Beautiful Stuff!

Check out our list of beautiful stuff now found on the lower right-hand side of the blog. We are in need of the listed items, many of which can be found in your home's recycle boxes, basement, or junk drawer. Please consider keeping an eye out for these items over the summer so that we can build up a huge collection of materials for the new school year in September. Many thanks for your support of our children and program!

EQ Over IQ

Check out this article from the Globe and Mail about why teaching self-regulation through play-based learning will help children to be more successful later on in school and life.

Ahoy Matey!

The children created a really interesting pirate ship today at the building center. They combined blocks, tubes, and fabric in their creation!

The ship was quite complex with an area for steering and many look out points!

A true pirate ship flag, complete with menacing skulls!

On the lookout!

The secret map that will lead our pirates to the treasure!

Some Ontario Curriculum expectations this activity fulfilled includes:

2.3 demonstrate self-motivation, initiative, and confidence in their approach to learning by selecting and completing learning tasks (e.g., choose learning centres independently, try something new, persevere with tasks)

2.5 interact cooperatively with others in classroom events and activities (e.g., offer and accept help in group situations, engage in small- and large-group games and activities, participate in democratic decision making)

1.5 use language in various contexts to connect new experiences with what they already know (e.g., contribute ideas orally during shared or interactive writing; contribute to conversations at learning centres; respond to teacher prompts)

1.7 use specialized vocabulary for a variety of purposes (e.g., terms for things they are building or equipment they are using)

2.3 select and use materials to carry out their own explorations

Play Day!

Check out some of the highlights of our Primary Play Day today!  What a beautiful day for fun outdoors with our friends!

Over-Under Ball Race

Obstacle Course

Even teachers have fun too you know!

Frisbee Toss

Golf Ball Race

Ball Scoop Toss

Shooting Hoops

Hockey!

Parachute Games

Tug of War!

Found Materials

I look. I search. I hope to see something that appeals to me.

Something unique - or maybe not.

Buttons, milk caps, straws - the lot.

A blue-green shape just caught my eye.

I don't think I can pass it by.

Whatever it is, it makes me glad.

And so, I'll put it in my bag!

~Rita Harris

Families, please keep us in mind when spring cleaning over the next little bit. We still have big plans for your little ones and are in need of lots of items for our science and art areas. We would also be grateful if you would keep this list in mind over the summer and save items for us for our September start-up next year.  We need:

• boxes of all sizes
• the fronts of greeting cards
• paper towel and wrapping paper rolls
• buttons
• plastic bottle caps
• plastic cups and bowls of all shapes and sizes
• scraps of fabric (We would love a wallpaper or fabric sampler book!)
• ribbon
• beads
• feathers
• washers, nuts, bolts
• plastic tubing of all shapes and sizes
• colourful rocks and stones
• paper juice can lids (metallic circles)
• game board pieces
• random metallic things (e.g., keys, springs)
• wood scraps

We love everything and are so appreciative of your help. Thank you for supporting our children and program! We couldn't do it without you!

Inspired by Flowers

We brought in some beautiful flowers today for the children to admire. They were placed on the art table with some matching paints. We waited to see what our children would do!

Using the flowers as inspiration, the children created beautiful still life paintings of what they observed.

Their unique interpretations of what they saw were so interesting to see! Our children create beautiful artwork!

Primary Play Day

Primary Play Day is this Wednesday. Your child will be outside for most of the day. Please apply waterproof sunscreen to your child at home and send him or her to school in comfortable clothing with a sunhat and sunglasses. Thank you!

Bag Painting

We added 2 parts paint to 1 part white flour and mixed it together in a sealed ziplock baggie. After the paint and flour were mixed into a thick consistency, a tiny corner of the bag was cut off and the children were invited to 'paint' with the pastry-like bags.  This proved to be quite difficult and provided children excellent opportunities to practice fine motor and hand-eye control over the artistic mediums!