Today, we started our Olympic fun. We made torches out of paper, markers, and stickers (and have flashlights for night Olympic fun to put inside them) and had a torch relay down the street with Mom singing this in the background as the kids lighted each torch making their way to the house, "Olympic Stadium." (Thank goodness that they aren't so old to be embarrassed by this kind of fun.)
We had a couple of running games in the backyard . . . and then came in to eat "Olympic Pizzas" . . . I think that all of our other Olympic games that aren't televised will have to be in the swimming pool. It is hot outside.
The kids love watching videos from previous Olympics, of course! I think I am projecting bias when I say that they like the swimming races the best.
The kids were all "awarded" medals for their participation in our Day 1 Olympic Games.
Showing posts with label Today in School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Today in School. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Today in School . . . First Stop, Singapore
It it time to tour Asia next week.
We'll be exploring Singapore first. We'll talk about where it is, conservation on beaches, the food (I'm thinking curry puffs and hainanese chicken rice at Lion City Chinese Cafe for our finale night. . . the only place near us that serves Singaporean food), Singlish, festivals, and I'm still looking for some art/craft thing to do with them. Just as when we studied, Dubai, there is little of preplanned ideas for preschoolers to learn the culture aside from commercialism.
SingaporeExpats
Wild Shores of Singapore
NationalLibrarySingapore Picture SG
Tchoukball
Durian Fruit
Sri Mariamman Temple
JC Sum the illusionist, of course
The Merlion
Lots of world domino records were achieved in Singapore.
Frankly, their toilet program just makes me want to move there.
I wonder if there is a Jet Li film I can show the boys. He's from Singapore, evidently.
From Singapore, we'll go to India (our participation in The Color Run will help them visualize the Holi Festival), and then China.
We'll be exploring Singapore first. We'll talk about where it is, conservation on beaches, the food (I'm thinking curry puffs and hainanese chicken rice at Lion City Chinese Cafe for our finale night. . . the only place near us that serves Singaporean food), Singlish, festivals, and I'm still looking for some art/craft thing to do with them. Just as when we studied, Dubai, there is little of preplanned ideas for preschoolers to learn the culture aside from commercialism.
SingaporeExpats
Wild Shores of Singapore
NationalLibrarySingapore Picture SG
Tchoukball
Durian Fruit
Sri Mariamman Temple
JC Sum the illusionist, of course
The Merlion
Lots of world domino records were achieved in Singapore.
Frankly, their toilet program just makes me want to move there.
I wonder if there is a Jet Li film I can show the boys. He's from Singapore, evidently.
From Singapore, we'll go to India (our participation in The Color Run will help them visualize the Holi Festival), and then China.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Today in School . . . Bulbs and the Power of Seeds
Everett and I have started a couple of projects.
This time we chose Paperwhite bulbs.
Day 1
Day6
Day 6
Day 1
(I did this in 4th grade. Evy and I have been talking about nature and resilience. Once that glass bottle busts because of the power of those seeds, it will be awesome!)
We are having a great time watching these progress!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Today in School: Construction Sensory Box
We spent some time with our sensory box, and the boys were thrilled with all the things they could figure out to do with it. They are using real tools and real hardware. They were so pleased when they figured out how each one worked. Evy really took on the task of doing as much as he could,"Mom, I kept working even when I was *really* tired. I didn't know that I could do SO much!"
He was so proud and couldn't wait to show his dad.
And these are the boxes we painted in preparation of making our city.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Today in School: Build Me a City
We are starting our unit on the city today. We'll be discussing what makes a good city, what they notice about our city, and how to make a road (we've got lots of road under construction to go watch). I've saved about a bajillion boxes so that we can "build" our own city. (They went to a firestation last week with their grandparents; so this flows right into that experience.)
We'll be making a City Book and drawing bridges, roads, buildings, parks, and whatever else they take notes on about the city.
I used some of the following to help me with ideas.
Skyscraper Museum
Box Buildings
42Explore: Construction
NOVA Build a Bridge
We'll use The Three Little Pigs to talk about construction.
Construction Sensory Box
screws
nuts
bolts
random building bits that I don't have a name for
I'll have blocks of Styrofoam that they can put those pointy things in so they don't try it on the table :)
I am trying to get a small piece of peg board so that they can "use" some of this stuff on it. And, I'm also looking for a good sandpaper craft, as well.
We'll be making a City Book and drawing bridges, roads, buildings, parks, and whatever else they take notes on about the city.
I used some of the following to help me with ideas.
Skyscraper Museum
Box Buildings
42Explore: Construction
NOVA Build a Bridge
We'll use The Three Little Pigs to talk about construction.
Construction Sensory Box
screws
nuts
bolts
random building bits that I don't have a name for
I'll have blocks of Styrofoam that they can put those pointy things in so they don't try it on the table :)
I am trying to get a small piece of peg board so that they can "use" some of this stuff on it. And, I'm also looking for a good sandpaper craft, as well.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Today in School: Bowling Art
At the campout, we found some hedgeapples (that sometimes I incorrectly call crabapples) that were perfect for the boys to roll around.
I thought it would be great to add some paint to them since their texture is so interesting. I also need a base for the city we were making and we wondered if the trails left by the hedgeapples could be used as roads.
The boys had a great time. We were sad to stop but really needed to bathe and get ready for the evening's fun. Right now, it is drying and we will continue it tomorrow (we hope).
I thought it would be great to add some paint to them since their texture is so interesting. I also need a base for the city we were making and we wondered if the trails left by the hedgeapples could be used as roads.
We made our canvas. (I told them that we were going to get messy.) Evy kept excitedly whispering under his breath,"we are going to get MESSY!"
Added hedgeapples and some paint.
We had to learn to REALLY cover our hedgeapples with paint.
We turned the canvas, chose some more paint, and talked about how some cities have streets arranged by north and south and east and west. (Evy is all about maps. He thought this was fascinating.)
The boys had a great time. We were sad to stop but really needed to bathe and get ready for the evening's fun. Right now, it is drying and we will continue it tomorrow (we hope).
"They sure are bumpy!"
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Today in School: Mommy Inservice--The Hundred Languages of Children
No way. The hundred is there.
The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marvelling, of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and at Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.
Loris Malaguzzi
(translated by Lella Gandini)
Love reading about Malaguzzi and the preschooling in Reggio Emilia. I first heard about it while in graduate school. A principal from one of the preschools came to speak to us and share her experiences. If you aren't familiar, I highly recommend reading about Malaguzzi and the work that he did for preschoolers. I particularly enjoy the roles that parents and teachers have in the preschools there.
The Mommy Is Learning
I've been a bit frustrated with the younger son recently. Most of my verbage is about setting limits (for his safety) and propelling him to move in the direction I want him to (like towards the car *with* his shoes, even if they aren't on, yet) . . . and I am finding that I need to give him more of a chance to explore in his own time frame and to praise his process. I'm not sure how I'm going to give him more space and freedom than I do right now while trying to keep him safe . . . I'm gonna really try. Truly, his speech delay causes frustration. I came across the poem above and it reminded me to do a better job of listening to Merritt, and not just by trying to translate his speech.
Here are some great pictures from an outing with a friend to The Heard. She brought us the gift of holding grasshoppers. What a delight!
The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marvelling, of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and at Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.
Loris Malaguzzi
(translated by Lella Gandini)
Love reading about Malaguzzi and the preschooling in Reggio Emilia. I first heard about it while in graduate school. A principal from one of the preschools came to speak to us and share her experiences. If you aren't familiar, I highly recommend reading about Malaguzzi and the work that he did for preschoolers. I particularly enjoy the roles that parents and teachers have in the preschools there.
The Mommy Is Learning
I've been a bit frustrated with the younger son recently. Most of my verbage is about setting limits (for his safety) and propelling him to move in the direction I want him to (like towards the car *with* his shoes, even if they aren't on, yet) . . . and I am finding that I need to give him more of a chance to explore in his own time frame and to praise his process. I'm not sure how I'm going to give him more space and freedom than I do right now while trying to keep him safe . . . I'm gonna really try. Truly, his speech delay causes frustration. I came across the poem above and it reminded me to do a better job of listening to Merritt, and not just by trying to translate his speech.
Here are some great pictures from an outing with a friend to The Heard. She brought us the gift of holding grasshoppers. What a delight!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Today in School: The Outside Classroom-The Planning
The weather right now is so perfect. We were dazed and confused by the record heat this summer in Texas and are ever so grateful for the weather we have now.
We talk about what the weather is like in part of our "share time" . . . and I've been interested to see that there is a strong "I don't know" when we talk about what it is like outside, even when we were just outside. We end up going outside to define the "know." I have had a strong desire to make the outside more meaningful to the boys. For one, I've been trying to tie our fieldtrips in to the content of what we are studying with an outside experience. We have had to be flexible with several rain days delaying outings (won't complain about the rain), but that is the only drawback to doing this.
Here are a couple of websites that I have found helpful when we go visit nature museums, arboretums, local parks, and the backyard. (Included in the list are sites that give information on an "outside classroom.")
Nature Rocks
Charlotte Mason
Quadrant Study
Backyard Nature
Nature Activities
Running Ahead: Building an Outside Classroom
Nature Explore
The Science Spot
Outdoor Classroom
Natural Playgrounds Company
In an effort to be outside more, I decided to commandeer part of the garage. I know, it isn't *all* the way outside. But, with the door open, we get to learn in the fresh air, sunshine is right there, we can easily move our blankets and chairs to the front lawn, we "hear" nature better, our nature walks are a step away, our messy exploration and gardening tools are an arm's length away, and I don't have to move everything when it rains (though we can still sit outside in the rain, too).
What I am idealistically hoping is that using this space results in more of an effort instigated by the boys to "find out" to "explore" and to start figuring out ways to find answers to their own questions. I've moved our reading area stuff so we can easily drag it outside. Our modified "outside classroom" is right by our already established digging area in the front yard, the garden is around the corner, and it is the best bunny spotting perch in the neighborhood. We'll still have our writing space in the house and our pretend play stations (as well as our art corner), but I am hoping that by removing physical barriers to the outside that the connection to nature will be stronger. We'll see.
We talk about what the weather is like in part of our "share time" . . . and I've been interested to see that there is a strong "I don't know" when we talk about what it is like outside, even when we were just outside. We end up going outside to define the "know." I have had a strong desire to make the outside more meaningful to the boys. For one, I've been trying to tie our fieldtrips in to the content of what we are studying with an outside experience. We have had to be flexible with several rain days delaying outings (won't complain about the rain), but that is the only drawback to doing this.
Here are a couple of websites that I have found helpful when we go visit nature museums, arboretums, local parks, and the backyard. (Included in the list are sites that give information on an "outside classroom.")
Nature Rocks
Charlotte Mason
Quadrant Study
Backyard Nature
Nature Activities
Running Ahead: Building an Outside Classroom
Nature Explore
The Science Spot
Outdoor Classroom
Natural Playgrounds Company
In an effort to be outside more, I decided to commandeer part of the garage. I know, it isn't *all* the way outside. But, with the door open, we get to learn in the fresh air, sunshine is right there, we can easily move our blankets and chairs to the front lawn, we "hear" nature better, our nature walks are a step away, our messy exploration and gardening tools are an arm's length away, and I don't have to move everything when it rains (though we can still sit outside in the rain, too).
What I am idealistically hoping is that using this space results in more of an effort instigated by the boys to "find out" to "explore" and to start figuring out ways to find answers to their own questions. I've moved our reading area stuff so we can easily drag it outside. Our modified "outside classroom" is right by our already established digging area in the front yard, the garden is around the corner, and it is the best bunny spotting perch in the neighborhood. We'll still have our writing space in the house and our pretend play stations (as well as our art corner), but I am hoping that by removing physical barriers to the outside that the connection to nature will be stronger. We'll see.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Today in School: Texas, Texas, Yeehaw!
Erik is about to travel again, a little closer to home. So, we took advantage of his arrival to include him on our jumpstart of studying . . . Texas.
We traveled to Ft.Worth to visit the stockyards, see the cattle, and ride a TRAIN! It was a surprise trip for the boys. They knew what to bring; they just didn't know the final destinations.
It was raining as we pulled into, as Evy refers to it now: Cowboy Town. We quickly found one use for our cowboy hats.
The trip was amazing! All of us had a great time as a family and it was a superb way to start our "school learning" on Texas.
We traveled to Ft.Worth to visit the stockyards, see the cattle, and ride a TRAIN! It was a surprise trip for the boys. They knew what to bring; they just didn't know the final destinations.
It was raining as we pulled into, as Evy refers to it now: Cowboy Town. We quickly found one use for our cowboy hats.
In this shot, Evy is waiting for the cattle drive. The boys LOVED it and followed the cattle as they "drove" down the street.
"WAIT!! Come Back!"
Merritt really couldn't eat. He was too busy checking out the ride outside the restaurant.
Next, a trip to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
I LOVED IT! Evy enjoyed it. Merritt ran around the whole time. And Erik chased Merritt.
Good times!
More puddles . . . who knew when Merritt insisted on the rubberboots that he would be the one outfitted with the best footwear.
Taking a break, waiting for the next event, a TRAIN ride.
The train, the TRAIN, THE TRAIN!
The trip was amazing! All of us had a great time as a family and it was a superb way to start our "school learning" on Texas.
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