Sorting and Spooning A Rainbow of colour!

Sorting and spooning are a staple activity in a Montessori classroom. Since my room is a combination of both emergent ECE and Montessori - this activity fits right in.

In this activity the children will use the corresponding spoon and bowl to spoon and sort the beads into the correct bowl.

I gotta say I love the dollar store - I wish I had stock in it because I could spend a thousand dollars a day! I just love this bowl and spoon set I got for $1.50. Never underestimate what you can put together with a few dollar store finds.

What's on the shelf for Valentines Day?

The collection!

Counting coins - transfer from one heart to the other.

Opening and shutting small containers / putting in and out erasers.

Also used for memory and matching skills, sorting + counting.

Counting heart gems,sorting and putting them into the heart tray.

Pouring mini erasers from one pail to the other.

I spy Valentines jar - which the kids filled.  

Gems and containers on our light table.

Used for counting - matching - sorting, pouring etc.

Then top that with play dough fun - using valentines cookie cutters!

Instant Snow

It's so fun when we get something new in the classroom that will amaze and astound us.

This week we had such a thing to play with.

 Instant Snow! 

Described as:
"Insta-Snow is an amazing powder that turns ordinary water into a fluffy substance that looks like real snow."

"This faux snow is so realistic that it is now being used in indoor snowboarding parks throughout the world.  Insta-Snow will not melt or ice up.  It comes in an 8 oz. jar.  It is safe, non-toxic and can be used for parties, holiday displays, decorations, movie sets, or in a school science lab."

"Note: Do not eat this product.  Keep container stored in a dark, cool and dry location.  Sweep or vacuum all spills.

We got out a big bowl because we didn't know what to expect - and water to add to the Instant Snow. 

We shook the powder into the bowl! Not too much at first.

Added some water and then observed.

This is what we got - more like slush. So we decided we didn't add enough powder - or we added too much water.

The children described this as slush - wet and cold!

Everyone wanted a feel and described it similarly.

However we added more powder and voila! Snow!

It was still wet feeling - it could be squeezed and manipulated without losing it snow appearance. After we investigated it for awhile we decided to leave it out to see how long it takes to turn back into it's powder form - because this can be used over and over again! We will see if this is true for us!

We did get it everywhere so vacuuming was required - but it was worth the efforts - because it did look and feel 'cool'!

Do they use that stuff?

There are often times when I get asked if the children actually choose to use the practical life items I place out for the children in the classroom.
Indeed they do! I think it's because they are different. They are not pre-packaged toys - they are something outside of the box. I also present the objects before independant use, so the children have an idea of how they may manipulate the objects. Not because I don't think they would come up with their own solutions - but because some kids simply need a stepping off point. Besides I think it also makes the object more important since they were presented as something special.

Here the children use the I Spy Christmas Tubes and some Christmas icecube trays with glitter pompoms & Christmas erasers. Great for fine motor practice, sorting , matching, sequencing, counting and sensory stimulation etc. The presents our magical elf 'Stanley' brought for the children to count.  The puzzle the one boy is using was very difficult, but he is a really great puzzle expert! He even stumped one of our teachers - he had to show her how it went together! LOL It's really interesting to watch the children use the objects with great interest since most people would simply look at them as just stuff without a purpose.

So - do they use that stuff? YUP!

This week I added magnets with a jar of jingle bells and pipe cleaners bent into candy canes.

 

Fun to play with!

Playing with blocks!

I have at least 5 main types of blocks in my classroom at one time. I often add more, and switch them out, with a variety of other types - styles and textures on a regular basis. Combining a selection of blocks together can enhance this play beyond the simple build a tower type of block play. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as tower building is an important component of block building. After all the 'Pink Tower' is one of the principal pieces of equipment in a Montessori classroom. Essentially block play transforms any day into an adventure in learning.
When I watch the children playing with blocks, I see so many crucial developmental skills being evolved. I watch the excitement when the children transform blocks to  into creations, which in their mind represents what they had intended. The social aspect of block play is of great value. I see children that may not have socialize together, suddenly partner up and create a structure, with a resourcefulness that had not been established before.
Providing the tools for exploration in the classroom is a teachers role in ensuring that the children have what they require for steady developmental growth. Blocks may seem like a common and simple object, but there importance is paramount.

Take a look at the articles on these links for "The Importance of Block Play":

A place of our own

Let kids play

Picklebums

Community playthings

Early childhood news

Sixty second parent

So what type of blocks do you have in your classroom?

 Here are some of the Toddler favourites we have:

Plastic 3D Character Blocks / Clipo Peeka Blocks / Waffle Blocks

Wooden blocks in a variety of types

Wooden Lincoln Logs / Foam Blocks

Duplo Blocks a classic favorite! 





 I can't remember the name of these - but we like them :)
*Thanks to one of my followers on FB for reminding me that these are called Bristol Blocks!

The list could go on and on - there are so many to choose from.

Perhaps we can give our gratitude to Frederich Froebel for the introduction of these wonderful "gifts" in his newly formed kindergarten classroom. His altruistic vision of presenting play with a purpose, by creating occupations, lead the way for teachers to use the child's 'environment' as educational aids.

Watch this video which I made for more information on Frederich Froebel:

 Froebel Video

Be sure to add a variety of blocks to your classroom!



Preprinting skills

Today we worked on our preprinting skills using various fine motor tools.

First we used this piece of classroom equipment (click link for description)

  

I find it's great to start the little ones off on this since it has a large knob for grasping, and the tracks to trace are large, so the knob flows easily. There is little frustration with this equipment and the children are drawn to it with out prompting.

 We also do tracing in sand and recently I found these cards which helps direct our process. The kids really enjoy this activity.

Then of course we practise with pencil and paper - we added sponge grips to make it easier.

In all of these activities we find out hand dominance - what type of grip the children are using - who needs help with grip  - what level the children are at in the preprinting process, and what activities we need to add or take out of the process at the time preprinting activities are introduced.

The children fully participate in all of the activities introduced without proding - they find great pride in the success they achieve with practice.

Counting

We often use this magnetic animal Tic Tack Toe board for counting! It's visual - easy to use and appeals to the toddlers as a great manipulative. The squared off sections makes it easy to place the animals while counting. There are 10 pieces - just the right amount so we don't get overwhelmed and most of the children can now count to 10. It's also great to do sequencing.

One of my garage sale finds! If I remember correctly it was 50 cents.

Colour activity

This colour activity has some fine motor and counting added in - I love activities that are adaptable for many uses! :)

I was looking for a snack last night and I found these year old tootsie rolls - yes I ate two and I am still alive LOL - then it came to me - this container would be great for the coloured game chips I bought at a garage sale for 10 cents. I also had some sticky tac paper I had bought at a garage sale for 50 cents.

So I covered the container.

Nice eh!

Then I needed to pop out the covering on the slit in the top!

See here?

Presto!

I sorted all the chips I had and took out the coloured ones.

Then I put them together as a colour activity!

I called up each friend to find a specific colour and put it into our container.

They had a great time and did very well identifying the colours!

Later in the afternoon some of the children played with this independently, taking turns and identifying the colours!