Month of May

The Month of May 


Manipulating an object through a maze


We noticed that the children were very interested in manipulating an object through a pathway. We wanted to strengthen the children’s understanding of how an object can be moved through a pathway so we began to research mazes. One of the ways we replicated a maze was by attaching several wooden blocks to a Lazy Susan. We gave the children a small ball and asked the children to move the ball from one end of the maze to the other. The children used several strategies to manipulate their ball through the maze such as rotating the Lazy Susan and physically moving their ball through the maze with their hands. Through this exploration, the children strengthened their problem solving skills, hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers 

Strand C, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning.
Strand C, Goal 4: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they develop a growing sense of social relationships, the natural environment, and the physical world.
Strand E, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they are encouraged to interact and learn with and alongside others.

Exploring the shadow screen

The children showed a great interest in the shadow screen when we brought it inside the classroom. We placed a light behind the shadow screen to intensify the children's shadows.  The children enjoyed going behind the screen and moving their bodies in different ways. The children also enjoyed guessing who was on the opposite side of the screen based on their shadow.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants 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 2: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they gain confidence in and greater control of their bodies.

Strengthening our understanding of plants through drawing and painting

Our class has shown a great interest in flowers. One of the ways we have strengthened our understanding of flowers is through drawing and painting. As a class, we have been discussing the different parts of the Calla Lily. The children represented the Calla Lily with black markers and white paper. As they were drawing the Calla Lily they discussed the various parts of the flower they were representing such as the stem, leaves and flower pedals. The children then went on to represent the colors of the Calla Lily using green and yellow tempera paint, paintbrush and white paper. Through this exploration, the children strengthened their fine motor skills, inquiry skills, color identification and representing their ideas through drawing.

















Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers 

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 2: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they have opportunities to communicate through the use of symbols/pictures, signs, and stories.
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.


Exploring what's underneath the soil

The children were curious about the part of the plant that was underneath the soil. We provided the children with potted plants which had already bloomed, tweezers and magnifying glasses. The children were interested in pulling the plant out of the soil and examining the bulb and roots. A few children stated how the bulb looked like a giant seed. When a teacher asked about what was at the end of the bulb, many children commented on how they looked like tiny hairs.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers 

Strand D, Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they develop attitudes and skills to communicate successfully with others.
Strand E, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they are encouraged to interact and learn with and alongside others.



Collaborating with Pre K/Kindergarten Class 

The children have been working together with room eight in exploring ocean animals. We played a video of underwater ocean life and then placed ocean animals in the water table for the children to explore with. The preschoolers and kindergartners assisted our children in identifying the ocean animals in the water table. Our children encouraged the preschoolers and kindergartners to mimic the movement of the ocean life by placing the plastic animals in front of the projected video. This experience encouraged both age groups to share their previous knowledge of the ocean animals, as well as, offer new suggestions for exploring.

Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers 

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.
Strand E, Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they are encouraged to interact and learn with and alongside others.