Introducing Horse Play - Our First Project

Our first project of the year is around horses.  

Some children showed an interest in horses last year but we didn't have

time to explore it.

Since we are a drop in program and new children are attending I wanted to see 

if there was still interest so I set up a small world play.

As the children played I encouraged the grown ups to ask them what they

know about horses and what they want to know.

We kept a list for future parts of our project.

It is very apparent that horses are still an interest 

as I watched the very young to the oldest children play.

At the end of each day I would find different scenarios,

evidence of the children's imaginations.

Buddies Share Orange Shirt Day

Last week our school participated in Orange Shirt Day recognizing the harm the residential school system did to children's sense of self-esteem and well-being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.

"Every Child Matters"

is the message that we will convey to all our children.

We started with our big buddies.

After sharing Phylis's story and why we wear orange

the children were asked to draw pictures of themselves.

 This was our first time together this school year so this activity gave the buddies

an opportunity to learn a little bit about each other.

And for some of the oldest and youngest students in our school to become comfortable together.

Once they finished their pictures they hung them on a bulletin board in the hallway.

The whole school can enjoy our board and add their own picture.

Looking forward to another year of buddying with Ms Smith's class.

Selling Apples

Last week I shared the children's play with picking apples.

The day after that post a parent donated two big wardrobe boxes

perfect for dramatic play.

I just had to do a couple of cuts and folds to create two market stands.

We added cash registers and the children were busy buying and selling.

The younger children were interested in climbing in and out of the box.

And hoarding.

I encouraged a couple of the older children to create signs for the boxes.

Each morning the market stands wait ready.

Each morning the children pick their roles of buyers or sellers.

Cooking - Peach Jam

 We are fortunate to be part of our school's Fruit & Veggie program.

Last week we received peaches around the same time 

that families were donating grapes, apples and pears.

 So we didn't have time to eat all the peaches before they got too ripe.

 Today we used what was left to make some jam.

 I peeled and pitted the peaches then the children cut them into little pieces.

 The children used table knives which are sharp enough to cut through the 

soft peaches but not sharp enough to cut themselves.

 The electric frying pan worked great for this recipe which I found at 

In Jennie's Kitchen.

We used 9 peaches and added 3/4 cups of white sugar.

It cooked for about half an hour til it was bubbly.

 We let it cool a bit then the children used a masher to break down the bigger pieces.

Sampling the sweet peach jam on the salty crackers was delicious.

Prepping for the Tea Party

Here's a glimpse of some of the prep work the families helped with 

for our Tea Party.

 The week before the party I set up this science/craft

at our art table.

The children used eye droppers to squeeze food colouring onto

coffee filters.

I wish I had a picture of our windows when the filters were drying,

they were covered.

 The next step was to encourage the families to create flowers

with the coffee filters.

I added pipe cleaners to help.

 Next I put out tin cans and asked them to decorate them.

 They became our vases for the flowers.

 They were used as centrepieces on our tea mats.

A little tea set was put out in case a fairy stopped by.

International Fairy Tea Party

September 23 is International Fairy Tea Party Day 

and this was our first year we participating.

We held it at a local park.

Doors were hidden around the park with gifts for the children left in front of each.

When the children arrived they picked a pipe cleaner and received a map.

I explained that the stars on the map showed where they could find the doors.

And off they went.

It was a very wet morning but many families came and enjoyed the park.

After they found the doors they collected a little bead from the jar 

and rang the bell to say thank you to the fairies.

They strung the bead onto their pipe cleaner

keeping count of how many doors they found.

After finding as many, or all the doors, they made a fairy wand.

Then it was Tea Time.

I'm very fortunate to have people that help run an event like this.

Thank you Andi.

Thank you Dese,

and thank you Delfina.

It takes a community and I live in a fabulous one.