Documentation Panels from Curriculum Night 2014

Fall 2014

Please join us November 12th!

As we talked at the beginning of the year, the idea of gathering would be a research focus.  Seeing how children enjoy gathering together at the snack table; their delight in gathering acorns, leaves and other treasures from nature; and knowing that gathering the attention of 22 four- and five-year-olds can be tricky for veteran and student teachers alike, we watched for how this class would lead us through this concept.  And so it began at the open classroom event prior to the start of the year, the children were observed building a campfire.  The lingering memory of summer experiences provided a gathering connection to study; one we teachers didn't plan.  As we began to study campfires, the children gathered materials from our grounds, drew plans, and negotiated construction to develop cooperation skills.  Through this play, four distinct curriculum threads emerged: campfire, tent, packing/equipment, and the nighttime.  Building the campfire afford opportunities for mathematical learning as the children sorted and compared materials.  Literacy was explored in the packing/equipment thread as the children researched library books to learn what was needed.  They also practiced writing, illustrating, and sounding-out skills as we developed word cards.  The children developed ideas and practice around balance and stability concepts as they worked together to construct a tent by drawing a plan, making a model, and then building.  This thread also proved to be an area conducive to developing team-work skills dependent upon communication.  The nighttime aspect of camping has provoked the children to listen to sound and express their creativity as they think about what might sound like what is heard.  The expressive skills and paint mixing experiences will be put to use in this thread of exploration.  As we gather around our campfire, the children will be gathering many opportunities to think critically, creatively and as a community.  The next steps will involve exploring camping equipment and lots of dramatic play. 

Wafic's painting of the many colors of the night sky

How can you get involved and extend the thinking at home? 

Discuss camping experiences with your child.

Email photos of your child’s camping experiences to share. 

Loan or donate camping materials for the classroom to use.

Share your expertise with the class.

View the class photos on Snapfish and discuss the work with your child.

Further the children have congregated around a project they call the “marble maze”.  To prompt the children to gather around the concept of motion and construction, we introduced the “slats”.  These lengths of cove molding make little ramps for marbles and balls to roll on and a great exploration of physics, construction, problem solving, and cooperating.  The children’s initial play showed knowledge of creating momentum as they set the first slat on a diagonal.  They have encountered many challenges along the way for which they sought solutions.  For instance, to keep the marble from falling off, they built railings.  To keep up the momentum, they incorporated stair-like support structures to allow for multiple diagonal slats.  Currently, they are solving the problems of how to get the marble to turn when the slat track turns and how to keep the diagonal slats supported without falling.  Throughout this endeavor the children have practiced problem solving around many physics concepts.  Mathematically they are employing and developing geometric thinking as they arrange the slats.  In drawing plans and communicating their ideas children garnered literacy experience.  Social skills like listening to the ideas of others and waiting for turns to roll the marble are being developed.  Comparing the motion of different types of balls/marbles and pursuing how to get the ball to turn with the slat track will lead us on in this project.

Working on getting the marble to turn the corner

How can you get involved and extend the thinking at home? 

Roll balls or marbles around the floor with your child and discuss what happens when they roll into things.

View the class photos on Snapfish and discuss the work with your child.

Share your expertise with the class… any physics majors in our community????

Encourage your child’s curiosity about things in motion in the environment.

Outside proves to be a fabulous place to gather, especially in the autumn.  The sunflowers in the garden have intrigued the children with their lofty height and provided measuring opportunities.  Observing the change as the sunflowers drooped and dropped seeds to the ground afforded the children the chance to develop theories and draw conclusions, thinking like a scientist, about the cycle of life of this delightful plant.  And what better place to write than in our garden!  The chives are the favorite of many to munch on as we march around enjoying the fresh air and creatures, worms and roly polys and insects, with whom we share the garden.  Watch for more to come about the garden activities.

Reaching for the sunflower in September

We look forward to sharing all of this and more this Wednesday, November 12^th, in an open classroom event from 5:30 to 7 p.m.   Please stop in when you can.

+Peace,  Cyndi and Aubrey

Curriculum Night: Expressing Ourselves Through Art November 12, 2014

The children began their journey of expressing themselves through artwork by using paint ice cubes on popsicle sticks...discovering various techniques to use this art tool, waiting for it to melt, stamping, printing, and marking. Next the children explored using their fingers as tools and finding various techniques to express themselves. Children found a different tool to great art using their fingers instead of the popsicle sticks. 

“You can use your hand for painting,” Sarah.

 The children also explored using kitchen utensils as art tools to find different techniques to express their thoughts. Children used the patty presser to make lines or stripes and the spatulas for spreading. Sponges were the next tools children used, discovering spreading and patterns as techniques they can use with the sponges.

The children also explored how to match the purple paint created to an eggplant and how to match the orange paint create to a gourd. The children are also exploring the various shapes found on objects and artwork. The children are also at the point of exploring various lines; thick, thin, straight, curly, wavy, etc.

“Yes I made thick lines, but what was the other line called?” Adelyn.

 I’ve observed children exploring different shapes, comparing stamping and line making, using dripping techniques, and exploring 3-D shapes. Children’s ideas and thoughts have lead to these further explorations. The children have explored the following skills: painting with different mediums (popsicle sticks, fingers/hands, kitchen utensils, sponges, brushes, and pencils), using a flexible ruler to create lines, and exploring thick and thin lines.

~Ms. Al Qoqua

How to become involved:

      Join us on November 12^TH for Curriculum Night at 5:30 pm.

Have a conversation with your child about their imagination and how they choose to express it.

Enjoy a quiet drawing session with your child. Pull out paper and art utensils and just draw what your heart feels.