Week in Review May 9th-13th

Planting Seeds

The children have noticed changes outside and are talking about new plants growing. To help them understand this process further, we gave them the materials to grow their own plants. We talked about what a plant needed to grow and what steps we would follow to be planters. The students knew that plants needed dirt, water, and sunshine. We gave them the materials and they added the dirt and grass seed into small cups. They watered all of their seeds as well. The class has continued to care for the grass and are eager to see it sprout.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met: 

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

  2. 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).

            3. Early Learning Expectation: Fine Motor Development. Children experience growth in fine motor development and use small muscles to improve a variety of fine motor skills both in structured and unstructured settings.

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

2.      5. Early Learning Expectation: Living and Non-living Things. Children show a beginning awareness of scientific knowledge related to living and non-living things.

3.      6. Early Learning Expectation: Knowledge about the Earth. Children show a beginning awareness of scientific knowledge related to the earth.

Observing and Drawing the Caterpillars

This week we introduced caterpillars to the class. We talked about what they looked like, how they moved, and what was in their home during group time. Afterwards, children were able to watch and observe the caterpillars up close. They noticed the caterpillars looked similar to worms and had "pokey things" all over their body. We talked about how we could draw them. The children each represented the caterpillars using lines and shapes in different ways. We will continue to observe and draw the caterpillars as they grow and change.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met:

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

2.        2. 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)

           3. Early Learning Expectation: Visual Arts. Children show how they feel, what they think, and what they are learning through experiences in the visual arts

           4. Early Learning Expectation: Aesthetic Appreciation. Children develop rich and rewarding aesthetic lives.

           5. Early Learning Expectation: Fine Motor Development. Children experience growth in fine motor development and use small muscles to improve a variety of fine motor skills both in structured and unstructured settings.

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

2.      7. Early Learning Expectation: Living and Non-living Things. Children show a beginning awareness of scientific knowledge related to living and non-living things.

3.      8. Early Learning Expectation: Knowledge about the Earth. Children show a beginning awareness of scientific knowledge related to the earth.

Problem Solving with Ice

Our classroom is full of excellent problem solvers! We froze some of the classroom materials into large pieces of ice. We put them in the water table and the children used a variety of tools to try and release them. Some of them wanted to hit the ice with tools while others used spray bottles and cups of water to try and melt the ice. Each problem solver learned they had to be patient and try several different ideas before they could successfully release the materials. 

Early Childhood Standards of Quality Met:

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

2.        2. 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).

1.       3. 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.

2.       4. Early Learning Expectation: Participation-Cooperation-Play Networking-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.

         5. Early Learning Expectation: Fine Motor Development. Children experience growth in fine motor development and use small muscles to improve a variety of fine motor skills both in structured and unstructured settings.

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

2.