Jello Oceans

The children were a bit confused when they saw blue jello on the art table.  

And a little disappointed when glue was added 

to it. 

Some were ready to run their fingers through it when I told them it was our fingerpaint today.

While others were a little more reserved and took a gentle approach.

Jello fingerpainting caught on and soon it was squished, smeared, and slimed across the papers.

There were paper fish, crabs, and green tissue paper seaweed to make an ocean scene.

Or create your own story like this little boy did.

"The rocketship blasts off, woosh, brmmmm, shhhhake, shhhhake."

"Do you know it shakes?" he asks me. 

"Oh" I said.

"Because it goes fast"

"shhhhake, shhhake"

Snail Garden

For the last week we have been growing grass in a tub to invite a few snails into live for awhile.

We used the wheat grass seed again in half of the tub and regular lawn grass seed in the remaining half.
We watered it and watched it grow.  I also brought in flowers for colour and food for the snails.

Today some snails arrived.

It didn't take the snails long to move right in and feel at home.

The snail garden has been a wonderful way to learn about snails; how they move, names of parts of their body, what do they eat, the environment they live in (dry vs moist).

It's wonderful to get up close and really get to know the snails.

We have six of them.

Children are good at teaching each others how to care for living things.

Story - The Large and Grumbly Bear

I learned this story from a fellow storyteller during our last share group.  I'm lucky enough to have a group of people who like to get together once a month to share stories.  We learn a lot from each other.
This past month, Alix, shared this story that she found in an old children's book.  It is called The Large and Grumbly Bear.  I liked it so much that I told it this week at our Teddy Bear's Picnic.

Oceans Alive

Welcome to our ocean play.

This wonderful wooden tray that I've borrowed from our kindergarten teacher has been used so much this year.

At the moment it is on it's stand which makes it a perfect height for toddlers to stand at.

At one end I placed blue fabric and the other end is sand.  Then different sea creatures and items like shells and stones were added.

 Families found books on the shelves about the sea creatures.

Some were books with facts and others were fun stories.

A few sea creatures were carried away to the water table and the stories continued.

Gone Fishing

There was a lot of fishing happening at our centre today.

At the art table we used fishing rods to paint with.  Some were bought fishing rods with the magnet on the end and a little plastic fish that sticks to the magnet.

There was also wooden dowel rods that I tied strings to the end.

It was a bit messy and that led to fingerpainting.

 

 

 

When the painting was done there was more fishing happening at our dramatic play area.

A wading pool was set up with more purchased fishing rods with the magnetic fish.

I followed this boy's play as he acted out fishing and what happens after you catch the fish.

 First he caught the fish he wanted.

 

 Then he cooked them over the campfire.

Lunch is served.

 With atmosphere.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Today was our 3rd annual Teddy Bear Picnic and the weather was fantastic.

We hold the picnic at the local therapeutic Gardens and this year all 4 StrongStart centres in our school district and more than 50 families were able to participate.

Joy, one of the founders of the gardens met us at the front gates and introduced us to a couple of her favourite bears.

Then the families entered the garden to play, sit and enjoy.

There was the Labyrinth to walk through.

 

A tea party to enjoy with your friends.

 

A chance to dance with scarves.

 

Make bear headbands.

Find the paper ladybugs and read the instructions of what to do.

 

One ladybug read  "smell a flower" but there were alot of bees out today so you had to be careful.

Parachute play was so much fun to watch.

I loved hearing the cheers when the stuffies were airborne and the giggles when the children were underneath.

For some it was watching what one of the gardens was doing and then getting down with him to investigate the worms and bees in the flower beds.

We then settled in for a story time and snacks.

 

The Gardens provide a very relaxing atmosphere for families to come, explore and enjoy their time together.