Singing Old MacDonald with our 2's

The pre-K 4's teacher next door comes into our classroom for awhile to play her guitar. Since I am not gifted in this department, I really appreciate it! One of our favorites with our 2 year olds is singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm using props. The children select the animals, hold them up, and we sing the sounds they make.

Their Ideas: Airplanes and Airports

We have a large bin of Duplos that have always included one large Lego airplane body. Today, the body went missing. So how could we build our own airplane?

I retrieved all the airplane books from our library so we could learn about different types of airplanes and what is in an airport.

When they saw this picture of a traffic control tower, they wanted to build one.

I had no idea where their minds and creativity would go when I set the bin of Legos out this morning. I wanted to see what inspired them. My favorite part of teaching. Some things simply cannot be planned.

The Itsy Bitsy and Great Big Spiders in the Sensory Table

One of our favorite songs is the Itsy Bitsy Spider. And one of our versions includes The Great BIG Spider. So I was delighted when my director found a bag of fake spider webs and these assorted plastic spiders in our storage room. I have no idea how they got there, but they were a hit with our 3 year olds. Especially the Great BIG Spiders. We added water, the rain gutter, and watering cans. We then had spiders of all sizes falling down the "water spout" as we poured water. 

The Mirror is Now a Ramp

I recently posted about how we have been lying our mirror on the floor in the block area. On Friday I decided to raise it a bit by putting some blocks underneath. I added the arches on the top. I was curious what they would do with this upon entering the block area. Almost immediately, cars were brought to the mirror. Then, the blocks under one end of the mirror were removed. It was now a ramp. Not just for cars. But also marbles. The boys were drawn to this area and were quite calm while absorbed in watching the cars and marbles move from one end to the other. Eventually the marbles were transported around the room in cars and trailers, and then returned to the ramp.  I wish I had thought to use this mirror long ago, but thrilled to watch it being used in so many ways now.

A Nature Walk

Our 3's class took a nature walk around the building today. My co-teacher read somewhere about making a "tape bracelet" (sticky side facing up) so that when the children found small items, they could stick it to the tape. We found flower petals, moss, leaves, and other pieces of tree and shrubbery. Most of the children wanted to remove their bracelets once we got to class, so I taped them onto paper to take home.

Seeing the big spider was the highlight. When we sing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider", we add a verse for the "Great Big Spider". We decided this spider was, indeed, the "Great Big Spider". I always love activities that give meaning to what we do in class, songs included. Yes, we sing about spiders, but to actually see one, see its web, and wonder about it makes everything that much more meaningful.

Autumn with the 2's

After attending a workshop at the OregonAEYC, I realized there are so many different ways to use the light table. This week I decided to put gourds, leaves, pinecones, ferns and magnifying glasses on the table. I also added a scale. The 2 year olds LOVED it! I found a completely smooth gourd and a very bumpy gourd, and one that fell over every time you tried to stand it up. It was a great tactile experience! I'd have them run their hand across it and say "smooth" or "bumpy."

One little guy was especially fond of this. We they returned today, he kept picking up the acorn squash and taking it to the paint table. So, we decided to let him paint the squash.

And roll it on paper to make a print.

He smiled from ear-to-ear at what he did with that squash.

The Pumpkin Patch

Every October our entire preschool goes to the pumpkin patch. Not just our students, but their families as well.

We were lucky to have THE nicest fall day, in the mid 70s.

They loved all the animals. Next week's theme is the farm!

Why, hello there!

Our guide said we were the largest group he's ever had. Next year we will probably break into 2 smaller groups.

Each parent and child got to pick out a pumpkin.

And ride the hay wagon back to the barn for lunch.

The best part was seeing all the smiles on the children's faces. They were very surprised to see their teachers in a different setting. After all, we live at preschool, right? 

(And wouldn't you love to wear an orange tu-tu skirt to the pumpkin patch?)

Fun With Tape and Blocks

One of our preschool families donated a package of electrical tape in assorted colors. This week I had placed the balance beam in the block corner to use with the blocks and large animals. As soon as I added the tape and scissors, the fun really began!

They started by taping two blocks to the top of the beam.

They then wrapped tape around the beam and down the ramp.

It was great exercise for those small muscles in the fingers.

They had to work as a team, sharing the scissors and tape.

I've carefully placed it in our storage room over the long weekend. I'll be curious what they will add to it on Monday!

If you want to see more about tape, you've got to see what Preschool Daze has done!