Month of February



Month of February 



Researching, Planning and Creating Various Animal Habitats 

 Throughout the school year, we have been discussing different animals and their habitats. The children have shown a great interest in zoo animals and farm animals. We have researched zoo animals and their habitats. To develop a stronger understanding of animal habitats, the children drew their own plan using white paper and a black marker. They discussed their ideas with a teacher, and how they can include them into a plan. We went on to create grass for our animals using a large sheet of white paper and green tempra paint. Lastly, we provided the children with small cardboard boxes to enrich the animal habitat.





Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 

11. Demonstrates positive approaches to learning 
a. Attends and engages 
b. Persist 
c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation
e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
12. Remembers and connects experiences
a. Recognizes and recalls 
b. Makes connections
24. Uses scientific inquiry skills
25. Demonstrates knowledge of characteristics of living things 
26. Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials 
27. Demonstrates knowledge of Earth’s environment




Building Castles 

We have been exploring castles, and the various shapes that make up castles. To emphasize the shapes a castle is comprised of, we provided the children with light blocks of various shapes and sizes. The children used rectangles and squares as the base of their castle. Most children placed a triangle or crescent on top of their structure to represent a tower. Children are beginning to have conversations about who lives in a castle. 




Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met:
11. Demonstrates positive approaches to learning 
a. Attends and engages 
b. Persist 
c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation
e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
12. Remembers and connects experiences
a. Recognizes and recalls 
b. Makes connections
21. Explores and describes spatial relationships and shapes
 a. Understands spatial relationships 
 b. Understands shapes





Exploring Motion

Throughout the school year, the children have been show a strong interest in motion. We have explored many facets of motion such as ...



How objects can be pushed and pulled:

The children explored pushing and pulling bins full of blocks in the gross motor room. They came up with different strategies of how they can move the bins such as using the cord to pull them, holding one side of the bin and pushing it forward.  To extend the children's thinking we provided them with a ramp like structure and pull toys. 




How you can change the path of an object: 

The children have noticed how push and pull can affect the path of their object. Many children discovered that continuously holding an object as they move it forward can control the where it goes on the paper, line, and ramp. 





How air can move objects: 

To extend the children's thinking we provided them with a small stationary fan, ribbons and scarves. They came up with different strategies of how the air from the fan could move the items upwards. Many children learned how the placement of the scarves/ribbons in front fan affect how high it traveled into the air. The children went on to explore how the distance of an object from the fan affects how it can move an object. We used the pinwheels to further explore this concept. 




                                                     




How objects travel from varying heights: 

Lastly, the children have been exploring how objects can travel from varying heights. To provoke their thinking we set up a ramp with two different inclines. The children experimented with cars, trying to get their cars to travel from the highest incline to the lowest incline. 




Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 

4. Demonstrates traveling skills 
5. Demonstrates balancing skills
11. Demonstrates positive approaches to learning 
a. Attends and engages 
b. Persists 
c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation
e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
24. Uses scientific inquiry skills
26. Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials 
28. Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks


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