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

Fan and Feathers

Spring has arrived.  During outdoor play the children have been looking up to see the Canadian geese flying in.  One child looked up to see what was making a noise and took notice of the geese that were flying over the daycare.  His eyes lite up and he slightly opened his mouth in awe. Since that day the children have been very curious about the things they can see in the sky.  We took notice of the airplanes and birds, recognizing the speed of each one.  Later in the week one child uses a cardboard box, shaking the box up and down quickly.  A child sitting close by smiles as she feels the air blowing on her face.  Based on their curiosity I brought a small fan and feathers to continue the learning.

I place the fan on a small table and turn it on.  As soon as the children hear the noise they gather around curiously taking observation of the fan.

Next thing I do is place several feather in front of the fan and watch what happens.  The feather moves upward and lands on the carpet.  The children gather the feathers.

I give each child a feather, some feel comfortable feeling the softness while others want to take a turn placing the feather in front of the fan.

This child discovers where the noise was coming from.

The child places the feather in front of the fan and anticipates what is going to happen to the feather.

We watch as the feather stays on the fan and spins before going upwards and landing on one of the children's shirt.

The child feels the air blowing on his face and closes his eyes.

The children practiced taking turns placing the feathers in front of the fan.  They helped each other by taking the feathers off their clothing.  Experimenting with the fan allowed for children to explore cause and effect.

"Tell me and I'll forget.  Show me and I may remember.  Involve me and I learn"  Benjamin Franklin

Miss Sousa

Stop and Smell the Roses

March 16, 2016

"Let nature be your teacher."

- William Wordsworth

After their morning snacks, Miss Arigo invited the children to the kitchen where a table of flowers, rocks, and a mirror await for exploration.

 

Two toddlers started examining the basket of rocks. We talked about their textures and sizes. One child excitedly said, "BIG ROCK!"

 

Then, an accident happened. One child was waving one flower side to side when suddenly, all the petals fell off and sprawled on the floor! He seemed worried about what just happened.

Miss Arigo asked, "What do you think happened to the flower?" The child looked at her with disbelief. She gathered the petals and said, "Maybe we can smash them with the rocks."

A smile appeared on his face erasing all worries away. He exclaimed, "Ya!" He picked up a rock, pounded the petals on the paper, and said, "Squeeze!!!"

 

In the photo above, one child decided to smell the flower. He burst out laughing and started waving the flower up in the air.

 

In the next photo, one child cheerfully swirled the flower. She watched as the petals slowly fell off one by one, and suddenly all at the same time.

 

Another child looked at her reflection and said, "Oh mirror right there." The child standing beside her began by touching all the rocks. He then realized he can hurl it a couple of inches from himself and he began laughing with pride. He did this repeatedly.

 

Finally, the youngest child in our class joined the activity and he decided to tap the rocks with a flower. He also picked up a stone and hurled it a couple of inches away from him, just like what the previous child did! They did not see each other do this but did the same thing at different times.

From this nature exploration, the children learned:

• to use their different senses
• to enhance their fine motor skills
• cause and effect
• textures, sizes, and weight

We also learned that accidents happen and we can be creative in resolving problems!

by Miss Arigo

Exploring Sound

"The earth has music for those who listen" William Shakespeare 

Throughout the day there are many different sounds that we create or listen too.  The children will always find a way to create different tones.  Sometimes this is done accidentally as they drop a toy that they are exploring.  Once they have heard the music note their play quickly changes.  

One morning I provided the children with materials that are often found in the kitchen.  I placed the measuring spoons, metal bowls, whisks and brushes in the center of the playroom and observed the children.  Through my observation I watched as the learning began to take place.

The children began to explore the materials through their sense of touch and sight.

The materials were different sizes and the children began to take notice as their grasp of the material changed.

One child begins to tap the small measuring spoon onto the large metal bowl which created a sound.  One child watches and anticipates when he will hear the sound created by the two objects.

As this child taps the whisk on the bowl we recognize that it makes a different sound in comparison to the measuring spoon.

This child taps the bowl gently then taps harder listening to the difference in the sound.

The child practices eye hand coordination as well as his fine motor skills as he tightly grasps the measuring spoon.

We discovered that not all materials made sounds...

Unless you tap it at the right angle.

This child demonstrates her understanding of the materials.  She also recognized that the sound changes when the metal bowl is on her lap and facing upwards.  

Some materials felt soft and tickled our cheeks.

A bowl can also become a place to sit.

The classroom is filled with different sounds and tones.  Some children tap with a rhythm while others are proud of their skills as they grasp the objects and cause two objects to create a sound.

The children explored the materials in many different ways.  Each child made a new discovery about their materials as they used them.  Through our sense of hearing we recognized different sounds and tones.  

Miss Sousa