Learning About Letters!

The Kinder students are busy using concrete materials to explore and create letters. The students are motivated to complete this task because they have the opportunity to touch and manipulate different materials. This provides another way to learn how to write their own names and form letters (in addition to using paper and writing utensils).

Students were given an opportunity to identify words that started with focused letters using the SMARTboard. 

Year 1s also popped balloons to identify letter names and sounds.

Stay tuned for the reveal of our Alphabet project!

Planting the seeds for an Apple Inquiry

During the first week of school, students discovered apples on the ground. These apples had fallen from the old apple tree previously located in the Kindergarten yard.

Many students collected these apples from the Kindergarten yard and brought them into the classroom.  Miss Khala and I placed the apples on our science table for the students to take a closer look. Once we introduced our classroom Wonder Wall to the students, we asked the students to share questions about the apples they had collected. [The Wonder Wall is a place where students' questions and wonders are posted and later explored.]

Here are some of the students' questions:

• Why are the apples from the apple tree green?
• If the apples were found on the floor does that mean they are rotten?
• Will the apples get rotten?
• Why can't we eat the green apples from outside?
• Will the trees grow if we planted the seeds?

Many students were interested about whether or not the apples were rotten or if they would eventually rot. The next day, we asked the students the following question:

What do you think will happen to the apples if we left them on our table for a long time?

G.E. - You can't eat them
J.T. - They won't taste good
M.R. -The apples will be muddy
M.P. - The apples will turn red and look like a brain

Do you think our apples are rotten? How can you tell?

M.S. - When they fall on the ground they are really rotten. Our apples fell on the ground.
E.P. - When apples fall off the tree they bruise.

In order to learn more about rotting, we watched a video that explained the changes apples go through as they rot. 

We asked the students if they thought the apples would rot if we: placed them in soil, sand or placed them in a bucket of water. Many said the apples would rot. Students are currently observing and waiting to see what happens. On Day 2, they already noted that the apples were looking more brown/red in colour.

We also decided to cut open the apples and explore the inside. Students touched and manipulated the seeds. Students also found some small brown spots inside the apples. Many wondered if the brown spots meant that the apples were already starting to rot. We compared the seeds inside the apples to the pomegranate seeds from our previous fruit inquiry. The students were curious as to what would happen if we planted the seeds. Students planted both apple and pomegranate seeds in soil. They are currently watching to see if a plant will grow.

Stay tuned for more inquiry postings about our apple experiment!

#Dot Day

#Make Your Mark

Tweet: @peterhreynolds

Monday, September 15, 2013

The ELP students enjoyed celebrating International Dot Day! They 'made their mark' in many different ways!

Below are photographs of classroom provocations carefully designed to spark creativity and critical thinking:

Dot Sign In:

Students in Action:

Students created 3-D dots using play dough. They sorted the play-dough dots according to colour:

Students also sorted circle glass beads according to colour:

Year 2 students created a button dot picture! They first came up with a plan which was then used as a guide for their creation. They also wrote about their pictures.

Year 1 students used Q-tips to make small dots in different colours. They first traced shape templates for more fine motor practise.

Math Connection: Students had the opportunity to count the correct number of dots to match numbers:

Our Daily Writing Wall was full today with dot inspired writing:

We hope you enjoyed taking a peek into our Dot Day fun!

A Look at 'Loose Parts'

“‘[Loose parts] are items and materials that children can move, adapt, change and manipulate within their play. They provide a high level of creativity and choice, as there are endless possibilities for how they can be played with.”

Source:  http://www.oxonplay.org.uk/#/loose-parts-for-play/4542808737

In our program, we work to carefully plan provocations that encourage play with ‘loose parts’.  Playing with ‘loose parts’ enhances the complexity of children’s play experiences. Oral language and writing skills are developed as the children are asked to describe and illustrate their creations.

Below are photographs of more dot provocations in preparation for International Dot Day using 'loose parts':

'Loose Parts' Provocation (Invitation to Learning) using natural materials:

This provocation invited the students to write and draw about their creative designs. 

Students added pine cones and wood chips to their castle creation:

Discovery – Honouring Children’s Thoughts and Ideas

Our neighbour, Ms. Whyte has been providing our class with mystery food items. Last week, children were busy discovering a star fruit and pomegranate. Children took a closer look and used their sense of touch and smell to explore the objects.

Below are photographs of our science centre discoveries so far: 

Exploring our Classroom

First Week Provocations and Discoveries

Different activities and provocations were arranged in the classroom for the children to explore and discover this week. More classroom materials will be gradually introduced to the children as we delve deeper into the curriculum and begin to explore inquiries. 

An Invitation to Explore Line:

In this invitation, students were invited to use small rocks and beads to trace over different lines. Students used words such as "zig zag" and "curly" to describe the different lines. Some students experimented with patterns on the lines. Students enjoyed feeling the smooth textures of the beads and rocks. This invitation supported fine motor development as children arranged small objects along a line formation.

Text Connection: The Line 

An Invitation to Explore Dots:

In this invitation, students were invited to experiment with different circular "loose parts". They created pictures and designs with the circles and used mirrors for reflection. Many students placed the circles inside each other and organized the circles from biggest to smallest.

Text Connection: The Dot

In support of our "Dot" explorations, students had an opportunity to listen to the animated version of The Dot story. Students discussed the main events that took place in the story and noted that Vashti was always asked to sign her work! Students will continue to use dots to create pieces of art and they will be encouraged to sign their art pieces just like real artists.  This is in preparation for International Dot Day which we will celebrate on September 15th!

You can access the animated version of the story here:

We also sang along to The Dot song! This song inspires children to make their mark!

You can sing along at home by clicking on this link:

 http://vimeo.com/104743082

More Dot Explorations:

Using play dough, students were invited to use different dots to design pictures. Students recorded their creations using pictures and words. It was wonderful to see the creativity emerge. No two creations were alike! This activity supported children's fine motor development as they manipulated the play dough and arranged circles to create different pieces of art. This also introduced students to writing as they recorded pictures and orally explained their creations. 

We are excited to continue to use dots to create more pieces of art next week!