Month of January


Month of January 


Exploring how objects travel through opaque and translucent tubes




Throughout the month of January, the children have been exploring how to manipulate the balls through two different types of tubes. First, we explored opaque pvc tubes. The children were interested in how they would place the ball in one end and it would come out the opposite end. The children learned that they had to twist and shake the tube in order for the ball to come out. We noticed that many of the children would place their eye up to tube and see if they could see their ball. We wanted to extend their thinking about how the balls travel through the tubes, so we introduced translucent plastic tubes. The children would observe the ball as it traveled through the tube. Many of the children tried to place their fingers in the holes of the tube to move the ball further in the tube or trying to stop the ball all together. 


Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infant and Toddlers 

Strand C, Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where the importance of spontaneous play is recognized and play is valued as meaningful learning
Strand C, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning.
Strand C, Goal 5: Infants and toddlers experience environments where their interests and initiative provide direction for learning opportunities and for the practice and mastery of developing skills.
Strand D, Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they develop attitudes and skills to communicate successfully with others.
Strand C, Goal 2: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they gain confidence in and greater control of their bodies.


Exploring how to build tall with large blocks 






The children have been working really hard at collaborative building. The large foam blocks have been a great medium to foster turn taking, open communication and problem solving. The children have observed how the placement of the blocks affects the height of their tower. The children have discovered that large square blocks, as well as, rectangles are better bases then triangles or half moon blocks. We will continue to extend the children's thinking about building tall by projecting images of the empire state building, and other large well-known structures. 




Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infant and Toddlers 
Strand C, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning.
Strand C, Goal 5: Infants and toddlers experience environments where their interests and initiative provide direction for learning opportunities and for the practice and mastery of developing skills
Strand D, Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they develop attitudes and skills to communicate successfully with others.


Creating an Animal Habitat


We have noticed a growing interest in animals; whether it's exploring whales in the water table or acting out scenarios on the farm. We wanted to nurture the children's interest by creating a habitat for the animals. We provided the children with green paint, paintbrushes, and a large white piece of paper to have the represent the land. The children strengthened their small motor muscles by applying paint onto the large canvas. Later on in the month, we created the water for the ocean animals with blue paint, paintbrushes, and a large sheet of paper. As our knowledge of animal habitats expands, we hope to add more details  to our land and ocean habitat. 

                                                                                                                                    
Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infant and Toddlers 

Strand C, Goal 2: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they gain confidence in and greater control of their bodies.
Strand C, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning.
Strand D, Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they develop attitudes and skills to communicate successfully with others.
Strand D, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they discover and develop different ways to be creative and expressive about their feelings and thoughts

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