Why Messy Play?

 

 

 

We can...

 

The weather has a chill.

The air is cold on our noses.

It's meandering Monday and we need our coats!

What does it look like when 20 preschoolers get ready to go outside on a cold day?

How long does it take?

Zippers

Buttons

Sleeves inside out.

Hats

Mittens

Voices that shout...

I need help!

What does that look like?

When you practice at home, here is the language we use at school!

Fix those sleeves!

Flip Flop Over the Top

We are so fortunate to have a school campus that allows us to enjoy being outdoors regardless of the weather.  Cold weather means bundling up for our explorations, so please make sure to always send weather-appropriate coats and accessories.  If you are wondering if we might go outside on a given day, the answer is YES!  

We know our Birch friends have grown since last winter and they likely have different coats, hats, and gloves that they might not so quickly recognize.  You might also be amazed by how many of our friends have the very same winter-wear!  Please, help them be independent in caring for their belongings by putting their names in all of them so they know whose are whose.

While "I need help" is an often heard preschool expression,

their favorite expression is...

"I DID IT!"

Forest

 Our forest is filled with the sights and sounds of fall.  We filled our senses with nature.

What does the forest SOUND like?

What does the forest FEEL like?

What does the forest SMELL like?

What does the forest  LOOK like?

What lives UNDER a tree?

What lives IN a tree?

What grows or lives at the TOP of a tree?

ON

UNDER

IN

AROUND

Ask you child how they explored in our forest today!

Wishing you well. 

What lives in a tree?

 Using the language of drawing, we dug a little deeper into trees. 

Today we focused on the question, 

"What lives in a tree?" 

One of the beautiful things that happens when children gather around an invitation together is the natural exchange of ideas.

What lives IN a tree? I asked.  And the ideas flowed!

"Owls live in a tree." CW

"Birds live in a tree." JG

"EAGELS live in a tree!!!!" LT

"Beavers!" GC

"Beavers live in the WATER, not a tree!" LT

You are right.  Beavers live in the water.  But they do really love trees!

I watched friends draw trees and water and tell me an incredible story that showed me they knew exactly what lives in the tree they were thinking of.

I saw friends draw branches and bark and nests.

I saw friends draw stars and smiles and write "words" on their paper. I heard a fantastical story of a tree and the magic of their imagination.

Trees are filled with living things, growing things, and magic!

What lives in the trees around your home?

Slow down, look closely, and wonder with your child.

We can't wait to connect our investigations with the trees around each of your homes!

Just another Caper Day!

 During our Caper Day, Birch was able to explore many different invitations and spaces. Check out the questions, spaces, and materials. Ask your student "what was one thing you did during Caper Day?" I wonder what new explorations happened?

SYCAMORE

http://afcsycamore.blogspot.com/

Can you build and draw a mosaic? 

What pattern can you create? 

What marks can you make in clay?

MAGNOLIA

http://afcmagnoliaam.blogspot.com/ 

How do you feel today? 

What do feelings look like?  

How does leaf man feel?

BIRCH

What lives UNDER a tree?

What grows at the TOP of a tree?

Can you draw the forest at night?

What do you notice?

What lives IN a tree?