Out First Visit to the Turtle Pond
These drawings are from our visit to the turtle pond today. Watching nature is such a valuable experience for children.
Creating a Community
This week, we've been working hard to learn each other's names with good morning songs and fun games like who stole the cookie form the cookie jar.
We've also been having a lot of fun playing with each other and talking about what we like or enjoy. We've got a lot in common. :)
We've also read a few books that have helped us think about how to make our time in preschool healthy, safe and happy. We know people are working on things, and we encourage this, but it's helpful to have this discussion at the beginning of the year to clarify expectations. Here are the books we've read and what we've decided on so far.
And finally, we've been looking at our classroom name. We wrote down everyone's favorite and now we are finding out information about them. After we're done, we will start the voting process. We are using the website pebblego.com and books to find stuff out. It's a great site! So far, I think we're very interested in monkeys and elephants. We will see what happens!
We've also been having a lot of fun playing with each other and talking about what we like or enjoy. We've got a lot in common. :)
We've also read a few books that have helped us think about how to make our time in preschool healthy, safe and happy. We know people are working on things, and we encourage this, but it's helpful to have this discussion at the beginning of the year to clarify expectations. Here are the books we've read and what we've decided on so far.
And finally, we've been looking at our classroom name. We wrote down everyone's favorite and now we are finding out information about them. After we're done, we will start the voting process. We are using the website pebblego.com and books to find stuff out. It's a great site! So far, I think we're very interested in monkeys and elephants. We will see what happens!
Reading with Gr. 1s
This week, Grade 1 invited us to come and read the Pigeon books they had written. We had so much fun listening to their stories. Then they read some of Mo Willems stories to us, and finally, we read Mo Willems final Elephant and Piggie book called The Thank You book. It was a lot of fun for us to read with our friends, and we could tell they were so excited to share what they made with us. THANK YOU, GRADE 1!
What We Know About Water
With our negotiated curriculum, we often begin with what we know already, or what we are curious about. Here is our mind map from our inquiry into water. Children often have so many ideas! As we progress through our inquiry, we will add new knowledge to our map, and create other documents or put up other photos that help to make our learning visible.
Healthy Snacks
We're so proud of our healthy snacks! Quite regularly during snack time, the kids begin to chat about the healthy foods that they've brought in. Thanks to moms and dads for making this effort! Here is an excerpt from the following link which highlights the importance of healthy snacks. How Diet and Nutrition Impact Learning
A Plan at Home
To promote healthy eating and brain function outside of school, parents can provide their kids with smaller meals and snacks every three to four hours. Reports reveal that after just thirty minutes, feelings of fatigue and stress drop after a nutritious snack or meal. Providing children with an intake of healthy glucose boosts their energy and improves their focus.
Healthy meals and snacks should consist of natural fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, nuts, and eggs. Also, specific vitamins can be incorporated to target definite functions. For example, to improve memory, individuals should invest foods rich in lecithin, such as peanuts, soy beans, and wheat germ. Potassium also aids in energy and brain functioning, and can be derived from oranges, bananas, apricots, avocados, melons, peaches, and nectarines. Avoiding processed foods, and incorporated natural fare into a daily diet will ultimately promote a healthier body, behavior, and brain power.
Symmetry in Blocks
Today in blocks, a bunch of children worked collaboratively to build this ship.
From this angle, you can clearly see attempts at symmetry.
Can you spot them?
Some are successful, some are close.
While working with the students, I pointed these differences out in a couple of locations.
The children typically made one or two attempts to create
actual symmetry before getting it right.
Then, we challenged them to find other areas, where symmetry was attempted, but not quite achieved. Funnily enough, my center justification is not working on this paragraph as I attempt to reformat. Ironically perfect!
This is math in action in an early years classroom!
California Pizza Kitchen Field Trip
What an inspiration this trip has been. We made our thinking visible by drawing and writing about what we thought we would see on the trip and what we actually saw after we returned. The children returned on the day of our trip and immediately started making a pizza shop in the piazza. Why not ask for your own pizza next time you come in? Be sure to bring some money!
Student Led Conference Photos
Conferences were a great success this year. Thank you to everyone for attending and sharing in your child's learning. The children are so proud of their accomplishments and what they know how to do. Thank you for letting them take the lead and show you what they know.
Here are some photos from our day!
Here are some photos from our day!
Checking Out the People and Things in Our Neighborhood
This week, we continued exploring everyday heroes and what they are all about. The kids were very interested in going to find out more about our school security guards. We found out that our security guards are there to protect us, that they have first aid kits and that they use walkie talkies. They don't need to fight anyone to protect us.
We were also interested in checking out the school ambulance. Here are some photos and video from our trip.
After looking at the ambulance, we came back to class and got to chatting. Many kids were interested in putting an ambulance into our dramatic play corner. So, we made a plan.
And then we played! We had paramedics and driver, patients and parents. We also got ice cream when we got to the hospital.
Later that day, another child suggested we turn our class into Kidzania. :) So, we made another plan. Here is what we'll be working on for the next little while.
We were also interested in checking out the school ambulance. Here are some photos and video from our trip.
After looking at the ambulance, we came back to class and got to chatting. Many kids were interested in putting an ambulance into our dramatic play corner. So, we made a plan.
And then, we followed our plan. Trey and Zachary helped to make a steering wheel and a line.
And then we played! We had paramedics and driver, patients and parents. We also got ice cream when we got to the hospital.
Later that day, another child suggested we turn our class into Kidzania. :) So, we made another plan. Here is what we'll be working on for the next little while.
We're excited to see what comes of our ideas. It's fantastic to have so many enthusiastic friends!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)