In this experience we worked with chalk and water on black paper. Some chose to pour the water over the paper, others spread it over the chalk using paintbrushes to smear and blur the lines.
Chalk and Water on Black Paper
Category: Toddler
Drawing with Sand and Light
We observed children exploring various strategies for creative expression–using one finger, multiple fingers, one hand, two hands, experimenting with small movements and large movements, straight lines, and wiggly lines, circles and spirals. Some words that came to mind as we watched the children interact with this offering: soothing, collaborative, shared canvas, impermanence, large scale, sensory…
Introducing the Light Table
A student stacks three identically shaped blocks, each a different color, one on top of the other. He closely examines this structure, with a dry erase marker in his hand, and pauses for a moment. He then gently places one hand on top of the structure before drawing on it (he understands that it would… Read more »
Collaborating with Trains
In the morning, Baxter set up the big blocks with the idea of using them as a balance beam. The children had a different idea- Rebel brought in the trains and started to use the blocks as roads and tunnels! Other people joined in and chatted with each other about where the cars and trains… Read more »
Musical Shakers
We finally completed our musical shaker project and have been incorporating them into our musical explorations this week. We’ve also been enjoying singing some Holiday songs–Jingle bells, Rudolf, and a song about Hanukkah. The children are very excited to share them with you!
Let The Children Play!
“Dramatic play can be defined as a type of play where children accept and assign roles, and then act them out. It is a time when they break through the walls of reality, pretend to be someone or something different from themselves, and dramatize situations and actions to go along with the roles they have… Read more »
Sensory bin with play-doh, blocks and trains!
Flattening play-doh with a giant block and making tracks with trains! Save
Crab Apples are Fun to SMASH!
We collected many of the fallen crab apples and then used the wooden play-doh hammers to smash them. It was quite satisfying!
Fresh Herb Play-doh
A sensory extravaganza! We smelled and tasted the herbs, we smooshed them into the play-doh, we rolled the play-doh flat and made “pizzas,” we stuck the herbs into the play- doh and made “trees.”
Pumpkin Explorations
We harvested two of the pumpkins, which we planted from seed last Spring. We cut them open, smelled them, touched them, and scooped out the seeds. We experimented with several strategies for opening up the pumpkins… Save