New Technology! 

This week we have added some new technology throughout the center. One of the components of this in the Maple Room is the Marbotic and it was very popular today. This program uses wooden letters and numbers that you place on the iPad screen to help practice simple math along with letter sounds and words. The children enjoyed working by themselves as well as with other children as a small group. 

Asher- "You take this over here and keep moving them to get the number." 

Graeme- "It's 2, 1 and 1. I did it!" 

Tegan- " T is right here, this is in my name." 

Teaching Strategies Gold # 28: Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks. 

Brittany Westphal 409

Pretend Play Fun!

Today, in the Pine Room the children practiced pretend play in different ways. Michael, Coen, and Zane were wearing the different animal masks and later pretended to be ghosts. Tegan and Andre played in the pretend school and took turns being the teacher. Carter and Braeden were pretending to talk on the phone to each other and were traveling as well. Ella was pretending to be a police officer. 

I'm a bunny! - Michael 

I'm a chicken! - Coen

Pick one! - Andre

Braeden: I'm going to California. Where are you going? 

Carter: New York.

Braeden: Okay. I'll meet you there when I'm done.

Carter: Okay, bye.

I'm calling the cops because someone is speeding! - Ella

Teaching Strategy #36 - Explores drama through actions and language

Bergeron 409

Spring Is Here!

The weather has been rainy, but warming up and it feels so nice! Today outside the children were able to see the flowers that have been growing in the garden. We hope to see even more bloom as the semester comes to a close! There are so many different parts of nature the children are able to observe and learn more about just by being outside!

In the picture above, Ramona, Roman and Macrae investigate a worm found on a stomp.

Here, Victoria, Sarah and Bella smell and touch the flowers growing outside.

Favour is showing Mrs. Nims that someone had picked a flower from the garden. Favour explained that when the flowers are picked they can not grow. "That makes me sad," Favour said.

Teaching Strategies: 27. The children demonstrate knowledge of Earth's environment. 

Let's Work Together!

There were many different games and activities being played in the hallway today! While some children worked on starting a band, others had a picnic, some made pools with the wooden blocks and others worked on arts and crafts. However, one thing was the same in all of these areas, the children were working together. Many times the children playing could be heard asking their peers to join in their play. The children were able to initiate the sharing of their materials, sustain play, all while balancing the needs and rights of themselves and others.

"Do you want to come to our picnic?"- Mathias 

"We are right here, we'll keep you company." - Braeden

"Let's sing the song Lamby lamb go go go." -Andre
"Don't start yet, you have to count down."- Tegan

"I'll clap." - Livy

"Will you save my building while I go get snack."- Harper

"Do you want to play with us Spencer." - Carter

Objective: (2c) Interacts with peers

MacKenzie Gentner 409

Let's Play Some Games!

Today during small group, Mrs. Weller's small group, the Freeze Drop Group, taught Miss Goodman's group, the Emotion Wagon Group, two games that they have changed this semester. The children all sat in a group while Mrs. Weller named off a few of the games the Freeze Drop Group had changed this semester so all of the children could vote. Red Rover won the vote so the Freeze Drop Group told the Emotion Wagon Group how they have changed the game. Carter explained that when your name is called you can move to the other side anyway you want, Audrey added "you can crab walk!" Mrs. Weller added that two people could get called at one time and Asher said, "that was my idea!" 

The children sitting together when discussing the games

The children and teachers getting ready to play Red Rover

The children and teachers getting ready to play Red Rover

Lilly F. moving to the other side after being called


After playing Red Rover the children got to play Duck, Duck, Goose where two children would be the duckers at one time. When Livy was the ducker she said, "who should I duck?"

The children playing duck duck goose

Teaching Strategies Gold: Objective 11 Demonstrates Positive Approaches to Learning

Lindsey Rennie, HDF 409

Music Students Visit!

During large group in all the classrooms, the music students came to teach the children a song. In the Walnut room, the music students taught the children a song called "Juba". The children learned about tempo and how the tempo makes the song go faster or slower. The music students had the children start singing the song slowly and sped up the speed while increasing their movement around the room.  

The song lyrics for "Juba". 

The children learning the song.

The children starting the tempo of the song slowly.

The tempo of the song speeding up. 

Teaching Strategies: 

The Arts 

Explores musical concepts and expression 

Megan Shea HDF 409 

Worm Hunting!

Today was a wet and dreary-looking day; however, the children made the best of it while playing outside! Many of them were searching for worms. They would move stumps and rocks to look in the dirt/mud for worms, pick them up, and then put them in a designated wagon. They added dirt and sticks to the wagon so that the worms would have a "home-like" habitat while the children examined them. This scientific inquiry gave the children a number of opportunities to experience first-hand how other living things live in our environment!

Andre showing the teacher the tiny worm he found!

Children moving stumps and searching for worms!

"What will happen if you pull the worm out and it's not in the dirt anymore?" the teacher asked Stephen. Stephen replied, "Well, we have dirt in the wagon for them because worms need dirt to live in and eat."

Jace, looking for more worms!

- Kayla Welker, 4/11/2017

TS Gold: 25: Demonstrates knowledge of the characteristics of living things; 27: Demonstrates knowledge of the Earth's environment