In January

In January we learned about and explored...

 

ICE

 ~frozen water balloons~

 ~purple ice treasures~

 

PURPLE & BLUE

 

 ~printing with purple using various objects~

~discovering patters in our prints~

 ~blue sensory tubs~

~blue water beads~

 ~sorting blue and purple objects~

~blue dough with shells~

 

MAGNETS

 

~testing various types of magnets at the science table~





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.

 

Gingerbread Party 2012

The holidays wouldn't have been complete without frosted graham crackers covered in every kind of treat imaginable. In the week before Christmas, we celebrated with our annual Gingerbread Party!   Using small milk cartons as the base, children and parents added treats to make their own gingerbread house.

Thanks to the parents who filled our bowls with candy, from chocolate, to marshmallows and lollipops! Families worked their way through the candy buffet and snacked on some yummy, healthier alternatives as well.

Did I mention the lollipops?

The completed houses were temporarily left to set . . .

. . .as the children were eager to play outside and expend some energy on the playground.

Thank you to all who came and participated! Until next year . . .