PreK *mostly* loves and / or needs to be outside. Of course we managed to get out even though the colder mornings have kept us in early. Children flow through their day like a breath. Breathing in, they need quiet activities like books, manipulative, coloring and cozy spots like the ‘hidy hole.” (Have you seen our new tent that Travis, Ethan’s dad built for us? We are so grateful!!) They also need to breath out, outdoor play, running, sensory, messy, water play, big blocks, large movements. The children’s play has taken on a dynamic flow. With all the inside time they have built even more complex buildings, have spent more time in the writing center, getting exploring sensory play and making up their own games!
Icy Treasures
On another freezing day when it warmed up enough above freezing, children discovered icy treasures on our playground, Friends were eager to find more hidden icy treasure and as they did, they proudly showed friends and then smashed them into tiny pieces on the ground. Friends collected as much icy treasure as they could in the wheelbarrow and shopping cart and brought them just outside our classroom.
The next freezing day, the children were excited to find that their icy treasures from yesterday were still frozen outside of our classroom. Emyrsen wondered what would happen if we put the ice on the light projector. Last month we had set up a provocation with colored ice cubes and lights. We put some plastic wrap on our light projector. As the ice was placed onto the projector Macey pointed to its shadow on the wall. As the ice began to melt, we removed the ice and explored the left behind water. Next Cassie decided that the ice was dirty and needed to be cleaned. After washing the ice, Emyrsen poured the icy treasures into the water table. Children experimented with blue water and ice.
We had put ice cubes on the table last month. Emyrsen remembered and wanted to see what the outdoor ice looked like.
Rainy Days Inside
The next day was a rainy day, but that didn’t get in the way of children’s creativity. Emyrsen, Darcy, Bo and Jacob created a game on the back side of the stage they called “Slide and Spin.” Bo said “You win if it goes under your boots.” Jacob added that it had to go under your boots 10 times and it base to go in the base. You win Bo!” The rules and the location of the game evolved and relocated around ouir class. Meanwhile Macekuy and Olivia created a “fancy floor” usin clay and tissue paper. They ripped and cut tissue paper with scissors and then the fancy floor become a “fairy house.”
Action Figures
For some time we have planned to create action figures for the block area made out of pictures of each child making a motion pose. The children were pretending to be super heroes. We had the children pose in front of the white wall and created action figures. They enjoyed using them on the light projector and projected them on the wall. We will also use them in the block area and for pretend play. This idea carried over to yoga. We have been practicing yoga during morning meeting as a way to get our bodies to move and regulate. This is particularly soothing on days inside due to the chilly weather. We use pictures of trees, dogs and mountains to guide us in the different postures. We started taking pictures of the children in the postures as well to use as yoga card guides.
Upcoming events
If you would like to come and read to our class as a mystery reader please look for sign ups coming soon. We invite you to join us on Tuesdays at 10:30. Due to licensing regulations, We won’t be able to cook in the classroom as planned so we won’t have sign ups for mystery chef after all. It’s taken us a while to get the ball rolling on this because we have been full speed ahead since winter break ended, but it’s coming! Also, we have decided to take a field trip on MARTA. We will give you ample notice (2 weeks) since we will need parent volunteers.
International week is coming the week of February 8. We invite you to share a family snack, traditions, books or photos with the class representing your cultural heritage or cultural experiences from a country you have visited. Come and share your stories with us! Please let us know if you would like to participate! If you would like to send us a photo with a blurb about it we will look at them during morning meeting. We welcome your child to do show and tell that week and tell the story about their item they brought.
We are still in need of envelopes for our writing center. If you have envelopes from junk mail we greatly appreciate a donation! Other items we would like for our block area are cardboard packing material for our block area as well as tree stumps. Also feel free to bring in bottle caps and corks for art projects or other imaginative play. Thanks!
Happy week and stay cozy!!
