Happy Monday!
***PLEASE BRING A WHITE T-SHIRT FOR YOUR WEE FRIEND BY NEXT MONDAY, JUNE 28 FOR AN ART ACTIVITY! THANKS!***
We just finished up chapter 11 in Charlotte’s Web in K group! There are a few friends who have read it before and they’re able to recall very important, specific events before they occur. Every other day, we’ve been adding to our character chart with notable events or character traits that come up in the story.
PREK2 friends put on 3-D glasses as a tool as they read, ‘Creepiest Creatures of the Deep!’ It was a new and fun venture that the three PREK2 members got to explore!
Our Monday morning was one in which children became involved in various activities and stayed engaged until we went outside. A few friends were at the art table, a group was on the building rug exploring Magnatiles, and a few kids played a board game at the circle table.
Over the last few months, we’ve really seen a shift in children’s ability to stay at an activity for an extended period of time. We see a lot of instances throughout the day where a three year old engages and plays with a five year old peer. The multiage classroom has so many benefits—children playing with other peers outside of their age group is one of them! Each child in the relationship has things to add, making it a great learning experience.
We went outside and found that several small tree branches had been knocked to the ground during the storm last night. A group of friends went around and picked up these branches (completely self initiated) so we could put them into the yard waste bin.
Children of all ages became quite the little helpers this morning as we weeded the garden. They were given instructions as to what weeds looked like and what growing plants looked like. The garden beds look much better and it’s all thanks to the hard working hands of our kids!
An observer that was here last week asked when we go outside and for how long. I answered and after thinking about it, realized (for the umpteenth time) that we are so lucky— we can spend as much outside time as we want. As I was strolling through Teacher Tom’s blogpost from today, it centered around the topic of outdoor play.
“The average American child spends 4-7 minutes a day in unstructured play outdoors. Why so little? The main theory blames screen-based technologies, but when I asked the same kids in the same survey if they would rather play with their friends, play a video game, or watch TV, nearly all answered, “Play with my friends.” (Although one thoughtful respondent summed it all up by saying, “I would rather play video games outside with my friends.”)”
“Studies consistently show that kids who spend more time outside are smarter and happier. They are more attentive and less anxious. They are more confident, more creative, demonstrate a greater sense of responsibility, and, of course, being outdoors promotes overall physical fitness. But I think most of us know this. It’s almost common knowledge, yet the kids are still only getting 4-7 minutes a day outside.”
Being connected to the outdoors, free to run and jump and play is one of the greatest gifts.
http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-children-tell-me-they-would-rather.html
Breakfast– Whole wheat toast with butter and fresh apples.
Lunch– Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce and shredded cheese, fresh apples/oranges, and fresh carrots/cucumber.
PM snack– Whole milk yogurt with simply granola.
Wee Sprout– Fresh carrots/cucumber.
Have a fantastic evening!
-Mindy
Link to pictures: WF 6/21
