Today we have had a very fun-filled day! This morning, children were able to listen to a story from Mrs. Lauren by a campfire. We continued the winter inquiry by setting up a winter wonderland and snow flake provocation. We took the fun inside and had hot chocolate, a movie and oreos!
Happy break!
Today, children were so excited to build, build, build! They made several different structures that were larger than them. In the Collaboratory, children created an "invention". They dumped balls in the different holes and they wondered where they were going. Soon they had an entire network of tunnels and were testing them out.
In the classroom they made a giant piñata and wrecked it. Then it turned into a swimming pool! Soon the swimming pool turned into a creek and snakes were after them.
Even with the rainy weather, we ventured out to the Forest. We quickly got boots on and left before more rain came! Children were exploring in a whole new way with all the mud and puddles throughout the forest. Some even experimented with their breath. They realized that they could see it when they were talking.
Birch room enjoyed the awesome weather and spent lots of time outside! Of course we enjoyed one of our favorite areas - the Lower Playscape. Children put on boots and were able to stomp in puddles and explore the sand when it was wet. Immediately they noticed a difference in how the sand moved and some of their play changed.
T - This feels like a squid!
O - Is this oobleck?!
M - It is so hard and sticky
S - But it is so soft before we dropped the water in
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M - Why is mine so runny? It is not getting hard when I touch it.
Miss Brooke - What should we try?
M - More water?
R - No, I think you have too much water!
M - Should I try more corn powder?
Miss Brooke - I can bring some over and you can see
Today we tried to enjoy this beautiful weather as much as possible! Children spent a lot of time outside engaging in many different worlds through fantasy play. Some were on a track playing Mario Kart, some were in a bathtub filled with leaves, some were exploring a futuristic world cutting down trees.
Today children enjoyed a foggy forest day! The forest continues to look different as the season changes. They noticed different parts that they missed before and played new games in the everchanging forest.
As our time in the forest continued, the children heard something they were unfamiliar with.
Miss Brooke - "Did you hear that?"
C - "Yes I did!"
M - "Yeah it was a bird chirping"
S - "No, it came from the ground!"
M - "What could it be?"
Miss Brooke - "Do you still think it was an animal?"
F - "Yeah it sounds like a mouse is down there"
S, M - "Here mousey mousey!!! Come out and play with us!"
Miss Brooke - "I wonder if the mouse knows English. I wonder how else you could call it?"
M, R, S - *chirps constantly*
R - "IT'S BACK!!!"
S - "I HEARD IT! I HEARD IT!"
While us as adults might not want to be near a wild mouse, the children were as curious as ever. They tried many different ways to come in contact with the mouse. Providing space for children to be themselves and encourage their curiosity is crucial for learning.
