Good Afternoon!
There were several manipulatives that were requested at the circle table. Maxwell used the white tiles to create a design. He counted each row and used that knowledge to complete his design that had the same number of tiles in each row.
Franklin and a peer explored coins. They talked about the differences that they saw in each coin, color being the biggest difference that they noticed.
We have a small group that’s been fascinated with making necklaces/bracelets lately. Not only does it put our fine motor skills to work when we put each bead onto the pipe cleaner but children discuss different colors that they use. Our older friends bring patterning into their creations which allows us and our older friends to talk about what patterns look like. Our older friends love these teachable moments that occur!
This article attached goes into detail what fine motor skills look like at this age and why they are just as important as gross motor skills. It also gives a few tips on how to strengthen young children’s fine motor skills as well as fine motor skills that children should be working on.
“In fact, research shows that emphasis on purely intellectual activities—memorization of letters and numbers, for instance—is far less useful at this stage than pursuits that encourage fine motor abilities and hand-eye coordination. These skills—rather than counting or reciting the alphabet—lay the foundation for academic learning in later years.”
https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/physical/child-developing-motor-skills/
Our garden has given us quite a bit of vegetables this summer. Lucy and Anna helped Miss Hannah gather some tomatoes that were ready. We’re anxious to try them this afternoon as a Wee Sprout.
Breakfast– Whole grain oatmeal with honey and PPC pears.
Lunch– Scrambled eggs, whole wheat tortilla, PPC peaches/pears, and PPC cucumber/cherry tomatoes.
PM snack– Air popped popcorn with butter and fresh apples.
Wee Sprout– PPC cucumber/PPC cherry tomatoes.
Have a fantastic night!
-Mindy
Link to pictures: WF 8/15