
The children finished molding and creating different structures with model magic. They all adorned them differently using, Popsicle sticks, feathers, and pipe cleaners. The next step is, painting! They will all be displayed in the classroom when they are all completed.
Paint is a colored substance that you put onto a surface with a painting tool to make it look nice, produce a picture, or create a color to something that is colorless.
We made color and colorless oobleck to investigate and explore the idea of "color."
Oobleck incorporates both science and sensory exploration; is a substance that's somewhere between a liquid and a solid. It pours like a liquid but acts like a solid when you squeeze it. The children looked curious and explored the properties slowly by dropping their hands into the oobleck, feeling and squeezing its texture.
Would there be a difference in how children interact with the oobleck if it is colorless?
We used large bins to experiment with oobleck. As the children observed and approached the materials, some of the children sat and manipulated the colorless materials with puzzlement; while others, delved into the color oobleck with excitement. They engaged with sustained attention, as they tapped, poked, touched, and squeezed with their hands and fingers.
Paint conveys meaning through color; it elicits curiosity and is an invitation that captures children’s eyes as they engage with different color materials. It stimulates their imagination, exploration, and creativity.
Highlights of the Week:
Art:
Bubble Wrap Print:
The children selected the color or colors of their choice and then placed the bubble wrap paper on the poster board. As they pressed the paper onto the poster board, they noticed the imprint.
We will continue this project to provide opportunities to all children to participate.
Bleeding Tissue Paper Art:
This art activity is a two- step project:
-wet the canvas with a paintbrush
-apply square shape tissue paper on the canvas.
This is a fun way to add colors to your canvas.
James applied water and placed the tissue paper on different areas of the canvas. He looked curious as he put the tissue paper, and noticed the water changed into a green color.
James: "Look, green water!"
Toothbrush Painting!
Painting with different tools allows children to experiment and discover different ways to maneuver the toothbrush in different directions to create distinctive lines.
As children interact with a variety of colors, textures, and painting tools, they develop interests. We experimented with two colors blue and white. Which one will the children gravitate towards more?
We played a guessing game during circle time. What’s in the box? The children enjoy shaking the box and guessing what is inside. Many said, pom poms. But it was two balls. We counted, articulated the colors and each child had a turn touching the ball.
What color are you wearing today?
Sensory
We mixed color and colorless oobleck. On Thursday, we displayed both and allowed the children to choose which bin they would like to explore. As we observed, they looked curious and intrigued. More children went towards the color than the colorless.
Manipulative
Teacher: “What are you making, Nate?”
Nathaniel: “A building. A excavator.” (Excavator is the small structure)
Teacher: “What is the excavator picking-up?
Nathaniel: “Rocks!”
It appears that Cooper created a pattern. He selects a few of the same color as he aligns them.
James explores and manipulates the Magna Tiles as he enjoys creating different structures. He built a box as he connected the squares side by side. He hides one of the animal props and tells the teacher:
James: "Where did the worm go?
He then opens the box and says, "There it is!"
James creates boxes and places animals in them as he interacts with the manipulative. Interacting and engaging in play, children's imagination, and creativity increases. Adding props creates an extension to their learning.
Specialists
Cooking with Diane
Yoga
Music
