Let It Snow!

The first snowfall brought lots of excitement to our classroom.

Our children can't wait to make a snowman.

An amazing creation of our backyard play area which our children have a view of from our art studio.

We spent lots of time outside playing in the snow!

Habitat.

One of the strongest connections our children make to understanding their own world is when they involve themselves in creating a home for other living creatures.  Every day, children visit the Habitat Centre.  The sensory bins are filled with natural materials and representations of the creatures whose world we share.

This day, a spider habitat was created and documented by some of the children.  So much concentration and planning was involved.  

We heard rich discussion.  We watched the children as they recorded their own learning!

As for the spiders... Home Sweet Home!

Through The Eyes Of A Child

The best photos are the ones our children take throughout the day. The best smiles are the ones that children give to each other.

Not a Box

All children know that a box is never just a box!

Following The Path to Math

At school, the path to math begins as the children walk through the doors each morning and they follow it all day long.  Everywhere they go, there are patterns to be made, sorting to be done, structures to be built, ingredients to measure, designs to be created.  We can always count on the children to lead us on the path to math!  They can count on us to give them everything they need for a successful trip.

The children follow the path to math everywhere!  Here is a way for your children to continue to follow their path to math at home.

Home Foundations for Numeracy

The key to building a numeracy foundation at home is to make math and numbers part of the everyday routine of play, meals, and other household activities.

Make math a part of your everyday chores-the idea is to develop mathematical ideas through language. As you or your child tidy up, count the items. Use the toys in the toy box in a number of ways, perhaps asking, “How many pieces of puzzle are you holding? How do you know? Can you show me how?

Use language to develop children’s mathematical concepts about counting and comparing. Examples: how many, more or less, greater or smaller, longer or shorter, higher or lower, and heavier or lighter.

Make use of nursery rhymes and poems. Many of these use numbers as in “One, two buckle my shoe” or “Five little ducks went swimming one day.”

You can also encourage understanding of direction and position. Work such phrases as these into your conversation; in front or behind, up and down, top or bottom, next to or beside, before or after, inside or outside, over, under, and below.

Bath Time; For many children bath time is the highlight of their day, a chance to have the undivided attention of an adult and also play around with soap and water. A few plastic cups of different sizes will create opportunities to explore measurement.

Meal Time; Ask questions like “How many spoons are on the table?” Ask for help setting the table. “There are four of us eating. Can you find a fork for each of us?” Reverse the question to encourage the child to think, ‘How many of us will eat tonight? How many glasses should I put out?”

The great outdoors provide so many opportunities for math. Just taking a walk with your child will provide you with opportunities to use math language and it will be fun and interesting for them.

Picking Up The Pieces (Lego Pieces That Is)!

Thomas Edison said, "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."  He didn't know about Lego!  

A happy pile of Lego waiting to be made whole!

The children dig deep into the sensory bin filled with the Lego that Mrs. Pizzuto's son used when he was young.  They feel the familiar plastic pieces that their parents and grandparents built with.  Some are in search of the tiny piece with only one dot, while others need the long piece for the blade of their helicopter.  Rocket ships, flying boats, cities, cars, planes, cranes...  Oh how the day flies while the children build and tell us of their latest invention or creative structure!

The wonderful world of Lego invites our children to do more than play.  Learning is literally at their fingertips!

Joshua writes about his 'police ship'.  Dmitri signs a letter to Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, the CEO of Lego.  Jack is sure that he is the best Lego builder ever.

"That's why he is the boss!"

Ireland and Addison make pictures to send with the letter while a group of boys put the finishing touches on their city.

The children talk about, plan, build, pattern and even measure with Lego!

Playing with Lego means critical thinking, fine motor, sharing, problem solving, balance, math, trial and error... 

 ... 3-dimensional planning and building, organizing, sorting, 

cause and effect...

... story telling, teamwork, creativity, spatial reasoning ...

... Oh the learning that comes from playing with Lego.  

Thomas Edison would have to agree that a 'pile of Lego' is a wonderful way to invite the children to not only learn well, but also to 'leg godt' .  Play Well children... play well and learn!