Thursday, April 24, 2014

Happy Thursday!  

We are so excited about our new Early Childhood wing that will be open the beginning of next school year!  Seeing changes outside, but wonder what is happening inside the walls?  Lots! Mark Lekar, Marc Debrick, and others will be conducting tours to members and school parents interested in seeing the progress inside the school’s construction zone. 

The tours will take place this Sunday, April 27 from 10:30 – 12:30 pm  The building will be open during those times and we will ask entry into the new buildings to be through the school hallway doors adjacent to the kitchen and Miss Limback’s room (inside the main school building).  Please, no access by crossing any fence lines (too many obstacles and possibly mud if you cross a fence). You will be free to roam once inside and several folks will be present to answer questions. Please be cognizant that this is a construction site and all smaller children must be kept in check to avoid any possible injuries – we want all to visit and enjoy the excitement but caution that all must be careful while the site is open.



This morning we worked collaboratively to create a maze using the blocks!  The friends worked together to share the blocks and place them so that the maze was "just a little tricky, but not too tricky."  This was not only an opportunity to practice spatial relationship skills, but it is also an opportunity to practice engaging in conversations and problem solving with each other! 

For example:

Child One: "I want to use the big block to make a bridge. See how the cars can go under the bridge?"

Child Two: "Well it's hard for my arm to get under the bridge.  Why don't we use that piece on the side and just pretend there is a bridge?"

Child One: "No, I want to use the block as a bridge."

Child Two: "Well we don't have any other blocks to use.

Child One: "Okay, I guess we can use a pretend bridge." 







The blocks also make great beards and mohawks! 


The collaboration also extended to the sensory table, light table, and writing center!  




During morning meeting we read this book about why we thank God for our food.  This book also helps us understand where food comes from! 


During small group time, we noticed that one of our apple seeds already sprouted! 




We made a graph on the window to keep track of how many seeds and/or beans sprout each day.  


Pretty soon we might have to measure our sprouts.  We practiced measuring using our own stick from the block center.  The children learned that when measuring, begin at the bottom and be sure to carefully move a finger to mark where to put the stick before moving the stick.    













The first group decided to try out measuring one of the bushes in the front of the Sonshine center. We learned that it was tricky to remember where to put your finger because there was nothing to hold your finger still. 







The second group decided to measure the flannel graph!









We then each picked one thing from outside to measure.  We first measured our item independently. 












Then, we worked collaboratively to measure the item again! 




In our Food Project, we have discussed that a lot of the foods that are healthy begin as plants.  We did our own research today by reading books about foods.  As the children read the books, they looked for foods that are plants.  We discussed the various foods that are and are not plants. 










We read the story On Top of Spaghetti  together.  At the end of the story, a meatball that was mushed into the ground grows into a meatball tree.  We had a discussion about if meatball trees were real or not.  
"They are not real because meatballs are made from meat, not plants."
"That tree is just silly."
"There is no meatball tree-only plant trees." 


During Jesus time, we learned the story of the women finding Jesus' tomb empty.  We learned that they ran to tell others the good news that Jesus is alive!  


We then went and shared the good news that Jesus is alive!!   Thank you Jesus for the gift of salvation through Your death and resurrection! 



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