Winter Week III

Winter Week III went out with a bang, as we "banged" away at our Piñatas, and broke them open!  

Ice painting was also a highlight of the week!

 Happy Birthday to Ben who turned three during this past week!

Many thanks to Emily Vaninwegen who completed her semester of student teaching with us today.  She was a wonderful presence in our classroom and we wish her well !

Divertido con Espanol / Fun with Spanish

The children enjoyed making snowmen with Rosalba!

Vocabalo de Semana en Espanol / Words of the Week in Spanish

Abrigo / Coat

Bufanda / Scarf

Guantes / Mittens

Gorra  / Hat

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

Let's take a closer look at making a Piñata.

As the photos illustrate, breaking the Piñata was lots of fun.  Making the Piñata was fun as well, and the process was a valuable learning experience for the children on many levels.  Making things with children teach them how those things come to be, a fact that may be obvious to grown-ups but is often a mystery to children.  Additionally, it illustrates that the process has sequential components that happen over time.  If the Piñata is to be strong and durable, no step can be missed and the process cannot be rushed.  That in and of itself is a great lesson to teach as it is an important metaphor for life! 

 Including the children in the Piñata making process not only educates, it empowers them and honors their capabilities.  

We seize every opportunity possible to reinforce the children's understanding that they are not only helpful, they are important, and their participation is essential to the classroom community!

 Yes, making the Piñata was fun for the children, however, it may be one of the few times when destroying their creation was as much fun, if not more, than making it!!!

  

Have a fun and restful Holiday Break!