In The Tall Tall Grass

I really like Denise Fleming's books.  I appreciate the art work and the simple text.
Today we focused on her book "In the Tall Tall Grass".  Last year we did an art project with this book too using ripped paper.  This year I tried to think of how else we could make the tall grass.  Hair combs came to mind.

But the comb didn't give a nice long stroke for tall grass so I pulled out a nail brush and it worked wonderfully.

After making their grass marks or for some before making their grass marks, they used little brushes or qtips to paint bugs and more.

Greenhouse Glove

We used inexpensive plastic disposable gloves from the dollar store to make a green house to start our seeds.

Wet cotton balls, squeeze out the extra water than drop one wet ball into each finger of the glove.

 

Then drop a seed in each finger space with the wet cotton ball.  We used bean seeds.

After you have all the seeds in place, close the top of the glove and tape it on to a window for the sun and it's warmth to help it grow.

Bike to the Park

This week British Columbia is celebrating Bike to Work week.  And for the little ones that are not yet in school today was Bike to the Park.

We decorated our bikes before heading off on the ride.

Checked out our bikes to make sure they were in working order.

Practiced our road safety by learning the signs.

Then were ready for our ride.

We ended at the playground for a snack and a story.

 

Even though it was a bit of a wet day the sprinklers came on at the water park.

What a fun way to end a great morning.

The Enormous Potato

This week's favourite book it The Enormous Potato by Aubrey Davis.   It's a folktale similar to The Great Big Enormous Turnip.
I really like it because of it's repetitive story line and that it's about helping each other and sharing.
It's also an easy story to act out.

Tomorrow we'll make potato pancakes for snack.

Butterflies are Free

We had an amazing morning.

It was time to release our butterflies.

Mr. Douglas opened his beautiful flower garden and welcomed us in.

 

When we opened the butterfly habitat we expected the butterflies to fly out but they didn't.  I'm not sure if it's because they were born in captivity or because it was cold outside today.  So we gently coaxed them onto sticks and the children carried them to the flowers.

I enjoyed watching how gently and respectfully the children cared for their butterfly as they carried it.

  

Then Grandma Delores arrived with a plate of butterfly shaped cookies, yum.

 

Mr. Douglas also brought us stickers and butterfly booklets.

 

After thanking both Mr. Douglas and Grandma Delores and saying goodbye to the butterflies we went for a walk in the neighbouring park.

 

We found flowers and blew away the seeds.

 

Then found lots more flowers and dandelion fluff.

We enjoyed a picnic.

Then finished off our morning climbing on the big rock.

It was a great morning for being outside, even though the sun wasn't shining.

Adjusting the Sensory Table

I mentioned earlier this week that the children were walking right past the sensory table this week.  

It could have been that there was a lot of different play invitations elsewhere in the room or they just weren't interested in what I had available.

So each day I would add something new.

I added worms - yay, that encouraged a few more to play.

 Then I added big white beans .

That did it.  
Families are busy at home planting seeds and this reinforced their experiences.  
                             
Dig a hole, drop the seed in, cover and gently pat the soil.

 Discussion continued about what the seed needed to grow.
Water and sunshine.

The children also wondered why the worms were in the garden.
Wouldn't they eat the plants?  A grandmother explained how the worms dig tunnels so the water can flow through the soil to help the plants grow.  I love having so many teachers in the classroom.