What Other Animals Burrow?

As we were playing with our rabbit warren I picked up this book,

called "Who Lives Here?'

The book shows many animals that live in a burrow.

It inspired our next step in learning.

We took down our big rabbit warren and in it's place we created

mini burrows for many animals.

With the children's help we thought of clues to describe which

animal would be in each burrow.

With each animal in their new home and clues to read aloud,

the families play and learn together.

I find it exciting when a lesson unfolds.

I believe if we keep our minds open, our eyes watchful

and listening to what is being said then

delivering a program becomes organic.

A Rabbit Burrow

I put my husband to work again building another toy for our rabbit play.

Hockey Time in Canada

It's winter in Canada and hockey is very popular.

So I set up a table top game for the families to explore.

Great games and lots of goals.

Counting and figuring out who has more points.

Trying to manipulate the figurines in their play.

Or putting them aside and using the hockey sticks themselves.

Predators

The children continue to play with our rabbit warren toy.

One day I overheard a family playing and talking about 

a fox chasing a rabbit.

I looked in my basket of animals but couldn't find a fox.

But it started the idea of 'predators'.

I did find a wolf, a cougar and some dogs.

All would either chase a rabbit to play or chase to eat it.

The rabbits slid down to hide in their burrow

while the predators barked above at the holes.

Over the weekend I went thrift store shopping 

and found a few more animals to add to our play.

One being a fox.

Starry Night Final Method

Our final art experience with Van Gogh's Starry Night.

We created mosaics.

I had precut the little pieces of tissue paper.

Using a paper cutter made it quick and easy.

Some children layered the colours over and over.

Others dealt with the stickiness of the diluted glue.

We learned what happens to the tissue when too much is piled on

and not enough glue was added.

Sparkly stars,

blue skies.

It has been a lot of fun exploring this piece of art 

and the discussions with parents.

Soon we'll look at Monet's Waterloo Bridge.

Starry Night #4

                  This method we applied tempera paint to paper with cups.

We used the bottom of the cups.

Initially the children pressed the painted cup bottom around their paper.

Then I encouraged them to twist and smear the cup to see what would happen.

We layered the colours and watched them blend.

Tomorrow will be our final day of focusing on Van Gogh's Starry Night.

Today while creating a parent suggested we look at one of Monet's pieces.

It has a bridge with lilies.

I'll have to try to find it.

I really appreciate when our parents take part in the planning.

Starry Night #3

                                   Next was my favourite.
       We grated crayons on to paper then placed it on a warming tray to melt.

We used the mini cheese graters to make little bits of crayons.

It melted easier and quicker then using the whole crayon.

Plus it was a lot more fun.

We used a stir stick to make the swirls and blend the colours.

The child in the above picture loved this activity and made several.

He layered his colours.  First melting one colour, taking it off and adding more.

I like the 3D look to this method.