Pegkin Project 2016

In 2013 we did our first Pegkin Project as a countdown to Christmas holidays.

I decided to try it again this year emphasizing the focus on creating stories.

Here are the results from the first week.

Pegkin #1 Barnamy

by Aubrey, Austin and Amma

Barnamy likes to eat and play.  He eats cucumber and milk, chocolate milk

and hot chocolate.  He likes to swing and slide and climb on the ladder too.

When they were making Barnamy they noticed that the glue wouldn't hold the felt

so Amma taught Aubrey how to stitch

and they sewed his clothes.

 Pegkin #2 Whistle, Whistle

by Brinlee and Mom

In a far away land Whistle Whistle saves the princess from the pirate.

She lives in a castle and the pirate is keeping her in a cave.

The princess was rescued and brought back to her castle.

The End

Pegkin #3 Alyssa

by Adella and Mom

Alyssa lives at StrongStart and likes to eat coconuts.

She likes to play at the park and go down the slide.

Pegkin #4 Simon

by Eddie and Mom

Simon loves music and is often tapping his feet from here to there.

If you listen closely you will hear the beat.

Pegkin #5 Dinosaur

by Elyianna and Mom

 Dinosaur is a girl and she likes to watch movies.  Her favourite movie is Dora.

Dinosaur eats cereal and when she does she goes

'glump, glump".

 Pegkin #6 Airplane Shirt

by Matthias and Dad

Airplane shirt is a shirt that transforms any little boy or girl into an airplane that can fly everywhere really fast like a WestJet.

Pegkin #7 Rainbow Brite

by Aria and Mom

Rainbow Brite is part of the Leprechaun family.  She creates rainbows by shooting them out of her hands.  She's always looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Pegkin #8 Wade

by Elle, Wade and Mom

A Fairy named Wade and he is 5 years old.

He lives at StrongStart and likes to eat raspberries and drink water.

He likes to throw a ball with friends and go swimming at the pool or beach.

Pegkin #9 Marshall the Fire Dog

by David, Michael and Dad

Marshall works hard to keep the town safe.  He puts out fires.

He plays ball with his friends.

Marshall races to the rescue in his big red fire truck.

He loves dog fishies to eat.

He loves to curl up by the cozy fire to sleep.

Marshall works hard to keep the town safe.

He also saves chickens from the top of the barn.

Pegkins at play.

Fingerprint Tree

        
            Our latest group project is a finger print tree. 
I’ve seen them on various wedding sites and felt it would work at our centre.
          
What I enjoyed watching is the parent and children making prints together.
Talking about what they are doing, comparing their prints and helping
                                            each other.

          Our tree looks just like the spring trees outside,
                  their leaves are just beginning to grow.
                 
         This project will continue throughout the seasons. 
Before summer holidays are here we’ll add more fingerprints to help
                the tree look full like the trees outside.
               
In the fall we’ll add red, orange, yellow and brown fingerprint leaves.

Adventures of Pete the Cat

I really enjoy (so do the families), a book called Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin.
I appreciate Pete's philosophy
"no matter what you step in it's all good, just keep walking along singing your song ".

This year I decided that we would do a year long Family Project instead of different monthly projects.

The Adventures of Pete the Cat was born.

Very much like the idea of Flat Stanley, Pete will go home with any family that wants him to have an adventure.

 It doesn't have to be a grand adventure.

It could be baking cookies at home, going to the grocery store, maybe visiting mom at work or whatever a family can think of.

The family borrows Pete and documents the adventure by photos or drawings.
Write a little story then bring it back to school to share.

Each story will be added to our binder.

I started it off by taking Pete for a walk with my dog.

The story tells of the things we did and saw at the park.

It was a lot of fun.

 I put my story together and shared it with the families.

Today, Pete left school with a family and I think I heard that he was going to help make applesauce after they stopped at the library.

I'll keep you posted.

What's in the Egg? - Family Project

A Family Project is an activity that families do at home then bring back to school and share with the group.  This month's project is called "What's in the egg?"

I provided plastic Easter eggs for the child to take home, encouraging them to find something to fit inside it, think of clues for it and bring it back to school.

When they bring it to school I ask them for their clues and write them down on a folded piece of paper that looks like an egg. (demonstrating literacy in action - what you say is the same as what I write)

At circle time, it's their time to stand up and be the leader.  Giving their clues and waiting for guesses. In the picture above we were with our grade 3 buddy class and this little guy was able to share the game with them.

Family projects are similar to homework but for under 5s.  They offer families the opportunity to have fun with an activity at home.  But what I enjoy most is watching the child stand up in front of the group for the first time.  Their first experience with public speaking.

Today a little girl brought in her project and we went through all the steps of prepping her to stand in front of the group.  But at the last minute she didn't want to stand up and be the centre of attention so I asked her if I could do it with her.  From where she sat comfortably with her mom she clearly answered all the questions.  And the children guessed what was in her egg.  Maybe next time she'll feel ready - little steps with family and school support can be powerful.

October Family Project

Each month I give the families a project they do at home. After they finish they bring it back to school to share with the whole group. This may be the first time the child speaks in front of a group. They are supported by the grown up that is with them that day and the group thanks them for sharing with a round of applause.

This month's project was to design their own Jack O'lantern.

Here are a few that were shared with us.