Welcome back! With a full week back from break we’re really in the swing of things. This week we started a study of the human body, and kids are fascinated! We’ve loved looking at picture books about the body, singing songs, and filling in our own life-size outlines of of our own bodies. We’re starting to transition our dramatic play center into a doctors office. If you have any of the following materials we could borrow, we would be so grateful!
- Step on scale
- “lab” coats
- Doctor tools
- Ace bandages
Our woods play time has been full of “wild animals” this week. On Tuesday there was a large pack of coyotes running from burrow to burrow, and Wednesday the woods were busy with owls (“I’m over here! Follow my hoot!”). Children love the dynamic of “family,” which shows up repeatedly in animal play. There is often a baby, and some caring parents to take care of them. The theme of “good” and “evil” also shows up a lot, and animal play provides such a great opportunity for kids to engage with that theme. Imaginary play provides kids with so many learning opportunities, but one of the most important is perspective taking. Becoming an animal in play is the first step in being able to see the world through someone else’s eyes - something we humans work hard at our whole lives!
In the coming weeks we’ll start working with more intentionality around name writing. Our work starts with breaking letters into parts, and we use the language big line, little line, big curve, and little curve to describe the parts of a letter. (A letter P has a big line, and a little curve, while a D has a big line and a big curve). We’ll work on writing names in upper case letters using correct letter formation (so much easier if it’s learned correctly from the start!). More on ways to support this work to come!
Leah's mom Sarah built a fire for us just before break.
We roasted some root veggies in our dutch oven and everyone tried them - and liked them!
stand up see-saw
How many kids can fit?
Cozy story time with Cathi.
Lots of negotiations around where to find the best snow for eating (we insist on FRESH!)
tracks near the shed - who's been there?
These kiddos sitting down for a night at the movies.
We mixed and rolled out dough for our cinnamon buns last Friday.
Look at those beauties! They got a little charred over the fire, but still tasted amazing. We'll get the recipe perfected by the end of the year.
Happy to be taking care of the bunnies again.
A mysterious hole in the snow - what could it be?
Another mysterious hole!
There's a pot stuck in that snowbank. These two worked hard to get it out!
Our "whispermaphone" has been very popular this week.
"Little owl! I'm over here - follow my hoot!"
a perfect coyote den
Sit spot time - collecting and observing perfect snowflakes on Monday.
block city
coloring in bodies - kids included details like their hearts, brains, blood, bones, stomach, and other creative things. :)
taking care of the babies at dramatic play
These two chiseled frozen sand out of our buckets - there are a few slippery spots out in the woods!
Check out these squirrel tracks!
It's going to be cold tonight, so we set up an ice experiment.
Hopefully they'll turn into beautiful ornaments we can use to decorate the woods.
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