I can make my letters of my name in the play dough.

Ms. Salam’s Investigations:

How can we explore a new ways to create letters?  

I can make my letters of my name in the play dough.

March 19, 2013

On March 19, 2013, the children continued to demonstrate an interest in    creating letters in the play dough.  

Oh No! What would we do if we didn’t have a mouth?

Ms. Sanchez’s Investigations:

Oh No! What would we do if we didn’t have a mouth?

March 15, 2013

During the week of March 15^th, the children in the morning begin to investigate their facial features more in depth. This week we began looking at our mouths. 

 

The children were able to observe a variety of pictures of mouths as well as observe their own through a mirror. While drawing their mouths, children were learning about the shape of their mouth as well as the features within their mouths. 

  Dillon said, “If we didn’t have a mouth we wouldn’t be able to talk.” Then Myrna added on and said, “Yea and we wouldn’t be able to eat either because we need a mouth and teeth to eat.” As children drew a variety of mouths, they began to compare their mouths with the picture on the tables as Hassan said, “Everyone’s mouth is different.” Therefore, the children were able to identify that everyone’s mouth contain lips, teeth, a tongue, and that it helps us communicate with each other as well as eat.  The only difference they noted is they might have a different shape or color.

I can curve lines to write my name in the shaving cream.

Ms. Salam’s Investigations:

How can we explore a new ways to create letters?  I can curve lines to write my name in the shaving cream.

March 12, 2013

On March 12, 2013, the children had the opportunity to explore a new way to curve lines and create letters and shapes in the shaving cream.

Look what I drew, it's You!

Ms. Sanchez’s Investigations:

Look what I drew, it's You!

March 2013

 

      As I observed the children in Ms. Szymaszek’s class during the first few weeks of the semester, I noticed the children have many interests.  While working with them, it’s been challenging determining the focus of their play because they enjoy using a variety of materials.  As I observed them working, I notice the children enjoy building, cooking, and pretending to be families in the block area. For that reason, I decided to create three material exploration lessons related to those ideas. I used craft sticks, flour, and straws to encourage the children to share which idea inspired them the most.  When working with these three activities, the main lesson the children were interested was the flour exploration lesson. During this lesson, I learned that building wasn’t their main focus.  As we worked together, I notice the children became more focused on cooking, families and creating drawings to represent their ideas.  However, from those three ideas the children’s main focus was drawing.  The children were very interested in talking about how they could represent their ideas through pictures. So I thoughtfully designed a self-portrait lesson to help me reveal if that topic was the idea that was sparking curiosity in the children. 

I See, I Explore, I Think, I Create

Ms. Pat’s Investigations:

I See, I Explore, I Think, I Create

March, 2013

 

  The children have been very engaged in building and   creating structures using magnatiles. They were creating buildings that could be used by people and animals. They appeared to be so engaged that I wondered if it is the fact that the magnatiles are easily connected or they simply have a   desire to build.

Exploring Pre-Writing and Reading Skills with Lines and Curves in Play

Ms. Salam’s Investigations:

Exploring Pre-Writing and Reading Skills with Lines and Curves in Play

March 5, 2013

As I observed throughout the course of the semester, the children explored using lines in several, ways, such as curved lines in tape and rolling play dough to make lines, curves and shapes.   

Woah! Look at all the snowflakes I caught!

Ms. Szymaszek’s Investigations:

Woah!  Look at all the snowflakes I caught!

February 4, 2013

  

On Monday, February 4, Ms. Amy invited some children to explore outside in the snow.  Each child was offered a magnifying glass and a cold piece of black paper to explore with outside.