Category: Room 3

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

❄️Snow much Fun❄️

Snow Day has become a tradition for the preschool and it is one of our favorites! In January part of our curriculum is winter and the cold weather. We learn about how people and animals live in and adapt to the cold.

Snow days are a way for us Californians to experience cold and snow and ice in a way that is fun and play based. Here are a few pictures of the snow day fun from those days!

We got to watch them spray the snow! It was very exciting
The sleds were very popular and they stayed busy the whole yard time. Thanks to the parent volunteers who helped man the sleds ! 🛷

We love snow day and we appreciate everyone who made it possible!

We also enjoyed the snow as it was melting

Looking forward to the next play based adventure!

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.

🎄🎄Christmas is coming!! 🎄🎄

As we wrap up the calendar year we always go out with a celebration. 🎉 Today we wore our Christmas pajamas and had special treats and activities.

We had cocoa and popcorn (and a couple of marshmallows as well)
Mr. Tim came and read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and brought a few of his Grinchy toys.
We watched the classic version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
And we got to do the Reindeer Hokey Pokey with Ms. Kristen!

We had so much fun playing on the patio and all over the school and we get to do it all again tomorrow! Merry Christmas!

🥣 Stone Soup Day 2 🥣

Stone Soup. The link is to a version of Stone Soup we have been listening to in class. The class loves the part that says bring what you got and put it in the pot!

Once again the children enjoyed sharing ingredients and making a big pot of soup to share together. A big thanks to Katie Luna for volunteering to make the soup for today.

The children have also been enjoying making stone soup in the dramatic play kitchen of our outdoor classroom. Soup everywhere! 🥣

They have gotten good at chopping fake vegetables and real ones. 😄

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and continue to reflect on all the blessings God has given us!

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!