Getting Clean Getting Dirty - Mud Investigations and Fun With Shaving Cream ELP

Finally, the spring weather has arrived! Yesterday, we spent the better part of the morning rediscovering nature in the outdoors.

The worms are back! It took lots of digging, but they found the worms.

The children also noticed other signs in nature.

When we returned to the indoors, we continued the fun! The children played in mud and made mud pies.

Ms. Switzer put shaving cream on the painting table and the children experimented with different tools.

It was lots of fun getting clean after getting dirty!

More Plant Inquiry News:

Alexander brought in his cactus to share last week. This inspired us to think about the cactus.

We also wrote about what we know about plants to add to our "I Think..." Bulletin board.

"Dirt is important; without dirt, the plant would not survive" - Aidan-Paul

Yesterday, we looked at different types of seeds. 

In the afternoon, we soaked some beans seeds to see if they might sprout roots over the weekend. We also read a book about how plants grow. We put some paper napkin in a clear cup and put the beans in.  Then we wet the paper napkin.

Now we wait!

Let's Clean Up The Park - Taking Care of Our Environment ELP

On Friday, April 25th, we participated in Toronto's school clean-up day. After morning snack we headed over to our favourite park, equipped with disposable gloves and plastic bags.

Before heading out, we read stories about keeping our park clean. We also discussed what sort of garbage was safe for picking up (bottle caps, paper cups, plastic items, etc.) and what we never pick up (sharp items such as syringes, broken glass, pins, etc). We also reviewed what goes in the garbage and blue bins.

It was a cold and windy day but the children got to work picking up whatever garbage they could find. They found lots of garbage all over the park.

We found some natural treasures too so we took them in to put on our inquiry table!

I wonder what kind of wonderings we will get from these great findings??

Many thanks to the children for helping to clean up our park!!

We found a great book on "why plants grow and other questions"... We put out our artifacts on the table and we asked the kids what they know about plants, "I think"... They got busy writing about what they know like, "plants grow", "they need water and sun", "they sprout roots", "trees grow leaves". 

I even found this tidbit which I though was neat, "We always have to learn about science!" (Mary) so I  put it up on our "I Think" wall.

Cleaning up our park has actually breathed new life into our plant inquiry. We are going to plant our own plants with seeds soon...

Our Vegetable/Fruit Growing Inquiry Continues ELP

Our investigation into growing plants from other plants continues.  We found that the sweet potato began to sprout roots after being soaked in water so some children wanted to draw about the changes. B was wondering if we could find information in a book.

The sprouted potato is growing nicely. V and C thought we could measure it with cubes to keep a record of the growth.  So far it is 15 cubes tall! 

A wondering: "Will new potatoes grow?"

Our potato plant in the window.

The onion plant sprouted roots as well so the children planted it in some soil since the potato seemed to do well in soil.

We also noticed some green growing in the middle of the pineapple leaves.

The pineapple is sprouting fresh green leaves!

The avocado seeds are soaking and seem to be splitting but we don't see roots. Stay tuned...

Can We Grow Plants from Other Fruits and Vegetables? - Plant Inquiry ELP

On St. Patrick's Day, Ms. Switzer was checking her cupboard for potatoes to play "hot potato" and to do some potato paint stamping.  She came across an old potato in the bag that was beginning to sprout so she thought the kids might be interested.

We began a knowledge building circle using the "I See", "I Think", "I Wonder" method.  The children were amazed at this new found discovery.

 I See: "It's squishy", "It has roots", "It looks like a brain with lines", "It smells like a garden", "It feels wet". I Think:  "It would not be good to cook", "It grew some roots", "It happened because it sat in the cupboard", "Someone put oil and salt on it". I Wonder: "Can we plant it?", "How do we do that?","Should we put it in soil or soak it in water?" "Can we plant any kind of potatoes?", "Can we plant other vegetables to get plants?", "Will they grow roots?"

Setting up our Inquiry 

Over the next few days, Ms. Switzer and I asked the children what kind of vegetables they think that we might bring in to experiment with.  We got a list of common household vegetables such as sweet potatoes, avocados, onions, celery, carrots, etc.

I looked on Pinterest and found an idea to try soaking the top of a pineapple to get a plant! I had one at home so I brought it in.  We began by putting the potatoes on the table with some magnifying classes and paper, pencils, etc. The students visited to check it out.

On Friday, we had a collection of items to experiment with: an avocado seed, a white potato, a sweet potato, a pineapple top, a green onion, and the sprouted potato. We looked on the internet to see what we could do to get started.  Most sites said to begin by soaking them in water with toothpicks so that they don't fall in.

The children thought that maybe we should do something different with the sprouted potato, so we decided to plant it in some soil.

We cut off the rotting part of the potato and we put it in a container for the students to look at.

Finally, the students made signs to go with each fruit/vegetable.  

Ms. Switzer and I set out some recording sheets, paper, pencils/erasers, pencil crayons and magnifying glasses to help with inquiring minds. Now it was time to wait and see!

Let's Draw! and St. Patrick's Day Fun

We've been very busy here in our classroom. The children seem to be interested in everything and the inquiries are piling up on us!! Back in February, we noticed that one of our SK students was very interested in drawing superheroes and he began to inspire other students to do the same.

I tweeted out this picture because I thought it was a good example of how we learn to write first using pictures.

"The superheroes have colours and the villains do not" (Noah)

Ms. Switzer and I wondered if the children might be interested in learning to draw other things and we hoped to further inspire them to take an interest in "driting" (beginning writing, using pictures). We set out to create a drawing provocation table.  I brought some learn to draw books that I had at home from my own children. We also looked on the internet for some easy "learn to draw superhero" tutorials. We also made some scrapbooks into drawing books and put out paper, pencils (and erasers), crayons and pencil crayons, and other odds and ends.

We showed the students the books and we had a knowledge building circle to discuss what they could be used for. We also discussed that writers often begin by drawing pictures and writing words to label them and segmenting the sounds in words to write sounds that they hear (c-a-t or s-r-l for squirrel). Then we waited...

We have been photo-documenting their daily writing activity and am very surprised to see that when we have playtime, many children are choosing to spend their time drawing and writing on paper and in their journals. I should mention that we did not give the children writing topics or prompts; we just let them draw whatever they wanted!

"A squirrel, a tree and a hole" (JK student)

"Transformers, Ninja Turtles, and  Beyblades" (JK and SK students)

We are amazed by their engagement and focus during this time. Both Junior and Senior K students are drawing pictures and taking chances with spelling.

It is now the end of March and the drawing and writing continues to be an interesting choice!

St. Patrick's Day Fun

March 17th was St. Patrick's Day so Ms. Switzer and I put out some fun activities for the children to explore. It was also a great way to highlight the colour green!

(clockwise from top left) Pepper shamrock, potato, celery heart and celery stick stamping; gold and green pipe cleaner bracelets; and creative shamrock decorating.  One student came in his Irish leprechaun t-shirt!! Ms. Switzer even made mini green cupcakes for the children to eat!

Shaving Cream Fun!

Later in the week, we used the celery hearts and added some pussy-willows to the paint centre and the children made a large stamped collage which we later cut up and used as a bulletin board border.

We have some other inquiries on the go and I hope to get them on the blog soon.  Stay tuned...

Have a great week!

What Are We Learning While We Play?

From time to time (well, mostly every day) I capture the children's photos while they are engaged in play. They've become so accustomed to my daily photo documentation that they really don't seem to notice; kind of like those "reality show" families. In the beginning, they would stop and pose and then lose track of what they were doing. Now, they keep on doing what they are doing and they tell me lots of stuff about what they are thinking while they play. 

Usually my blog postings are specific to a criteria or inquiry topic.  I thought it would be nice to put a lens onto what the children do when they visit the various classroom play centres.  

What is this "play-based" learning anyway? What exactly ARE they learning?

Math Skills

Geometry and Spatial Sense (2D/3D Shapes) and Patterning. Notice that the children have made a structure with a stable base to support it.

Patterning and problem-solving skills in action while constructing puzzles!

The students are working together to see where the pieces fit. 

Measurement and fine-motor skills development (scooping and rotating patterns) while playing with sand and snow.

Counting 1-1 correspondence (knowing that every object gets one count) and subitizing (e.g. recognizing number patterns on a number cube or ten-frame). Making groups of ten and number recognition.

Oral Language, Reading and Writing Skills

The children are experimenting with drawing and writing using pictures and symbols to express what they want to say. They are learning concepts about print, like that we write from left to right.

Playing together teaches collaboration and turn-taking skills. They are role playing and problem solving through play. They are also practicing their oral language skills.

Using scissors and manipulating letters to make their name. Students are strengthening their hand-eye co-ordination and small muscle control.

Sight word knowledge (words that we learn by memory because they don't follow a prescribed pattern).

Science, Inquiry and Technology

Animals after the ice storm inquiry.

What happened to the bugs?

What happens when we bring snow inside and add food colouring and objects from nature?

What happens when we bring in evergreen branches and paint with them?

What is a shadow?

Playing outside in all weather teaches us about daily and seasonal cycles and weather patterns.

Playing on the computer teaches valuable Literacy and Math skills.

As you can see, our days are full of fun and learning.  The next time you ask your child, "what did you do at school today?" And they respond with "nothing" or "I played", remember that play is the Kindergarten child's work.  

It's all in a day's work!!