Loving Our Yard and Recyclable Fun

The Outdoor Classroom has been a blast for Room 3. Our kids love being outside and engaging in all the creative learning opportunities that Team 6 provides. One of the areas drawing our focus is the Constructive Recyclabels area. We are having an awesome time stacking and using our imaginations to build everything from towers to fire trucks. Bruce and Samuel are so proud of their creative fire truck that we thought we’d share it!

“Hurry, hurry to the fire. Hurry, hurry drive the fire truck,” they both sang.

Let’s Play Hockey…Preschool Style!

He shoots, he scores! The students love our new teacher-created, preschool-style hockey sticks! Is there anything that says ‘winter sports’ better than hockey? 😉

Our Very Own Gingerbread House

Have you seen it? We have our very own gingerbread house on the older pod patio! Ms. Gwendolyn created the house using large boxes, then she added a fireplace, decorated mantel, Christmas tree, and even a chandelier! The children added ” candies” made from painted recyclables to create an astounding finished product! Take a look for yourself…you may even want to get cozy on the rocking chair!

Smashing Pumpkins

Ah…our annual smashing pumpkins event….

The carnage…we had a “smashing” good time!!!

Can We Build It? Yes, We Can!

STEM Learning in the Outdoor Classroom

Building with Natural Materials

Building with Large Wooden Blocks

Big Builder

Magna-Tiles

Magnet Blocks

Gum Drops and Toothpicks

Marble Maze

Dominoes

Trains

Leaping into Learning

We know that active play is an important part of a child’s development. Our Room 1 friends stay active in our outdoor classroom by running, leaping, climbing, jumping, and spinning! Gross motor skills are put to the test as the children leap onto a colored mat, but not before making a prediction. They shout with determination, “I’m gunna’ get red!” Then, they leap with all their might (sometimes falling short of their expectation but committed to trying again). We are building strong muscles, improving coordination, fostering cooperation, encouraging self-esteem, and learning colors…all while having a blast!

STEM Learning Through Sensory Bins

Children in Room 3 spent countless minutes investigating the new multi-level sensory experience in the Outdoor Classroom during yard time today. Multiple children busily went back and forth, carrying cups and bowls filled with corn kernels over to the gutter ‘slides’. The corn rolled down the gutters, got pushed into the slot in the box, then fell to the next gutter to make its way down the line. Kids delighted as they prodded, pushed, scooped, and poured the corn. All of these activities create stronger connections in science as they learn measurement, gravity, engineering, and more.