Sunshine Room Newsletter: May 6, 2018

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Basil Holland
5 years ago
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1 Sunshine Room Newsletter: May 6, 2018 Two days before taking this photo Lucy created this complex scene featuring an airplane and two fire-trucks on an island of sand-hued play-dough. She also took dried beans from a separate table and placed them in a little tin she found. The scene clearly tells a story about an airplane in trouble and her ability to convey this drama in such a small space showcases the specialness of childhood ingenuity. ****************************************************** This week the children continued their investigations of frogs and amphibians through books, photos, exploring a pond, a frog life cycle set of figures, storytelling, and lots of dramatic play. We also took advantage of the hot weather and used the water table outside where the children washed dishes and explored bubbles with wands and coat hangers. During the week I noticed that the kids are particularly fascinated with the transformation of tadpole to frog and some wrote stories about tadpoles and a mommy frog. These stories are taped up onto the door in the front hall as you walk in. Please take a look!

2 At the beginning of the week the kids started turning the sand table into a pond. First they poured the sand out of the bin with scoopers.

4 Then they went outside to gather what they thought would fit in a pond. They chose rocks, sticks, woodchips, and leaves.

They then added alligators, snakes, and frogs! The kids played with this pond for two days (water was changed) until we brought the table outside since it was so hot!

5 They then added alligators, snakes, and frogs! The kids played with this pond for two days (water was changed) until we brought the table outside since it was so hot! Later in the week some interesting activities were sparked by a new set of wooden cars. These replaced the metal Hot Wheels that I felt weren t sparking enough imaginative play with their dulled colors and unappealing texture. The new cars are heavy, simple, and very colorful. Calvin and Greta (one of the oldest children and the youngest child) built a road on paper for the new wooden cars. Here is what they had to say as they worked. Greta: They re going to be yellow lights soon, right? They re going to go slow right now. Calvin: Yeah. I made two car tracks! They re going to stop markers. Greta: No markers allowed. This is a car only road, right? Make it lean again.

6 Calvin: Did you know we can make it bigger with these cars? Greta: We can make one big car track! Calvin: Yeah, like this big! Greta: Ready, let s make the car track. Calvin: Now we need the yellow car somewhere. Greta: How about it s the guard so no markers can get out? Calvin: OK, now put the markers in! The red car is running away! Oh, no! Greta: The yellow car is driving away! Calvin: They can t get out then, they re still trapped! She has wings, she flew out! Greta: This one is super strong. The markers escaped so they can make more traffic lights! Calvin: Maybe we can make it again! Greta: This time they re going to glue themselves together. We should make an even bigger car trap. We used all the cars! Calvin: Nobody can break the little house! It broke threw and it flied away! How about we can make a rainbow? Look it, I made a car. Greta: It would be a rainbow if red, orange, green, blue, yellow, purple, pink. Calvin: We can pretend gray goes in the rainbow. Whenever there s a bad guy they can come out of their home. Ooh, look what I made! This can be a trap for the markers. Greta: They might need it to be a little closer. All of them have wings, right? Calvin: I broke this guy s wings off! Red truck turns into a dinosaur! Pink and red!

Greta: Together! And purple and yellow! Make a hurricane! Calvin: What s a hurricane? Greta: The cars make hurricanes! A hurricane is like a thunderstorm but it has strong winds in it.

7 Greta: Together! And purple and yellow! Make a hurricane! Calvin: What s a hurricane? Greta: The cars make hurricanes! A hurricane is like a thunderstorm but it has strong winds in it. Gray car and red car are making a hurricane. Notice how the bright colors really integrated themselves into the play. Also this kind of imaginative cooperative play between kids of different ages and abilities is what s so productive and beneficial about mixing ages. Ideas flowing generously, information being imparted, and empathy being fostered. **************************************************** At some point during the week the two classes met to act out stories. Here they acted out Sacha s story about Kidz Bop singers! Notice the mics.

Each animal takes its turn trying to get the water out of the frog.

9 We also acted out the book, Hey, Frog, about a greedy frog who irks the other watering-hole-dwelling animals by drinking up ALL the lake water. Each animal takes its turn trying to get the water out of the frog. The only ones who succeed are slithering eels who know the frog is ticklish.

10 We had three frogs: Greta, Daniel, and Sacha. Aleah, Ariadne, and Brooklyn are the eels!

11 The children also practiced jumping on two feet into numbered lily pads they cut out of paper.

Several children wanted to change the alligator den into a pond. Greta helped Calvin make a dragonfly out of paper. Abby wanted a moon in the loft and the kids decided cds could be a moon and stars.

13 Several children wanted to change the alligator den into a pond. Greta helped Calvin make a dragonfly out of paper. Abby wanted a moon in the loft and the kids decided cds could be a moon and stars. The blue material that was originally to be a waterfall was changed into the pond water. They made paper lily pads out of green paper then they cut pink lotus flowers out and placed them on top. Abby called hers flower stars. Greta said the stars were magical.

14 The pond floor with lily pads and a dragonfly. It might not look like much to us but to the kids this space is pure magic and it s THEIRS. **********************************************

Once morning Greta and Daniel took a break from amphibians and built an impressive China. Greta: This is the Queen of China. This is the King of China.

15 Once morning Greta and Daniel took a break from amphibians and built an impressive China. Greta: This is the Queen of China. This is the King of China. The Queen is bigger than the King. Daniel: This is the House of China. Pretend you don t know where the key was. We need to open the door. Greta: It s right here. Daniel: Can I go in?

Greta: We will buy this house! Animals! Daniel: I locked the door so no strangers can come. I m thirsty! Greta: This is the cup holder of China. These are the daughters of China.

16 Greta: We will buy this house! Animals! Daniel: I locked the door so no strangers can come. I m thirsty! Greta: This is the cup holder of China. These are the daughters of China. Which one do you want to be King? The one that s blue would be a better King. Daniel: The better King. Greta: These are the princesses and maids. Daniel: I can blow fire! Greta: You re a dragon. Daniel: I m a horse. Greta: You are my husband. Other glimpses into the classroom: Liam traced an octagon on paper taped to the wall.

17 Wes built a ship with an aesthetically interesting and pleasing design. Wynn and Calvin built a charming train one afternoon.

18 A hurricane blew it away! Remember when he discussed hurricanes with Greta earlier? This is a great reminder that play is work! Have a fabulous weekend and see you Monday! -Sonia

9:15-9:45 SUN AND SAND

9:15-9:45 SUN AND SAND GOALS: WHAT CAMPERS WILL LEARN Use a multisensory approach to learning letters and letter sounds Enhance creativity while linking art to literacy To practice the association between