Category Archives: Classroom Posts

To continue our exploration of structures, the children were provided a rubber ramp kit for the grass area outdoors today.  Here are some photos of the children using the rubber ramp: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.587901947936286.1073741880.213823248677493&type=1

The children had to work together to build with this rubber ramp.  It was neat to see them figure out that the track had to lay flat to get the balls to roll all the way down.  They also figured out how to put the coffee can at the end so that it made a “plink” sound when the balls hit the end of the track.

We also added some foam colored unit blocks today.  They were used almost exclusively in the block area.  We are wondering the following:

1. Are the children using the foam blocks more simply because they are new?
2. Are the children using the foam blocks more because they are colorful?
3. Are the children using the foam blocks more because they are light and topple over more, offering the children a new challenge?
4. If they were pink and purple, instead of blue, green and red, would the children use them as much?

Here are some photos of one child using the new colorful unit blocks (but there were other children using them!):

MESSING ABOUT

We also wanted to let you know that we have some new materials in the observation booth for you to enjoy and manipulate.  There’s a display about “messing about” with materials in the observation booth and we put out some items in baskets for you.  Please take a moment to read the documentation display, if interested, and ask if you have questions.  It may give you insight as to why we have the children “mess about” with materials in the classroom (and why adults should also do so!).

For more on “messing about with materials,” visit the Hawkins Centers of Learning website. (URL: http://hawkinscenters.org/exhibitmu/messing-about/)

Today our class investigated some natural structures: hills!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.587475131312301.1073741879.213823248677493&type=1

The above are some photos of the children enjoying the hills.  Here are some of the things the children did:

• ran
• rolled
• tossed seed pods
• slid
• sat and watched

Last week our study of hills began.  Here was the first post about hills:

http://wordpress.miracosta.edu/laurap/2013/09/09/todays-highlights-a-hill-study/

To address some of our questions about the children’s experiences of hills, the following can be noted about our day today:

1. The “clock tower” hill still won in the votes, but it only won by one vote.
2. The children did not provide as many reasons for why they liked hill one or hill two.
3. Some of these differences could be due to the children who attend on Tuesday versus Monday.
4. The children today more actively explored both hills from the get-go.  There was no warming-up period.  The last visit to the hills we had, we noticed that the children seemed to explore the second hill more, perhaps because we went there second.

The hill studies have evolved to a study of “Structures” and we now have a project about structures underway in the classroom.  We recently put a board up near the sign-in book where families can share their observations of children and their explorations of structures (or read what teachers and other family members have been writing down).

Yesterday we captured even more photos of the children using some new construction materials outdoors – marble mazes and crates!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.587046288021852.1073741877.213823248677493&type=1

GARDENING

However, it’s not all about structures: We also did some gardening!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.587049284688219.1073741878.213823248677493&type=1

Our planning documents are now ready for the next week or so in Room 4.

We will be taking a walking field trip tomorrow.  To learn more about what we plan to do, please read our blog post from last week:

http://wordpress.miracosta.edu/laurap/?p=925

There are two new things in our planning sheets:

1) We have a section for “Project Plans”

2) We added information about the special activities happening in extended care

Thank you for reading our blog posts and our planning sheets!  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Environment Planning -September 14

Room 4 Planned Possibilities- September 14

The children in Room 4 have been exploring the soil in our garden box and talking about the garden for some time now.  We have learned about worms and are beginning to learn about compost.  The children mixed donated compost into the garden.  The children have also written out garden plans and have walked along campus to see what they want to plant.

We noticed that there were two consistent themes in what children want to plant: pumpkins and flowers.

We are about ready to start planting.  To do this, we need some donations:

1) Soil safe for children to handle

2) A pumpkin (we want to cut it open and plant the seeds)

3) Sunflower seeds (the children want flowers and these grow tall)

4) Flowers that are already sprouted (must be non-poisonous)

5) Families to donate time to work in the garden with children

If you want to bring in one of the items above, please talk with a teacher.  We want to be sure we get a variety of materials, so we can let you know if we already have someone bringing that item.

We can’t wait to start watching our garden grow!