February/March 2016 Newsletter

We have had quite a mix of weather these past few weeks, as you will see by the pictures (they should be attached using google drive).  Snow, ice, rain – mud of course!  We’ve had a lot of opportunities for exploring using our senses. 

Thank you for dressing the kids for the weather.  It makes a huge difference when they are prepared.   As it gets warmer, rain pants or suits are a great way for them to be able to explore without getting too wet and mucky. 

One of our most exciting new additions has been “Thomas Beaver”, our class fish.  The kids love giving him his morning “sprinkles”!   Our new fish has inspired a lot of ocean animal play and artwork. 

It was so nice having everyone join us to celebrate Valentine’s Day together.  The kids really enjoyed decorating, making cookies and getting ready for their families to arrive.

Here are some of the other things we’ve done this month:

Outdoor:

Any snow we’ve had has been very exciting.  So we’ve played with it outside and inside, bringing plastic tubs of snow.  They use squirt bottles full of blue water and watch how the snow melts and changes colour.  We’ve also done some snow painting outside which also extended to painting tree stumps and dinosaurs.  We had a very colourful backyard play space.

Sensory Stations:

·      Water beads!   These have been a big hit – we use them in our sensory bins, mixing and pouring.  I’ve also added flashlights so they can see what happens when the light shines through them – beautiful!

·      Goop – with sea creatures and shells (I kept the cornstarch and water separate and let them do the mixing.  They really loved the feel of the cornstarch)

·      Rice – with painted wooden fish

Creative:

·      Wall painting.  The kids liked seeing how high they could paint – stretching as far as they could.  This gives them the chance to create with a bit more freedom of movement – using their whole bodies.

·      Which brings me to our fish paintings…one of the kids decided that hands and paintbrushes weren’t very satisfying.  How about feet?   So feet it was!  (didn’t photograph the feet…but there were prints)

Baking:

Baking is a great way to learn about measuring amounts and counting.  We also have to work together, taking turns adding ingredients, mixing and holding the bowl.  This month we made:

·      Valentine’s day cookies

·      Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

Independence and relationships:

·      Pouring practice.  While the kids take turns pouring the water each day for snack, I have also started setting up a pouring station where they can take their time practicing pouring.  Here they have the chance to observe what happens when they over fill and water spills out over the cup.  Little scientists at work!

·      You may hear the kids talk about “hands aren’t for hitting”.  I’ve noticed that the kids have been pushing and hitting a bit more lately, which is normal for this age.  Instead we talk about how hands are for clapping, high-fives, gentle touch etc. 

Books we love:

Tap, Tap, Bang, Bang, by Emma Garcia

Toot, Toot, Beep, Beep, by Emma Garcia – both of these Emma Garcia books were big hits in the class. 

Jack and the Flum Flum Tree, by David Roberts

Little Blue Truck, By Alice Shertle

Sheep in a Jeep, By Nancy Shaw

The Kissing Hand, By Audrey Penn