Sensory/color and shape recognition/cognitive/language
A collage is a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials. The art of making collages enables a student to use his/her imagination and create a composition that expresses their creativity. The two-step process art, applying glue and pasting the tissue paper, seemed to intrigue the students. Exploring and experimenting with the arrangement of shapes on paper helps young children develop thinking skills. I wonder if they are creating a picture or just enjoying combining shapes and colors. More children would have the opportunity to do this activity next week.
Counting/Memorization/Incorporating Colors
We do a variety of activities during circle time. Counting is one of the fun activities the children like to explore. We counted six red Lego Blocks in English and Spanish. The teacher stopped as she counted and allowed the children to continue articulating what numbers comes next. The children are demonstrating a crucial beginning math skill, one-to-one correspondence.
We also incorporated colors as the children recognized and identified the color red on the Lego Blocks. Each child looked at their clothes and expressed one color they were wearing.
Using unit blocks to measure our height!
Their height is part of their identity. The children develop, grow taller, and they each grow differently. We began measuring their height using unit blocks in September. We will all count how many blocks are needed to determine his/her height. They are also building knowledge as they count and learn the shape that is being used to identify their stature. We are measuring their height in January and their last measurement will be in May.
Creativity/Imagination/Language and Cognitive skills
Wooden building blocks provide the most valuable learning experience to children; it helps them to develop their intellectual, physical, social, and language skills. Toddlers can feel, hold, compare, match, and explore them. They learn different aspects, such as size and shape. While playing with blocks, children can experiment with the science of balance and stability by building different structures.
Exploring Scissors
Exploring with scissors- promotes eye-hand coordination, fine and gross motor skills, coordinate visual-motor control and visual perception, each underlining components of writing, cutting, catching a ball, and reading. The intricate levels of manual dexterity occur as children manipulate the scissors with greater intent. Each developmental skill benefits children’s growth and development. Providing young children with practice and opportunities will help to master the skill in using scissors and strengthen the small muscles.
Science/Fine Motor/Imagination/ Sensory/Language
The ingredients for making play dough is- Each ingredient is pronounce in Spanish!
Flour- harina
Oil- aceite
Water- Agua
Salt- Sal
Color- Color
The malleable properties of play dough make it fun for investigation and exploration as well as secretly building up strength in all the tiny hand muscles, making them ready for pencil and scissor control later on. Poking in objects and pulling them out of play dough strengthens hand muscles and co-ordination. As part of the simple, tactile play, the children squashed, squeezed, rolled, flattened, and poked the play dough. Each one of these different actions aids fine motor development differently, including hand-eye coordination and general concentration.
Incorporating Spanish in the Classroom
I created a board with different farm animals, and during circle time, I verbalized each animal both in English and Spanish. Children are like sponges; they absorb information as they learn from their environment and each interaction. For example, I pointed and said the word horse, Annabelle immediately articulated, Caballo (horse) in Spanish. Annabelle began to ask me a few questions:
1. How do you say a teacher in Spanish?
2. How do you say a boy in Spanish?
3. How do you say girl in Spanish?
Happy Birthday, Kieran!
We celebrated Kieran’s birthday on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, together with his mother, Ying, and father, Nicholas. We sang Happy Birthday, and the children ate a special treat!
