Catkins at the Art Table

During Spring Break I went for a lot of walks.

One day I found a pussy willow tree that was shedding it's catkins.

I brought home a bag full and decided to put them at the art table this week.

 I added the book Bunny Bunny Catkin for inspiration.

 But the children didn't need it.

 

Our New Favourite Play Area

 A large piece of styrofoam that is covered with plastic

makes the ideal hammering surface.

The children love it.

Use it everyday.

And it lasts a long time.

I Spy at Fairy Lane

Today we visited Fairy Lane.

I created an I Spy booklet for each child to guide them 

through the Lane

encouraging them to look up, down, behind and all over

to find the homes.

   

Healthy Banana Chocolate Pudding

Today's snack was homemade pudding.

A very simple recipe that doesn't require cooking.

Only three ingredients; a banana, 1/2 cup greek yogurt and

2 tablespoons cocoa.

A food processor is required to make it nice and smooth.

I have a mini one and explained how it worked to the children.

We did a practice of turning it on to prepare the children for the noise.

Peel the banana and process it.

Fill the half cup with yogurt.

I bought vanilla flavoured so not sure if that changed the taste a bit.

Cream the yogurt and banana together

then add the cocoa.

I think 2 teaspoons would be enough.

Blend it altogether.

We made two batches so everyone got a good taste.

You can find the original recipe at The Melrose Family website.

Pond Study 2016

Two years ago we did a pond study which meant we visited a local pond once a week 

for about 6 weeks.

We learned about the water receding, watched the plants grow,

touched various living and non-living objects around the pond and more.

It was directed by me thinking this would be of interest to the

children.

They enjoyed it but was it really what they were interested in?

This year I decided try a different approach.

Our first visit, today, was to look around the pond.

Let the children lead us.

What do they like at the pond?

What do they want to learn more about?

Each child was given a nature bag that contained a clipboard and paper,

a baggie of crayons and a pencil.

As they explored they were encouraged to draw what they liked

at the pond

and what they would like to learn more about.

We checked out the water, marked off the edge with sticks

and noticed the ground was muddy above the water line.

 

 

As they walked they touched plants, rocks, logs and more.

Some were sticky, some were soft, some scratchy and some colourful.

We found many trees that had been chewed on by a beaver.  Across the pond we could see the top of a beaver den.

 
The children spent time all a long our walk to make sketches and their grown ups helped write their ideas.
The majority are interested in learning more about the beavers but they are also interested in learning about the water.

 

 

 

It is a wonderful start to our pond study.

What would you suggest for a next step?