Bed and Bath Time Week provided a forum within which the
children could reflect upon and share their thoughts regarding their Bed and
Bath Time routines. In addition to our
discussions, the children took great pleasure in the wonderful bed and bath
time books that were read daily at Story Time.
As the photos illustrate, the children also engaged in multiple theme
related activities. Most notable were
bathing dolls in the water table, as well as making and eating French
Toast. Of course the long awaited
highlight was wearing pajamas to school, making popcorn, and finally enjoying
our Pajama Party!
Hair Salon Week was a great vehicle through which we
continued several educational objectives.
First, as the photos so beautifully illustrate, it was an excellent
catalyst for interactive play as the children took on various roles within the
play environment. Secondly, it was a
continuation of self-exploration as the children reflected upon and shared
their experiences of visiting a Hair Salon for a hair-cut. Thirdly the theme was rooted in Social
Studies as it extended our study of Community Helpers. The theme was
brought to the art table as the children painted with combs and
brushes.
The children also enjoyed an "Author Study" this
week, as we read exclusively from the work of Keiko Kasza. The children loved her stories and readily
declared their "favorite book".
They also learned that Keiko Kasza is both the author and illustrator of
her books. They can tell you that she
likes to write stories about animals, and that her illustrations give you hints
about the story. They made me promise
that we will read her books over and over again!
Many thanks to Evvie's mom, Erin for coming in as our Guest
Reader this week!
Looking Deeper: Exploration and Learning Through Play
This week I would like to once again take a closer look at
Block Play.
At its most basic level, Block Play provides exercise of fine and gross
motor skills. Block building provides
the children with opportunities to think, plan, collaborate and problem solve
while moving freely and working with their whole body. Mathematically, building with blocks helps
the children to understand and practice classification as they observe and sort
blocks according to size and shape. They
learn about cause and effect, spatial relationships, balance, area, length, width, weight, and quantity, as they select, build, and
put away blocks. Blocks help children
learn through experience the purpose of number.
In terms of stages, children begin by carrying blocks and simply piling
them up. As their development
progresses, layering begins, leading to connecting blocks, facilitating the
emergence of roads, towers, enclosures and unique building designs. Block Play is also a catalyst for social
interaction and language development, as the children work, share, collaborate
and problem solve as they construct.
The above excerpt first appeared in my blog back in November
during Brown Week! At that time the
children were exploring and building with Unit Blocks. In late November our Unit Blocks were
replaced with Waffle Blocks, and the week prior to February Break, we rotated
our large Hollow Blocks into the room!
Each of these sets of blocks are very different, however the stages of
use, as well as the skill base that is reinforced and extended remains the same
for each of them. Providing the children
with a variety of blocks helps to keep them interested in, focused on, and engaged
with block play which is such a valuable catalyst for the children's growth and
development in so many physical, social and cognitive areas. As a result of
their continued engagement in a myriad of activities, not the least of which
being a variety of block play, the children have experienced a great deal of
growth within the classroom since November.
Interactive play is now abounding
in all areas of the room, and this is quite evident within Block Play. There is limitless planning and collaboration
going on in the gross motor area as the children build roads for their cars and
trucks, and structures for themselves! Ultimately, play begets learning, learning begets greater sophistication in play, and
greater sophistication in play begets greater sophistication in learning!
Have a fun and restful weekend!
