Busy workers

Studying Simple Machines-I

 Using a hammer, which is a lever.

 Taking apart a sewing machine with screwdrivers.

 Drilling holes.

Artist-in-Residence

We had a great start to the Artist-in-Residence program. Caddy and Ashley from The Center Dance School. This first session introduced  the children  to the concepts and format that will be used throughout the program. 

Children took turns introducing themselves with their name attached to a movement.  Next, three positions were introduced. Position I is standing tall, similar to Mountain Pose. Position II is a mid-level wide squat, and Position III is sitting criss-cross in a nesting pose. Ashley then guided the children through a warm up session by brushing all the sleep off every part of the body. The next activity was moving like arctic animals, the howling wolves, sleepy foxes and leaping bunnies. Caddy and Ashley then led a discussion about what "action" meant. Children's responses included, "means you have a canon that shoots things", "when someone runs super fast", "if you have a video camera and someone is in front of you, they would say "action", "how fast a cheetah runs", "if someone was riding a bike fast". Ashley noted that we could use all these movements to make a group dance. The next discussion was about machines. Children made a list of the different kinds of machine actions including sawing, rolling, blasting, lifting, digging, balancing and bending. 

Finally, we broke into two small groups. One group performed their exploration of lifting, while the other group was the audience, then the roles were switched. A wonderful first session.

Oh, everyone was delighted that a baby joined the session!

 Position II-mid level.

 Snowflakes spreading wide.

 Arctic wolves arching and howling.

 Exploring creeping-mid level.

 Exploring creeping-low level.

 Lifting-Group 1.

Lifting -Group 2.

Miscellaneous Moments

 The big guys chilling.

 Windows.

 Sophisticated roof work utilizing balance and overhang.

 Anna and Elsa's invade the block area.

Halloween Fun

 Halloween fun.

 Five Little Pumpkins

 "OOOO went the wind.

 "Out went the light."

Long white bones of the ghost of John.

Jurassic sand, block structures and measuring height.

 Shortest to tallest.

 Self-portraits and "I Am From" Poems

 Jurassic sand on the light table.

 Enclosures.

 Jurassic sand with funnels.

 Making a polka bat.

Blocks, Bicycles, the letter "B" and Buddies

Large Block Construction has taken over in Preschool. 

Enclosures: The Doghouse
Practicing representation, experimenting with area and volume, height and length.

 The Venom Ship. Dramatic Representation. Thinking Creatively and Scientifically.

 Practicing symmetry and patterns, bridging and repetition. Learning about equilibrium, balance and stability.

 The Wednesday Group out on a walk in the woods.

 A visit from a parent. Learning about different kinds of bikes that everyone can use.

 A hand pedaling bike.

 The banana mobile.

 Group time with Lauren. Practicing the "B" sound.

 Looking at our mouths making the "B" sound. Different than the "P" sound.

Sharing Identity Books.  A popular activity supporting positive relationships in our group. Children learn to appreciate similarities and differences among us.