Planting Flowers

April 20, 2016

After our morning snacks, Miss Arigo invited the children to the kitchen to plant some pansies. We used a couple of egg cartons as planters.

 

Two children began by exploring the seed packets. First, they looked at the photo. One said, "Oh flowers!" Then, they shook the packets. They shook them slowly and then quickly. Finally, they smelled the packets.

 

 

We opened the seed packets and looked at the seeds. We talked about how tiny they were. Then, we used our fingers and poked little holes in the soil as you can see in the next photo below.

 

The child in the photo above was very diligent in making room for the seeds. He said, "My turn! Seeds." So I gave him some pansy seeds to plant.

 

One child walked towards her chair and decided to place one seed packet right where her picture was. She laughed. All of the children's chairs have their individual photos to help them find their spot at meal times.

 

 

After planting the seeds, we covered them with more soil and watered them. Within the next few weeks, we will observe as our plants and flowers grow. Then, we will move them outside where they can receive more sunlight and precipitation.

 

 

Through this simple planting activity, the children are learning about science and how nature works. They were able to use all their senses. They also used their past knowledge of flowers when they tried smelling the seed packets! They know that flowers have a certain fragrance to them. They will also learn about responsibility as we take care of our budding pansies in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Miss Arigo

Practicing Our Fine-Motor Skills

 

One morning I bring markers out for the children. The children are using their hands to hold the markers and draw on the box.

At this stage of their fine motor development, they are using their palmar grasp where they hold and use a marker with their entire hand.

 

 

She tries to pull the lid off the marker.

 

 

 He tries to put the lid back on.

 

 

 

The children are trying to draw pictures in different position using different styles. They are making their pictures using their own creativity.

 

 

 

Ms. Wong

 

 

 

Imaginative Play

 

On April 12, I was observing a child while she goes to the shelf to grab a pair of cardboard cylinders. There are several different sizes. I noticed that she chose a pair which were the same size for her imaginative play.

 

 

I watched as she put each leg through the cardboard cylinder. 

 

 

 

 

She looked up proudly and showed me a big smile! 

 

 

Then, she started standing up and walking while wearing the cardboard cylinders.

She looked at me and said "Yay! Mine!"

 

 

"A resourceful person will always make opportunity fit his or her needs"~Napoleon Hill

 

-Mrs. Javier-

Helping Hands

On March 23, 2016, the children started waking up from nap, one by one. I asked the first child if he wanted to help me clean his cot. He showed me a big smile and answered "Yah!" So I gave him a wet plaid cloth and showed him how to wipe his own cot. Another child came to me saying "Help!" So I gave him a wet plaid cloth as well to use for his own cot.

The children wiped and cleaned their cots together.

 

  

Another child woke up and it is her turn to help. She wiped her cot from bottom to top.

 

One child was watching the others and after asked if she could wipe her cot as well.

The children looked very satisfied not only because they have cleaned their own cots, but also for being helpful and proving that they are capable of completing a chosen task.

"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed." -Maria Montessori-

 

-Mrs. Javier-

 

SCIENCE with Cloud Dough and Vinegar

 

"Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge."

-Carl Sagan
 

Introducing science to children does not have to be complicated. It can be easy, fun, enjoying, and meaningful all at once. Some children will love science related play experiences while others will not be so interested. Some materials you choose may work, some may not. All that we have to keep in mind is that it has to be age appropriate, safe, fun, and that you have an alternate idea so the children would enjoy the play experience you have prepared using their imagination even if it is not the outcome that you are expecting.

On February 22, 2016, I prepared a "Fizzy Cloud Dough Experiment" with the children in the Infant/Toddler Room, to give them a different kind of sensory exploration through science experimentation.

The materials used were: Home-made cloud dough (cornstarch, baking soda, oil, food color & water) and vinegar

Each child was given a bowl with red and blue cloud dough and half a cup of vinegar.

They poured the vinegar into the bowl.

 

  

They watched closely as the cloud dough fizzes and foams up.

 

After the vinegar settled down and the fizzing stopped, the children started touching and feeling the texture of the cloud dough-vinegar mixture. Some of them even tried smelling and tasting it.

 

 

Through this play experience:

• The children were introduced to a simple science experiment.
• They were able to have a different outlook of what sensory activity is.
• They practiced self control and fine motor skills while pouring the cup of vinegar into the bowl.
• They used the five senses of their bodies:
• Hands to feel the texture
• Eyes to see how the mixture fizzes and foams up.
• Ears to hear the fizzing of the mixture.
• Nose to smell the vinegar.
• Tongue to taste the mixture.

-Mrs. Javier