Category: Room 1

Full STEAM Ahead!

To close out the month of February, our friends in Rooms 1, 2, and 3 have been enjoying a train dramatic play area on The Older Pod Patio.

Looking at the materials used–cardboard boxes and crates, it may seem unintentional or even unfinished but it is quite the opposite. This simplified interpretation of a train helps children build the capacity for abstract and symbolic thinking. Using objects to stand for something prepares children’s minds for comprehending things like using letter symbols to represent words and ideas. Practicing representational thinking in a pretend play setting is vital for a child’s development.

Check out how our friends take on roles and engage in this exciting activity.

Happy Chinese New Year!

In celebration of Chinese New Year, we’ve enjoyed a few thematic activities on The Older Pod Patio.

For a bit of S.T.E.A.M., we enjoyed red and gold playdough.

At our sensory table, we utilized rice, chopsticks and spoons to scoop, fill and pour.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

We used tearing to strengthen our fine motor muscles and create hearts of gold.

A Beary Lovely Picnic on The Patio

Here’s a look at how our friends in Rooms 1, 2 and 3 are enjoying our Bear Picnic Party on The Older Pod Patio. We never underestimate the importance of stuffed animals. This classic toy— the teddy bear, is used to help act out/narrate scenarios, process emotions, bring comfort and open our imagination to worlds of fun.

This type of activity is essential for cognitive development and helps educators assess how children are processing their emotions and their growing knowledge of the world around them.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

Icy Work Ahead!

Happy New Year! It’s January and our friends returned to school ready to jump into some fun, winter-themed activities. We started with Animal Rescue on the Ice! Rooms 1, 2, and 3 worked together to free arctic animals from glaciers. This was a great opportunity for us to discuss safety practices– the importance of protective eyewear and spatial awareness while using a real hammer.

Sunflower Sensory

As we celebrated Stone Soup Days in the classrooms, we also enjoyed a Sunflower Soup Sensory activity on The Patio with Ms. Kristen.

This is a fun activity that incorporates the practical skills of cooking—mixing ingredients, scooping, pouring, and measuring with all the freedom and creativity children desire. As we play, we’re also sharing space and materials, working together, developing language, learning the parts of the whole (flowers, cranberries, pumpkins, and leaves), recognizing colors, exploring different textures, and strengthening fine motor muscles.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Room 1 Stone Soup Days

Happy Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for each Room 1 family. We pray you have a blessed and wonderful holiday with your love ones. God bless!

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” -Psalm 107:8-9

Apple Pumpkin Days on the Patio

To celebrate Apple Pumpkin Days we enjoyed some festive, fall activities on the Older Pod Patio with Ms. Kristen!

Our friends in Rooms 1, 2 and 3 dissected a pumpkin at the sensory table and made Pumpkin Seed Soup with the pulp, seeds, water and cinnamon.

We used hammers and golf tees at the Pumpkin Pounding station!

We tasted red, yellow, and green apples; then we graphed our favorite!

The Farmer’s Market dramatic play was very busy. Our friends enjoyed picking apples, stocking the market, and cooking/baking with the produce.

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3