This week, we started our new study, “Balls.” To introduce our new study, I asked the students a question, “What’s inside the box?” I had placed a ball into a box and had the boys and girls try and guess what was inside. While they took turns shaking the box, I gave them some clues. What rhymes with fall? What can you bounce? What can you throw? The children guessed a ball.

In order for children to develop the knowledge needed for later formal learning, they need frequent practice with materials in play settings. One of our favorite activities is our estimation jar. The students had to estimate how many balls were in the jar. We recorded our answers and counted to see how many balls we had. Afterwards, we classified them by color and made an A/B pattern too. Everyone had fun, but little did they know we were also learning.

Painting with balls is a fun way to combine process art and science with our kids. There is no set way to make a ball painting. We used two different types of balls for our project. I ask each student to predict what type of pattern each ball would create. Why does this ball make a different design?

This was the last week for our building study and we turned our classroom into a veterinarian’s office, hair salon, mechanic shop, and cafe. Our focus question this week was, “What happens in buildings?” Our students through dramatic play had a chance to play in each building as a customer or employee. They had a blast!

Candy Heart Measuring

To build their measuring skills properly, kids need to learn how to measure using non standard units of measurement.

Shaving Cream Painting

B for Balloons

Learning through play is key to developing hand-eye coordination in early childhood. Having good coordination is essential for being able to write and copy letters and numbers. It is therefore a vital skill for academic ability.

The boys and girls were excited to see Logan's mom and dad as our special visitors. Mr. Mike brought Home Depot aprons for each student and taught us how to build a penguin game. After we completed our project, the students received a pin for their apron and a certificate. On the first saturday of every month from 9-12, Home Depot has projects you and your child can build together. This is free! For every project you complete, you receive a pin for your apron. A special thanks to Mike and Arwen for putting this together.

Adventure Park

Working together, we built an adventure park with different obstacles. Getting to design and build our obstacle course taught, the children how to participate in a group situation, positional words, traveling skills, ordinal numbers, and how to think symbolically.

Noah’s Ark

Thursday, we started our new study about buildings. This study features five investigations that we will explore. The investigations offer children an opportunity to learn more about the characteristics and features of buildings, the people who build them, and the role buildings play in our communities. Each investigation will also explore science and social studies and strengthen their skills in literacy, math, and the arts.

For a team building exercise, I asked our students to build a city. We discussed what we wanted in our city and what each group would build. The children took turns operating the crane and listening to their rigger to place materials.

Abiyoyo is a story based on a South African folktale. After being “ostracized” from town for playing too many tricks on people, a magician and his son use their unique talents to save the town. When a giant named Abiyoyo comes to the village, a magician’s son uses his ukulele to get Abiyoyo to dance so fast that he falls down, and then the magician makes the giant disappear!

J for Jump

One of our focus questions was, "Which would you use to build your house: straw, sticks. or bricks?" Each child had a chance pick and tell the class why. We tallied our answers and then read the book, The Three Little Pigs. After reading the story, we discussed the materials used for each house and the definition of the word "collapse."

Watercoloring