TAPE AND SCISSORS

Wednesday was very busy. Mr. Billadeau helped the children use tape dispensers and scissors to make headbands.

                                     

Friends that chose to make a headband had a lot of fun adding decorations, some of them made crowns while others made cat faces etc.

                                     

A group of friends started an ice-cram shop at the rice table.  Tubs of strawberry ice-cream were filled and sold.

                                                

What is the benefit of sensory play?

Sensory play helps support language development through interacting with peers.  Cognitive growth, through negotiation and problem solving.   As well as fine and gross motor skills through screwing tops on to containers and lifting and pouring containers of rice.  And it is lots of fun!

   

As there was so much interest in Police officers and Firefighters we put the fire station out, which was extremely popular.  Lots of problem solving specifically dealing with an attack by a giant lobster, AHHHHH! What I love about this age is their imaginative skills.  While most adults and older children feel that you should play firefighters with dolls, representing humans, our station was filled with bugs. If you look carefully at the picture you will see a small black scorpion on the helicopter pad about to do battle with the lobster.

On Thursday Señor Geffen joined us for Spanish and we sang some more songs together.  Ms Lane, our art teacher walked around the classroom during work choice time and introduced herself to everyone. 

Friday is Community day, it is a special day, we start the day with both classes go outside together to play.

Out in the woods we showed our class where to find bugs, encouraging our students to pull the bark off the stumps to see what we could find hidden underneath.  We found larvae that had eaten away at the bark. After a little bit of research I found out they are wood borer larvae. Next time we visit we might have to bring some into the classroom and watch them change in to beetles.

We returned to the classroom and played on both sides of the room together.  Celebrating our first community day by making toast with a choice of butter, cinnamon sugar, strawberry or apricot jam and sun butter. YUM!  Spreading toppings can be challenging, but everyone enjoyed the results.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor day weekend.  Already missing the children and looking forward to Tuesday.


AUTHOR: LOIS EHLERT

     

QUESTIONS

What did fox, skunk and raccoon want to do to mole's hill?

What did mole plant?

What do squirrels use to make their nests?

Can you remember one way squirrels use their tails?

What type of topping did you put on your toast?

Who did you play with from the other class?

What flavor ice-cream did you make?

How many bugs did you find in the woods?

NEW EXPERIENCES

Monday, we started our day outside in the woods and the new nature area next to the big playground.

Friends waited patiently in line to try and climb the big rock.  This is a challenge as teachers are not allowed to help. Students can ask each other for help and problem solve different ways to get up.

JUMP!

The nature area and the woods are  a fun place to take risks.(see link below)

Whether it is balancing on a tree branch or hopping from one stump to the next.  Everyone  is able to go at their own pace and explore.

One giant step

I can do this

Yay!

"What's over there?"

A stage for dancing

What shall I do next?

Look what I found.

I found lots of trash.

Having fun

You can do it.

Little pigs, little pigs let me in.

Friends were hungry when we returned to the classroom, some of us even needed seconds.

Collage making has been an option for the last 2 days.  This is a good way to introduce using a glue bottle. Learning how to squeeze, "Just a spot, not a lot." 

Our new experiences today included a visit from Señor Geffen, our Spanish teacher. We introduced him to the class this morning and will see him again on Thursday for our first Spanish lesson.
We also had our first P.E. class with Ms. Wahl.

Even though it is only their fourth day at school the children seem to be settling in. The only complaint I have heard is over snack. Friends feel that one scoop of cereal and one cheese stick is not enough. I had two friends try to convince me that two cheese sticks and unlimited amounts of cereal should be the norm. Don't worry, I was not swayed by their arguments, even though they tried valiantly to argue their point. Occasionally we will offer seconds, usually when we have fruit or vegetables. Milk and water is always available and encouraged.



AUTHOR OF THE WEEK

Lois Ehlert is one of my favorite authors and illustrators of children's books. I love the way she uses materials to create pictures to go with her stories. For the next few days we will read a variety of her books before comparing them and discussing the similarities and differences.


                                                           

Questions

Can you remember what type of butterflies you saw in the book Waiting for wings?

How many laps did you do in P.E?

Can you remember one of the animals that you saw in the leaf man book ?

What did you find in the woods?

How many scoops of cereal can you get for snack?

I recommend checking out this blog
http://www.balancedandbarefoot.com/blog/how-reasonable-risk-taking-benefits-kids