Trip to the farm!

On Tuesday we took a trip to Underwood Farm in Somis.

As part of our larger unit on "Our World" we went through the 7 days of Creation. On Day #6 G-d created the animals!

The children enjoyed feeding the sheep, goats & Alpacas!
In addition to making the classroom learning real for the children, these trips bring our classroom community to a new level. The children's friendships and feeling as a  "group" become strengthened in a special way.

Enjoy the pics....

Feeding Carrots to the Alpacas!

 Look how high we can climb!

 Running through the corn Maize!

Picking Berries in the Orchard!

 Look at what we picked!

 Searching for the Berries!

Enjoying each others company on the "train."

Pies of Joy!

The most powerful way to teach a child what GIVING is all about,

 is to actually experience the act. 

This year, for Thanksgiving, we'll be partnering with our local S.O.S (Smile on Seniors) club, to pair up children/families or any individual in the community with a local senior, gifting them with the opportunity to bring Joy to another person in need.

Check out the information below...

We look forward to keeping you posted....

Environment as the third Teacher- Reggio Emilia

If you have stepped into our classroom this year, you will notice the great attention that is given to the look and feel of it.

Each of the centers in our classroom are thoughtfully designed and prepared by all of us as a group, in collaboration with other early childhood professionals to optimize small and larger group interaction, social learning and constructive play.

In the Reggio Emilia school of thought, it often refers to the environment as the "third teacher." The classroom environment plays a crucial role in the learning/teaching process.

 When thinking about how we would introduce the children to the creations of day #3 (plants, trees, earth...) we couldn't think of a more appropriate place to go...
Being outdoors, sitting on the grass, feeling the breeze, watching the leaves blow, hearing the sounds of nature...gave the children a real feeling for the "awesomeness" of the creations!

We asked the children what they could find that was "growing" or "alive." The discussion took us all around the outside of our school!

 We found different colored and shaped leaves...

 Children noticed the fuzzy feel of Lavender. (It's color and texture too!)

We decided to bring the outdoors in.... and each child picked seeds for a vegetable- that we planted in an indoor planter box! (Thank you FoodShare for giving us seeds last year!)
We walked around our classroom, and together found an appropriate spot to keep our plants! Where sun can reach....

Looking forward to enjoying peas, corn, parsley, sprouts, and more ...once they have sprouted...and we can transfer them to our outdoor planter!

Creation Wheel!

During the summer I treated myself out one day, and  went to a place called "Trash for Teaching." (Near downtown LA!)

 

 I felt like a child in a candy store! A lot of the utensils you see us use for different activities in the classroom were picked up there! There was one large item that caught my attention- A huge wheel, with 7 compartments going around! As an early childhood educator...zillions of ideas start going through my  mind... the sorting, the organizing, the counting... so many ways to use this piece! 

The worker was actually kind enough to give this piece to me as a gift!

The first time we used it, was this week, as part of our unit on the days of creation!

Each compartment was labelled as one of the 7 days of Creation.

Day One: G-d created Light & Dark. We put out white crayons, to draw LIGHT on the dark black paper!

Day Two: G-d created water, and separated the upper & lower waters- the sky & Ocean! (We filled a water bottle with blue water and a little oil in it, to show the separation of sky (clouds- when you shake it!) and ocean!

Day Three: G-d created Plants, Trees, Fruits & Vegetables.

Day Four: G-d created Sun, Moon & Stars. The children made stars using various shapes

 

 

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Day Five: G-d created Fish, Birds & Bugs! We put out magnetic fish & Fishing rods for them to fish with! (They placed the fish that were caught in the center compartment! It is heartwarming to see how mindful the children are of their friends: some of them made a point of placing the fish BACK once they completed their fishing fun!)

Day Six: G-d created Animals & Man: children constructed faces with magnetic body parts.

Day Seven: Shabbat! Children set the table for shabbat with miniature items representing Shabbat! 

Before we put out the creation wheel in the classroom, we dedicated a circle time to discuss what each of the activities represent!

Looking forward to using this wheel again...for something else!

Still Life Paintings!

This is the second time this year we introduced the concept of still life paintings.  It is so interesting to look at objects through the eyes of a child.

Before Rosh Hashana we placed Apples as the "still life" object. This week we put out 2 choices of plants from our classroom. 

 

The idea behind this project, is to introduce the children to representational art, as well as work on descriptive language skills. Below we included some of the "descriptors" the children came up with as they observed the plants and  painted.

 Rochel, "I'm mixing white with blue, just like the pot"

 Chaya, "Making leaves with my paintbrush."

Menucha, " Lots of green because there is a lot of leaves."

After observing this experience we realized the importance of revisiting art development in regards to representational stages and what it looks like for our children. 

Developmentally, children at this age are moving from accidental or spontaneous representation to simple intentional representation. While we are not looking for or expecting elaborate representations we are hoping to see (and support through scaffolding) a growth in the development of their observation skills and their ability to notice detail. This can only happen if we purposely help them to slow down and really look at things. These skills must happen first in order for the child to become aware of the characteristics they want to represent.

The skill of becoming observant, describing things in detail, and developing an awareness of detail has the potential to translate into expanding the way they perceive the world. Taking the time to be aware of their surroundings lends the opportunity to gain new perspectives. These skills and the connection to other areas of development are far more important than their ability to elaborately paint an object placed on the table.

We look forward to doing this again in another month or so...and reflecting on how the skills have progressed!

Water makes Rainbows

 We began with a jar of clear water...
took it out to the sun...and saw beautiful reflection of rainbow shining through it!

(sorry, missed the opportunity to capture it in a pic!)

After that, we dropped some liquid water color into the water...and saw how it changed! Here you see the beautiful turquoise color.

 

Another way we infused math, science and fine motor skills

 into a fun water sensory experience....

Using droppers, the children squeezed different colored liquids...

(drawing it up, and releasing)

They exercised control in how many drops each of the portions of the tray can hold... (and counted how many drops it took...)

Then we observed to see what colors are created, 

when 2 different colors are mixed in one hole!

How many coins to tip the boat?

 Using foil we molded boats to see if they can float in the water.

Once everyone had their boats floating...

 we did an experiment using pennies! (and learned a little math too...)

Coin by coin...we added them to the boat. How many pennies does it take to sink the boat? 

 

Here's the Tally:

Yitzy- 3

BL- 2

Chaya- 4

Rochel- 8

Noach- 3

Menucha- 3

 

 

We reflected on the fact that the Teiva (Ark) must have been VERY VERY big and strong...and not had ANY cracks or holes in it... so it could survive the flood!

So many ways to tell the story of Noach!

Children learn so well through puppets & stories...and then when given the tools to re-tell the story...their understanding of it reaches new heights!

We turned a table into a teiva (ark)! Complete with 3 floors- one for the animals, one for Noach & his family & one on the very bottom for the trash!

Animals marching into the Teiva.

 Different means to re-tell the story.

Felt Board/flannel pieces to tell and re-tell the story!

 

Using Pretzel sticks to build with, Jelly to glue with and animal crackers too...

The children created their own Edible Arks! 

Yitzi  "I made a big box in the middle for all the animals to fit"

                               Menucha    "Mine looks like a boat with a house!"

It's Raining in Here!

Alongside "The world around us" unit, on exploring what was created on each of the 7 days of creation, this week we told the story of Noach & the Teiva (Ark.)

It went hand in hand beautifully as we explored water and all its properties (which was created on the 2nd day of creation) ...and of course the FLOOD!

 This kind of rain was lots of fun....

Thank you Ellah's Mommy, Iris- for donating all the foam stuffing so we could enjoy this fantastic sensory experience!

Black & White, Dark & Light!

In connection to our theme of the first day of creation....G-d creating LIGHT & DARK, the children had a chance to see the contrast of WHITE over BLACK.

A calming sensory experience. (let your children get all of their sensory needs filled at Gan!)

Look what i can do when i fold my paper in half!!

P.S. Thank you Bonne London for sponsoring a new set of Long Sleeved Waterproof Painting Smocks!

What did the world look like before there was light?

We are so happy to be back at Gan after a week full of joyful Holiday celebrations!

Can you imagine what the world would look like if there was no light? Could we see the beautiful trees? flowers? animals? could we see each other?

 During Circle time this week, we offered the children a chance to look inside a very dark box. There were several items placed inside the box, that had a tiny peekhole on one side, and another peekhole on the other side (which was covered in blue tape, so as not to let much light in.)

 None of the children were able to figure out what was in the box...

It was too dark!!












After each child had a chance to look....
we shined a flashlight into the hole that was covered with tape...and allowed the children another chance to peek in the open hole!
WOW---- all the items were visible! The children could see a doll...a cup...

We used this activity as an opportunity to discuss the FIRST thing Hashem created when He created the world!

On the first day of creation Hashem created LIGHT & DARKNESS!

We spoke about all the wonderful things we can see when we have LIGHT!