We love building

Did you expect to see pictures of blocks or building toys here? Nope. Today we are talking about building on activities that we originally laid out. As you all know, we at BCCNS use emergent curriculum to programme plan for our class. Instead of planning themes, we "build" on activities in which we have previously observed the children engaging. 

Last week we had the gak in trays along with the little insects, amphibians and snakes. We noticed the children taking it out and playing with it directly on the table. Next step? We took away the trays and watched them explore the dynamics of this cool material. Did you ever think that we'd be talking fluid dynamics in preschool? The best part is, the children discovered that the animals (and hands) make really cool tracks in the gak and loved moving them through it. And they discovered this all on their own. 

Here's another example. Here we put out tubes, chairs and cars, fully expecting the children to use the chairs as an inclined plane to zoom the cars down the tubes. but look what happened. One of the kids discovered the physics of the fulcrum and suddenly we had seesaws in the class.

Fluid dynamics and physics in the same blog about a preschool classroom? You bet!

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen and Miss Kate

Welcome back!

We all hope you had a happy and restful holiday. We are so glad to be back in the saddle and working with your kids again.

For our first blog post of the year, let's talk about healthy snacks.

We at BCCNS ask the duty parent to provide a snack for the class about once every 6 weeks. We all know that snack isn't a meal so it's not necessary to have all 4 food groups, but a healthy snack should still be more than just a handful of crackers. And the best part is, it doesn't have to break the bank!

Check out what we had one day last week. Simple pretzels, cheese and apples. But there was enough choice for those children who may not have liked one of the choices, it was super popular and incidentally hit 3/4 of the food groups. Score!

Since we have allergies and sensitivities, we don't permit peanut or peanut products or sesame in our class. So what can you bring? Besides the above pretzels and cheese we like...

Fruit (please cut grapes in half at home)

Veggies like cucumbers, carrots or peppers 

Mini pitas

Cheese

Chex mix

Cereal

Frozen yoghurt tubes

Dried fruit (raisins, craisins, or even figs or dates)

Rice krispie treats (you can make them with cheerios or any dry cereal too!)

Mini muffins

Bread sticks

Tortilla and lunchmeat rolls

Be sure to check the snack board outside our classroom to see what's already been brought this month and have fun, be creative and the yum will come!

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen and Miss Kate

Gingerbread Day!

Run, run fast as you can... Can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!

Today we made cookie dough at circle time then baked it. But when we went to the kitchen, it was gone!

We went on a hunt all over the school and finally found the little rascal trying to call a cab from Miss Chelsey's office. But we caught him and ate him all up! He was a yummy little fugitive!

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen and Miss Kate

We didn't have to pay this piper

Today our class had the pleasure of hearing a bagpiper* play for our class. The general consensus was that it was loud!

Our friends had lots of questions and loved "helping" him blow it up before he started to play. It was a nice, unexpected treat that we hope will be repeated.

Thanks Elliott!

*full disclosure: Elliott is Miss Karen's son!

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen and Miss Kate

Oh they're listening!

Although at times it may appear that your child is doing everything but listening; it could however be the exact opposite.
Perhaps you have been in meetings with adults who are clicking their pens, drumming the desk or tapping their feet. Just like you and me, children often need busy hands to quiet their minds enough to interpret the messages we are giving them.

On this particular day our little friend who is doodling in the sand was very quick to correctly answer a question posed to the entire class. She was one of the only children to answer and did so without even looking up! 

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen, Miss Kate

Merry Christmas!

We spent most of the week trimming two mini Christmas trees in our block area. How wonderful for our children to have an opportunity to decorate (and redecorate and re-redecorate) their very own pint-sized trees? Good times...

"Help me, help you!"

We love that line from the movie Jerry Maguire. Sometimes it applies here at preschool too!

We are all about trying to get the children to be independent and do things on their own. Encouraging self-help is extremely important in the development of young children, and a huge milestone in their emotional and physical growth.

Most of us don't have the time but, at least once a day, ask your preschooler to put on/take off their own shoes or boots, put on their own coat or even just pull up their own pants after using the toilet. They may need a tiny bit of help or some general cheerleading, but they can do it!

Of course, all this self-help is nothing without the right "equipment". Low top shoes with velcro closures, loose pull on pants (no belts, please) and slip on boots all can help a child feel like a successful "big kid".

Miss Heidi, Miss Karen and Miss Kate