October 24, 2019

The highlights of the week:

The children created Leaf Collages!

The children created a leaf collage. A collage is a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials. We collected some leaves and small tree branches for our natural collage. The children squeezed some glue on a rectangle piece of corrugated cardboard. Then they spread the glue with a paintbrush. We allow them to explore the materials and let them apply them on the cardboard. They each investigated and responded to the paste differently.

Ice Painting!

Ice painting is a combination of science and sensory exploration. We poured some tempera paint in an ice cube tray with Popsicle Sticks and allowed it to freeze overnight. As we removed the ice cube paint for the children to explore, we observed their interaction with the material. They appeared to be in awe and curious as they investigated the frozen paint. Some swirled the Popsicle Sticks as if they were drawing with a crayon and observed the mixture of colors as it melted.

Toddlers are fascinated by how things work, and studying is one of the first steps in learning about different objects and textures. Different stimulation promotes children to react differently to materials. Children need to understand how the world works and the various textures that help them form that knowledge.

Annabelle: “Orange and Yellow!”

Ophelia: “Lollipop! It’s cold!”

Annabelle: “Snake!” (As she swivels the Popsicle Stick)

Collaborative painting promotes sharing and socialization. Teagan shared the ice Popsicle stick with Annabelle after she was all done.

Teacher: “What happen to the paint?”

Teagan: “It broken!”

Teacher: “How does it feel?”

Teagan: “Cold!”

Annabelle: “I made silly pumpkin!”

Annabelle is all done painting and gives the teacher the popsicle sticks, “Can you take care of this!”

PAINTING:

The novelty of painting with various objects allows children to explore and experiment. It is always fun and exciting to think outside the box when you are creating art. Transforming items that can be turned into painting tools allow children to explore and discover new ways to paint. The rubber band art tool, inspire children to create big and small movements and make interesting marks on their paper. The tool enables children to develop different techniques and patterns as they maneuver the unique painting tool.

Each child is an artist! They used thin paintbrushes and two colors to create their art pieces. They maneuvered their hand in different ways to form various lines, circles, or blobs of paint. They used their imagination and creativity as they move the paintbrush.

Each art piece is distinctive!

Three different colors were provided as choices to paint the small pumpkins orange, white, and black. Orange and black glitter was also available for the children to sprinkle on the pumpkins. They painted from the top to the bottom of the pumpkins or went in a circling motion as they covered the pumpkin with paint and glitter. They seem to be having fun exploring this different kind of surface for paint exploration.

MANIPULATIVE:

The colander and pipe cleaners activity always interests the children. It is challenging as they need to focus on inserting the pipe cleaners in the holes. As they interact, they are entirely focused and determined to fill all the holes in the colander. There are so many possibilities when engaging in this activity: color matching, counting, and working on the fine motor skill.

Young children learn through play. Trains give children a chance to experience many forms of play. For example, children can engage in pretend play as they reenact and simulate real-life using trains, vehicles they probably have come in contact with in real life, which helps build their knowledge of the world around them.

Teagan: “Tunnel”

Annabelle: “Train going backward!”

In the block center, children manipulate and maneuver the blocks as they explore them. They create, learn, and build! Young toddlers develop and explore concepts like early math, problem-solving, and cause and effect as they interact with the blocks.

Teagan visits and gazes at the Hollow blocks. She selects the square and rectangle shapes and stacks them. She appeared to focus on her stack of blocks as she carefully places them one on top of another. The teacher asked, "What are you building, Teagan?" Teagan continues to observe her structure and keeps adding blocks. At one point, they fell, and she stacks them again.

Block playing contains the seeds of exploration, imagination, and creation. It is essential to allow them to express their constructions when they are ready. Respecting her choice and her structure is an integral part of her development. Each property of the blocks: size, weight, shape, and stability level are fundamental to the building and discovery.

Teagan attempted different surfaces to build a wiggly creation. These suction-cup building pieces encourage fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, creativity, exploration, and experimentation. She was very persistent in finding a place in which she can press the suction cup and POP! Apart. When she discovered two spots on her own, the manipulative center shelves and light table, she yelled, "It sticks!!"

Providing time for them to explore, and discover things on their own, helps them develop self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

Caring for a small pet, such as a fish, can provide young children with the opportunity to learn more about animals. As preschool teachers, we know that young children are engaged and learn best by doing. We can certainly teach about animals through books and pictures; however, they can learn more when they can interact with one. They can learn about caring for animals and the responsibility that goes with it.

CIRCLE TIME:

During circle time, we sang songs and played musical instruments. We asked the children to think of a song that they would like all of us to sing. They all articulated or took the initiative to start the song for us. It is crucial to have the children use their words and express their ideas as this builds confidence and self-esteem.

As a class community, the children were asked to select the shape they would like the eyes, nose, and mouth to be for our classroom Jack-o-lantern. The teachers and children are going to vote on the shapes. There are three different shapes to choose from, square, circle, and triangles. We have a tie with the circle and square and one vote for the triangle. On Monday, when Alexander arrives at school, she will select one shape, and then we hope to break the tie!

A stroll in the neighborhood

We took a stroll in the neighborhood, and the children saw cars, trucks, people, flowers, and Halloween decorations. They sang different songs as they were sitting in the stroller: Baa, Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old McDonald, and The Wheels on the Bus.

We went to visit Chocolate, the Pre-kindergarten's pet rabbit. The children appeared a little hesitant as they approached him; however, we remained in a safe distance in which the children felt comfortable. As they observed the rabbit, we talked about his eyes, ears, fur, the color of his coat, and how he moves his nose. Chocolate seemed to be a little shy because he did not move from his hiding place.

Specialist:

Soccer

Cooking with Diane: Apple, Raspberry and Lemon juice

Spanish

Music