An Interest in Ramps

During September and October I noticed the children building ramps using different materials that we have available in the classroom. 
 

Looking for a way to add on the children’s interest I borrowed a kit, from our Learning Resource centre, specifically for exploring ramps.
          
The kit included birch stands that can be stacked in a different ways, heavy PVC half tubes and balls.

The children loved it and promptly started sending the balls down.  The balls were rolling all around the room so we grab some of the big tin cans and baskets to use as collectors.
    
Each day it was built up in a different way with assorted amounts of ramps.
        
The balls varied in what they were made of, their size and their shape.  Some would roll easier and farther then others.  They would roll faster if the ramp was steeper versus flat.
                 
I spotted some children using the birch stands with our hot wheel tracks to build their own ramps for cars.  I wish we could have kept the kit longer but we will continue building using what we have.  I wonder where else in the room we could use ramps?

Dino Antics Day 7

           
                 We found the dinosaurs in the art area this morning. 
                          They had taken the turntables out for a spin.
                  
                                  We helped them spin some more.

Our Corn is Still Growing

In October I posted about sprouting corn, today we checked to see if it was still
                                               growing.

                   
This is what it looked like on October 26th when we planted our sprouted corn in
                                            the green house.
                     
                         The tops have grown higher and a little thicker. 
            I wonder if they will survive with so many so close together.
  
          Everyone had a chance to water the plant which it really needed.
            
              We noticed that a new plant is sprouting beside the corn. 
                                    I think it’s a pumpkin plant.

Dino Antics Day 6

It’s been over a week since the Dinos have been causing mischief in our classroom.  Each day as families arrive I hear a few more talking about the Dinos.  Wondering where they might be today.

They were well hid this morning.
                                 
               We found them inside the big box that holds our light table.
                             
                 They were being silly trying to wear our see through blocks.
                             
    
           We decided to help them build a castle and some towers.

Plastercine and the Dinosaurs

              
Last week as dinosaurs were introduced I set up an invitation to mould dinosaurs with plastercine.  Play dough is always available but I like to add other materials, such as plastercine, that can provide opportunities to strengthen their hands.
          
The first day the children did pinch and shape dinosaurs using the green and yellow
                                             plastercine.
       
         I noticed, too, that the children started to use the dinosaurs as tools. 
         
Pressing them into the plastercine they could make footprints.  Or press it on other
                      parts of the body and see what impression was left.
           
But the favourite, that I saw over and over, was to add the plastercine to the
                      dinosaurs, as clothing, skin, necklaces and more.

So it didn’t matter what they were doing they were having fun and still working
                             those important muscles in their fingers.

Dino Antics Day 5

                    
This morning we found the silly dinosaurs in the tub with the marble tree.    
                       
          Brachiosaurus is tall enough to reach the top of the tree.
 
The other three stuck their tails and horns in the holes to block the marbles from
                               falling all the way down.
                     
                      They stayed and played the rest of the morning.

Infants and Seniors

               Yesterday was our morning with our grand friends. 
It started out with just one family but that one family drew in the seniors.
       
                               The attraction was twins.
             
  Word spread and more and more people came in to see, staff included.
That made the twins a little cautious and they stayed fairly close to mom.
                 
In the hopes of encouraging interaction between the two generations I pulled
                              out a toy with stuffed animals.
                
It worked.  It helped that the girls have the same toy that they have played with
                            with their grandmother at home.
                               
Soon the girls were exploring farther away from mom feeling a bit more at ease
                             with the many adults staring at them.
                
During the visit the grand friends asked questions about the twins, offered compliments and words of encouragement AND they smiled the whole time.