Day-Sky/Night-Sky

Day-Sky/Night-Sky is primarily a Science-based theme in which the children identify and discuss what they see in the sky during the day and at night.  Once again, Literature is a main component of this theme as we read a variety of fiction and non-fiction books on the topic.  

The direction and depth of the study is driven by the children interests. This week we chatted about the sun, moon, clouds, stars and rainbows as is typical.  The children were also interested in discussing thunder, lightning, planets and constellations.

We also talked about how and why we have day and night.

As the photos illustrate, the children enjoyed a variety of related activities during free play. 

The art table was a place of exploration and creations on a daily basis.

"Star Sandwiches" and "Moon Cakes" were also great fun to make and eat!

Happy Birthday to Blair and Henry who celebrated their birthdays with us this past week!

Divertido con Espanol / Fun with Spanish

Senora Jen spent time playing and reading with the children as she reinforced our 

Day-Sky/Night-Sky Vocabalo en Espanol!

We happily welcomed two new student teachers from HVCC this past week!  

Alyssa and Sara will be with us through mid-May.

Alyssa's placement is on Tuesday mornings.

Sara's placement is on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Looking Deeper: Exploration and Learning through Play

This week I would like to talk about the importance of focusing teaching and learning on the "whole child"!

Day Sky/Night Sky is always a high interest theme for the children.  Perhaps this is because they are fascinated by the things in the sky that they see each day and night but never really touch.  These things though common are indeed other worldly and therefore hold a fascination!  The sun, stars and beloved rainbow are truly magical!  

Inevitably during the week, the children talk about their fears surrounding "thunder and lightning"!  We spend important time talking about these fears that are so common and universal.  I share that I too once feared "thunder and lightning" when I was a child. We talk about common sense safety rules, such as always be sure that you and your grown-up go inside at the first sighting of lightning!  We also talk a bit about what causes thunder and lightning, and that while thunder sounds really scary, it cannot hurt you. Discussing, honoring, and demystifying fears are a very important part of learning for young children.  That is why teaching and learning must go beyond mere cognition and focus on the "whole child"  These conversations are crucial to children's holistic growth and development! 

Sarah's Reflections

In my own education, I was always told: “There is no wrong or right way to art, just your own way.” Sadly, in our American school system art programs are disappearing. Art has also increasingly become “cookie cutter” where every child’s piece looks identical to the next. Creativity, especially in the early childhood setting is crucial to a handful of developmental domains, including fine motor, cognitive and social-emotional development. Studies have found that creative experiences help children express and cope with their feelings. Creativity also fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities to think in new ways and problem-solve. Creative activities help acknowledge and celebrate a child's uniqueness and diversity. It is for these reason, coupled with the amazing outcomes we routinely witness that JoAnn and I foster and facilitate creative opportunities and experiences daily!

Have a great rest of the week and wonderful weekend!