Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Monday, 28 April 2014
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Plasticine Creations
Several times throughout the year, the children's interest returns to plasticine. They mold, push, roll, cut, shape, scrape, mix and manipulate the clay into the most incredible works of art! Springtime and beads provided the most recent inspiration.
Mrs. Lamb works her magic with the children to help them understand this medium. Thanks Mrs. Lamb!
Investigating A Log
~ There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story. ~
Linda Hogan, Chickasaw Nation
This story began long ago. We don't know the beginning, other than this...
Once upon a time, there was a seed. The seed pushed it's roots deep into the earth and shot it's sapling trunk up through the surface of the ground to reach up to the sun. It grew and grew. Seasons came and seasons went. Cold winters become cool springtime. Hot summers followed and the tree offered itself as shade. Animals and insects found their way to the tree. It provided a home to so many creatures! Colourful autumn days gave the message that another winter was on the way.
But the tree was not going to see another springtime.
It's parting gift was to lay across the ground and continue to give shelter to hibernating animals and insects.
The tree was quite unaware of how truly magnificent it's legacy would be. For one day a teacher happened by. The teacher knew how precious the tree, now in pieces, was. The teacher brought the tree to her young children. The children had discovered a rotting log in a puddle just that week. They explored and investigated and were filled with wonder!
Together, with the log, the tree revealed secrets of life and living things to the children.
The ending of the story of this tree came to us, in the wonderful world of kindergarten, as it graciously implanted the seed of knowledge in all of us.
The Chicks Have Arrived!
Well, our kindergarten family has grown by 4 new additions. We were all so excited to discover cracked egg shells and baby chicks in the incubator. We even heard a chick chirping before it came out of it's egg. It was so anxious to meet us!
It was very hard work for the chicks to break through their shells. They rested when they came out of their eggs. They were tiny and curled up and wet.
The children couldn't wait to wish our new chicks a 'Good Morning' greeting.
Two chicks greeted the world while waiting for their friend to join them.
Good work, little chicky. Look at how tiny your wings are!
These are some 'Happy Birds'!
Recording the chicks gave us the chance to watch what was happening and have a wonderful, rich discussion as we viewed the video later.
Time to move them to a new home made special just for them. The children decorated and adorned the chicks home with welcome messages.
Wonderful messages, a blueprint, a heat lamp, a soft nesting area, food and water... amazing!
Welcome to your new home chickies. Now it's time to consider some names.
Ask your child for daily updates about our chicks. They are noticing the changes that are happening every day as the chicks grow. We are talking about the chicks when we gather. We are talking about chick homes and people homes, hens and roosters, other animals that hatch and how things change.