Wind Week II

Wind Week II facilitated continued exploration of the movement of air in variety of activities! Blowing bubbles at the water table remained a very popular pursuit!

Blowing the "ping pong basketball" into the basket created our very own March Madness!

Music and movement with kites was a true delight!

Discussing how paper airplanes create wind as they fly was very interesting, but flying them was the very best part.

Making fans and using them to create wind that could move Pom Poms around and off  the surface of blocks took great focus and concentration! 

Perhaps the greatest fun and focus occurred when the children observed balloons.  We discussed how the process of my blowing up a balloon entails my taking air from the room, moving it into my lungs and then moving it into the balloon.  The balloon flies when the air quickly escapes from it, creating wind that pushes the balloon forward across the room!

Thank you to Julien's mom, Karen, for coming in as our Guest Reader this week!

Divertido con Espanol / Fun with Spanish
In preparation for Baby Week, Senora Jen read a book (en Espanol) about baby chicks!
Additionally, the children love "playing in Spanish" with Senora Jen!

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

Viento / Wind

Mover / Move

Aire / Air

Ventilador / Fan

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

This week let's take a closer look at Play as the best Methodology for teaching

 Scienceto young children!

As an Early Childhood Educator, it is so exciting to observe the children "doing" Science.  Our photos illustrate well the children's activities but cannot always capture the children's excitement or the energy generated as they engage in Scientific exploration.  We began each day recalling our working definition:  Wind is air that is moving.  If the definition halted with words the children's understanding would no doubt be limited.  Experience gives meaning to the words.  Fun, active and engaging experiences adds passion to the learning!  There is no doubt that the children have grasped a concrete understanding of wind through the many and varied activities they have engaged in over the past two weeks.  More importantly, they are building on their perception that learning is fun, and ultimately developing a love of learning!

Have a fun and restful week!

Doctor Week II!

Doctor's Office Week II facilitated a deepening and broadening of the concepts discussed last week.  The children have consistently built upon their strong foundational understanding of how their bodies work, and how best to stay healthy.  This knowledge and understanding has been broadened to include a fundamental understanding of their Brain and Heart, as well as their Skeletal structure and Digestive System.  Your child should be able to provide basic answers to some of the following questions:  What is the boss of your body?  What is the name of the bone that protects your brain?  What does your heart do?  What goes in and out of your lungs? What is the name of the bones that protect your heart?  What happens to an apple or a banana when you eat and swallow it!  What are the five senses?  We have read books about all of these concepts, discussed them, and played games that concretely illustrated them.  Additionally, the children have routinely used the accurate terms for the doctor's instruments within their play this week, and were able to explain the function of each of these instruments.  Most importantly, they were delighted to apply their "expertise" as they doctored within our Pre-K Clinic.  The fun and excitement within the classroom was palpable as the children gave check-ups and lots of "shots" to all of our "walk-in patients"!  

Many thanks Cameron's mom, Dr. Krista, for coming in to talk with the children about her work as a Pediatrician.  The children were very interested in and enriched by all that she shared with them. 

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

Let's take a closer look at the important functions of our Pre-K Three Clinic.

Our Pre-K Clinic is a "Signature Experience" of our "Doctor's Office" theme.  The children are so proud and excited to share their "medical expertise" with parents, buddies and other Parker community members! Our Clinic is also an "authentic assessment tool" of learning.  During clinic time,  the children utilize and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired within the Doctor's Office theme.  Utilizing this information and skill in the Clinic solidifies the children's understanding and demonstrates their mastery of  terms, information and skills!  Additionally, the children are empowered, and experience a significant sense of competency as they assume a position of leadership in their interactions with people who are very important to them.  Above and beyond the stellar health care you received, it was a delight to have parents and other family members enter into the "magic" of our medical role playing!  Many thanks to all of you who were able to join us in our Pre-K Clinic this week!

Have a fun and restful weekend!