April/May 2016 Newsletter 

We’ve been really enjoying the warmer weather and observing all the changes in the outdoor play space.  We’ve watched how buds turn into tiny baby leaves and then into bigger leaves and how flowers have started to form on our tree. The kids ask to look under our ‘bug log’ each morning and we pull it back to see what new worms or bugs have hatched.      

Another topic that emerged from our play this month has been whales.  After one of the kids started playing with a whale toy outside, we started talking about sounds whales make, where they live and what they eat.  So we’ve been listening to whale sounds and I took out some books from the library about whales so that we could learn some more.  We’ve also been singing the Raffi song “Baby Beluga” and together the kids have painted a large cardboard whale for us to hang from our ceiling. 

After the sad demise of Thomas Beaver, we welcomed Thomas Beaver Number One Kirsten Fish into our class.  Having the fish in the classroom as well as our new little seedlings (we’ve planted basil, kale, cucumber and chives), gives us the opportunity to learn about and practice taking care of living things.  The kids help feed our fish and they also water the seedlings each day.  

We also celebrated two birthdays with Sam and Jonas both turning 3.  With each birthday I set up a special table for the birthday child.  It is lovely to see how they are so proud of the different things that celebrate them – their names, the baby and family pictures – and to see how the other children gather around to see as well. 

Here are some of the other things we’ve been up to these past couple months.   I’ll also be attaching a link to view some pictures from April and May.

·      Pretend play – cooking, serving, pretend eating and picnics.  One of the kids was reminded of picnics because of a red bandana we have in the class.  So I put out a wicker picnic basket and filled it with dishes and a blanket and we’ve been playing picnic inside.

·      I keep a variety of open-ended materials in the class – right now it’s shells and stones - so that the kids can use their imagination to turn them into whatever their play requires – cookies for a picnic, people on a train etc.  

·      “Gardens and roads” – one of the kids stuck flowers in the sand box and then made roads around “the garden”. 

·      Painting on natural materials – rocks, sticks, bark, small pieces of wood

Sensory Stations:

Play dough – scented with Lavender, play dough “cupcakes” with candles

Water/bubbles

Car wash/baby wash stations

Baking:

Peanut butter seed balls (with oats, honey, peanut butter, chia seeds and raisins)

Independence and relationships:

Birthdays – celebrating each other (see photographs of the birthday tables)

Helping each other and asking for a “helping hand”.   I like to encourage the kids to step in and help each other instead of coming to me for help (when it’s appropriate).  You’ll see some of this in action in the photographs. 

Books we love:

Senses at the Seashore by Shelley Rotner

Wave By Suzy Lee

There was a Tree by Rachel Isadora

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson

Everything Goes on Land by Brian Biggs