Week in Review: March 7th- March 11th

Week in Review: March 7th- March 11th 

Exploring Force Through a Fan

Our class has been discovering different ways to use force to move objects. There has been a particularly big interest in air pressure. Ms. Heidi introduced a large fan the the children and they have been experimenting with how it moves a balloon. The students have seen how different speeds of the fan have different effects on the balloons. They have observed the balloons flying high, hovering in the air, and moving across the room. We are working on comparing the different speeds and directions of the fan and thinking about different ways to move the balloons. We are excited to continue exploring different types of air pressure and force.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met:

1.       1. Early Learning Expectation: Creativity-Imagination-Visualization. Children demonstrate a growing ability to use originality or vision when approaching learning; use imagination, show ability to visualize a solution or new concept. 

2.       2.Early Learning Expectation: Initiative-Engagement-Persistence Attentiveness. Children demonstrate the quality of showing interest in learning; pursue learning independently. 

3.        3. Early Learning Expectation: Curiosity–Inquiry-Questioning Tinkering-Risk Taking. Children demonstrate an interest and eagerness in seeking information (e.g., be able to see things from a different perspective, fiddling with something to figure it out or attempting a reasonable solution).

4.       4. Early Learning Expectation: Resilience-Optimism-Confidence. Children demonstrate the capacity to cope with change, persist, move ahead with spirit, vitality and a growing belief in one’s ability to realize a goal.

5.       5. Early Learning Expectation: Reasoning-Problem Solving-Reflection. Children demonstrate a growing capacity to make meaning, using one’s habits of mind to find a solution or figure something out.

6.       6. Early Learning Expectation: Participation-Cooperation-PlayNetworking-Contribution. Demonstrate increasing ability to be together with others, in play or intellectual learning opportunities and/or making positive efforts for the good of all; join a community of learners in person and digitally as appropriate.

        7. Early Learning Expectation: Gross Motor Development. Children experience growth in gross motor development and use large muscles to improve a variety of gross motor skills in a variety of both structured and unstructured and planned and spontaneous settings.

1.       8. Early Learning Expectation: Observation and Inquiry. Children develop positive attitudes and gain knowledge about science through observation and active play.

Manipulating the Light

We invested in a set of flashlights for the classroom. The children immediately showed an interest in moving and manipulating the light from them. We explored how the light reflected and moved using mirrors and targets. This week, we altered the flashlights to see how this would affect the children's play. The lights were taped in different ways to change the shape of the beam into lines, rhombuses, triangles, etc. We heard the children talking about the shapes they saw. We also noticed them experimenting with how the light and shape changed as the moved it closer to or farther away from their target. We will continue to experiment with different ways to manipulate light.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met:

1.       1. Early Learning Expectation: Creativity-Imagination-Visualization. Children demonstrate a growing ability to use originality or vision when approaching learning; use imagination, show ability to visualize a solution or new concept. 

2.       2.Early Learning Expectation: Initiative-Engagement-Persistence Attentiveness. Children demonstrate the quality of showing interest in learning; pursue learning independently. 

3.        3. Early Learning Expectation: Curiosity–Inquiry-Questioning Tinkering-Risk Taking. Children demonstrate an interest and eagerness in seeking information (e.g., be able to see things from a different perspective, fiddling with something to figure it out or attempting a reasonable solution).

4.       4. Early Learning Expectation: Resilience-Optimism-Confidence. Children demonstrate the capacity to cope with change, persist, move ahead with spirit, vitality and a growing belief in one’s ability to realize a goal.

5.       5. Early Learning Expectation: Reasoning-Problem Solving-Reflection. Children demonstrate a growing capacity to make meaning, using one’s habits of mind to find a solution or figure something out.

6.       6. Early Learning Expectation: Participation-Cooperation-PlayNetworking-Contribution. Demonstrate increasing ability to be together with others, in play or intellectual learning opportunities and/or making positive efforts for the good of all; join a community of learners in person and digitally as appropriate.

7. Early Learning Expectation: Geometry. Children build their visual thinking skills through explorations with shape and the spaces in their classrooms and neighborhoods

8. .Early Learning Expectation: Observation and Inquiry. Children develop positive attitudes and gain knowledge about science through observation and active play.

Using Stairs to Connect Places

We have seen the children testing different ways to connect two points throughout the semester. Ms. Ashley asked the class how they could move a doll on the ground to a house up on a table. The children knew they needed a type of path for the doll to travel on. They worked together and experimented with using large blocks to form some types of ramps and stairs. We are still figuring out how to make stairs with multiple levels to travel up. This architectural skill will continue to expand as the students work more with Ms. Ashley.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met:

1.       1. Early Learning Expectation: Creativity-Imagination-Visualization. Children demonstrate a growing ability to use originality or vision when approaching learning; use imagination, show ability to visualize a solution or new concept. 

2.       2.Early Learning Expectation: Initiative-Engagement-Persistence Attentiveness. Children demonstrate the quality of showing interest in learning; pursue learning independently. 

3.        3. Early Learning Expectation: Curiosity–Inquiry-Questioning Tinkering-Risk Taking. Children demonstrate an interest and eagerness in seeking information (e.g., be able to see things from a different perspective, fiddling with something to figure it out or attempting a reasonable solution).

4.       4. Early Learning Expectation: Resilience-Optimism-Confidence. Children demonstrate the capacity to cope with change, persist, move ahead with spirit, vitality and a growing belief in one’s ability to realize a goal.

5.       5. Early Learning Expectation: Reasoning-Problem Solving-Reflection. Children demonstrate a growing capacity to make meaning, using one’s habits of mind to find a solution or figure something out.

6.       6. Early Learning Expectation: Participation-Cooperation-PlayNetworking-Contribution. Demonstrate increasing ability to be together with others, in play or intellectual learning opportunities and/or making positive efforts for the good of all; join a community of learners in person and digitally as appropriate.

7. Early Learning Expectation: Relationships with Others. Children develop healthy relationships with other children and adults.