I want to make Green!

Ms. Davis’s Investigations:

I want to make Green!

November 14, 2012

 

 The past few weeks, the children have shown an interest in following a recipe while mixing ingredients, to compose a completed product.  During the afternoon, the children explored with making colored play dough from scratch with Ms. Davis. 

It’s a circle the mom made and its play dough.

 Ms. Davis’s Investigations:

It’s a circle the mom made and its play dough!

November 7, 2012

       In a continuing exploration of following a recipe while mixing ingredients, the children watched a video on “How to Make Colored Play Dough”.

"Where's the body?" -Drawing the Rest of the Animals

Ms. Jennifer’s Investigations:

“Where’s the body?”
 -Drawing the Rest of the Animals

November 5, 2012

To extend our study of animals while building the skill of drawing as a means of representation, the children were challenged to complete the animal pictures they were presented with. Images provided included the heads of a bear, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, and a tiger, but the rest of the animal bodies were missing. Prior to drawing, I encouraged the children to talk about the features of the missing animal bodies, such as the number of legs and arms, the shape of the body, the presence of a tail, and the color or pattern. I was anxious to see the children’s mental representation of the animals come out onto their paper.  I modeled this thinking and drawing process by talking about an elephant’s body and completing the body of the elephant.

You have to mix it like this...

Ms. Szymaszek’s Investigations:

You have to mix it like this, just like you stir up the eggs.

November 8, 2012

 

Throughout the course of the semester, the children have been interested in cooking, and the tools needed to cook.  Earlier in the semester, the children fixated on baking, using clay in muffin tins, cookie cutters with playdough, and rolling pins with cloud dough.  Earlier in the week, the children talked about using a big pot and a ladle to make “potions.”  To further this investigation, the children explored with mixing bowls, whisks, soap and water.   

Exploring with the Linking Cubes

Ms. Fausneaucht Classroom Investigations:

Exploring with the linking cubes

November 6, 2012

On November 6, the children began to build with the linking cubes.

I need to mix this potion...

Ms. Szymaszek’s Investigations:

I need to mix this potion.  Help me mix the potion!

November 5, 2012

On Monday, November 5, the children continuously talked about “potions!”  “I’m going to make a potion and stir it up like a witch does.”  “I’m going to make my own potion with all these things here.”   

" I want to make a map like that, a zoo one!"

Ms. Jennifer’s Investigations:

“I want to make a map like that, a zoo one!”
Week of October 29, 2012

This particular group of children continues to demonstrate a deep-rooted interest in animals and building for animals. Last week, the children were given the opportunity to explore the large zoo map and construct a zoo with blocks using the map as a reference. This week, I wanted to incorporate drawing as a means of representation and peer-teaching into my curriculum plans so I chose to create lessons that built upon these skills and also related to animals.