Our Final Buddy Project

Our final get together with our grade 6/7 big buddies was last week

and we designed our own puzzle.

I picked up the puzzle at a thrift store and taped it together on the picture side

so it could be numbered and moved easily from classroom to classroom.

The tape was removed when we were ready to start.

We decided to do the puzzle about the alphabet

so each buddy pair was given one piece with the letter written on the back.

They coloured the piece anyway they wanted.

Then they used a sharpie to print their letter on the piece.

So many pieces!

There are 26 for each letter of the alphabet plus pieces that make up the border.

It was a challenge putting it together since the pictures 

didn't give us clues.

But we worked on it for a bit and got a few pieces together.

Then we had to leave for our big buddies to finish.

It has now been re-taped and is hanging on a bulletin board in the hallway.

A Tree Puzzle

My husband made another toy for us.

A stacking wooden tree puzzle.

I put it out, in the block corner, about two weeks ago and

it was pretty much ignored.

So today I set it up in the middle of the classroom 

on a soft green blanket.

The children were attracted to it,

especially toddlers.

I like how the parents were close by to encourage,

assist when needed

or to suggest ways to take the wood pieces off.

Watch how this little one figures out how to take the wood off the post.

He got the first one off after his mom suggested holding the ends 

and lifting.

The next he tried pulling at one end

but it wouldn't work.

 In fact it lifted the whole stand off the floor.

His mom again recommended to hold the ends and lift.

He sat down and tried it.

He got it all the way to the top but couldn't reach any farther

so it dropped down to the base again.

He stood up and tried it again and successfully got it off.

The more it is played with the easier the wood slides on and off the post.

Another Excellent Thrift Store Find

This is our newest toy.  I found it at Value Village.

At first I thought it might be magnetic blocks but once

I opened the bag I realized they were connected by a cord

that runs through each.

 I think it probably started as a cube shape

 but the children were intrigued 

by how it moved and that they could change it's shape.

I know a toy is really good when the grown ups are just as interested

as the children.

Waiting for Butterflies

Our caterpillars arrived three weeks ago.

We've watched them grow

and form their chrysalis.

Now it's been just over a week and the waiting is hard.

Art helped us stay busy.

We did marble rolling on orange tissue paper with black

and brown paint.

They look fabulous on our windows.

We worked on symmetry.

And on large floor puzzles.

The last few days we've been painting butterflies

to welcome our butterflies when they arrive.

I expect to see some on Monday.