Learning Through Play

As adults we are often concerned with how much, how often, and 'just how' our children are learning. We think that more flashcards, worksheets, and early academic enrichment materials made for young children are the things that are needed to help our children to get ahead. So often are we focused on what we can do to enrich their learning that we forget how much they learn simply through play. Play is the work of a young child.

 

Color recognition, naming shapes, patterns, and early engineering with geometric shape blocks.



Pre-Reading and writing development at the writing center.

 Counting and patterns in the building area. When this creating was complete, each blue block had for cylinders standing on top just has you see in the middle of the picture.

 Counting and 1 to 1 correspondence while making an animal parade.

Problem solving, predicting and testing a hypothesis, team work, and analytical thinking are just a few of the other skills that our children use during their play. A great phrase to remember; play must happen for learning to occur.

Sensory Activities

Our students have enjoyed some new sensory activities over the past few weeks. The activities vary and include opportunity to explore science concepts, engage with nature, build fine motor muscles, and practice scooping and pouring skills. Here are some of their favorites:

 

Pulling off and collecting kernels from and ear of dried corn.

 

Soap and Water exploration. We used basic dish soap and added various sponges, cups, and jars. When the sponges are squeezed they create a great deal of bubbles.

 

Our rice bins include basic white rice, various size cups, funnels, and spoons.

These are just a few of the items we have used lately. Some of our other favorite sensory activity items include lentils, beans, dough, water beads, and seeds.

Dramatic Play

Dramatic Play is one of my favorite things about preschool. I can still remember being 5 years old and wanting to spend every moment of my school day in the 'home play' area dressing up, cooking, and using the phone. At Meadowlark there are numerous opportunities for creative and imaginative play even outside of the dramatic play area.

 

~Talking on the phone~



 ~Learning how to balance in heels like mom~

 ~Cowboys camping out and Super Heroes~

 ~Health Clinic~

 ~The Doctors are In~

 ~Cowboy riding his horse~

 ~Rescuing the Ladybug (puzzle)~

 ~Pirates building their ship~

I love watching students that have gotten so into their role that even after cleaning up, they join circle time still in full costume without a thought. It is my hope that the experiences and joy from this type of dramatic play in preschool stays with them long into their adult years.

Using 'Real' Objects In Learning

Using 'real' objects in the learning environment adds so much interest for the children. They show respect for the delicate items, awe for the items usually deemed "off limits", and excitement in using the things usually saved for adults. Here are some of the 'real' objects we have used in our learning recently.

 

 ~Pouring lentils using glass cups and metal gravy boats.~

~Everyone tries walking in grown-up heels.~

~Tiny Shells, Small & Large Rocks, Dried Moss, all in glass jars on the science table.~

~Hammers & Nails to practice the 'real work' of hammering in the yard.~

Outdoor Time

So much learning happens even outside of the classroom.

 

~Motion and Balance~

 ~Risk Taking~

 ~Group Interactions and Cooperative Play~

 ~Sharing and Communication~

~Real Work~

~Sharing~

 ~Learning Through the Senses & Nature~

 

Blocks

Blocks have always lined the shelves of our school. Natural tree blocks, small cube blocks, blocks that connect together, and other small space saving blocks that work in a smaller size classroom. Our new school has so much open building space that it screamed for the large wooden block sets I remember from my childhood. And who could resist a few cardboard blocks nearly as big as a preschooler? The creative juices started flowing the second those blocks appeared and thankfully haven't stopped since.

Taking ownership of our blocks through constructing large cardboard ones and unpacking our new wooden ones. Our four year olds did some amazing problem solving and spent two days folding and securing each one of the big blocks.

Testing out the blocks along the way. There is so much power and pride in making something as big as oneself!

And the wall of a fort....

 A castle for the knights...

 And the kids from the school age program, at 7 and 9 years old their creations get elaborate. Even big kids need some block time.

 

Catching Up

Its been a long while since our blog has been updated. So long that I gasped when I realized that the last entry was from nearly 10 months ago. So much has happened over that time that I will only attempt an mini update and instead apologize profusely for lack of attention to this blog. I'm going to just dive right in here, so fasten your belts!

February 2012 ended and we sprung right into spring with lots of water color painting, egg dying, seed planting, and of course the annual school picnic.

 

We also expanded our family and welcomed baby boy number 3!

 

The end of the 2011-2012 school year was celebrated with our very first Meadowlark Preschool graduation ceremony. We were so happy to congratulate our three graduates and wished them well in their transition into Kindergarten.

Summer arrived and we enjoyed our long sunny days at school, camp style. There were trips to the Cerra Vista Park, water play under the whale and sprinklers, and special sports classes each day with our summer helper Ms. Allyson. But the biggest event of the summer was signing the lease on what would be our very own school building!

This fall we welcomed so many new families and a wonderful group of new students. As our school continues to grow, the wonderful aspects of our program components remain the same.

Creative and imaginative play.

Friendship and learning through interactions with others.

 Age appropriate curriculum, hands on learning, and respecting the natural wonder of childhood.

 

As a parent I love staying informed on the happenings in my child's life. As an educator I love sharing moments with others and looking back over things I've done. My hope is that this blog fills both of those passions not only for myself but for others that join in on the journey.

A wonderful and talented parent has offered her help in keeping this space current and filled with beautiful pictures and words. I am forever grateful for the help and excited to see this blog continue during, what undoubtedly will be, an amazing school year full of new opportunity and exciting change.