Due to the new spread of Coronavirus this week is been a bit different but that’ not going to stop us from exploring new learnings and have fun with our friends. We’ve been really focused in learning good hygiene practices and we all participated in an experiment that shows us why is the soap really important (Pepper and soap experiment). We’ve also learnt the steps we need to follow to achieve impeccable hands. In the preschool class, throughout the week, we have been continuing to learn about Autumn, and have undertaken a variety of experiences to help us learn about this season. While the toddlers and babies kept exploring the world of colours joining in diverse sensorial activities.

Preschoolers

Friday 13^th March 2020: The falling leaves dancing game

On Friday, we played our leaf falling dance game, making sure we watched carefully how the leaves fell, and moving our bodies in this way in a game of acting and dramatic skill. We collected the leaves and studied the way they look, taking note of the veins, lines and bumps we could see. To get a better understanding of these features, we pressed the leaves gently into some playdough to make the leaf imprints. This was a fascinating experience to engage in!

 Monday 16^nd March: Science of washing hands 

Monday was a rainy day so we had to stay indoors for the most part of the day. We took that time to talk about the virus that is affecting everyone’s lifestyle. We made a cool experiment to see how the germs are scared of soap. If you want to do it at home, these are the instructions:

1. Take some pepper and sprinkle it in a dish with plain water.

2. Get a second dish and fill it with soap and water.

3. Now, dip your finger into the dish with pepper water.

4. Look at your finger. It may have a few specks of pepper on it.

5. Dip your finger in the dish with soap water, making sure it’s fully submerged.

6. Now dip your soap-covered finger back into the dish of pepper water. You should see the pepper immediately move away from your finger.

This demonstration mimics how germs are removed from hands with soap. We also practiced our overarm throw playing a passing the ball game.

 Tuesday 17^rd March: Painting the Autumn

 Today we took some Autumn items, such as sticks, pine cones etc and allowed children to experiment painting with these in Autumn colours, such as red, brown, yellow, orange. Afterwards, we had a look at some of the paintings we had made, and we talked about the patterns the different items made and why they might have made these patterns. We talked about which items everyone preferred to paint with, and why. Later, we used some large pieces of paper to decorate and paint the autumn clothing that was drawn on each. This experience encouraged the development of children’s weather vs clothing choice, and also enhanced our large muscles in our arms and torso as we used large pieces of paper that required large brush strokes. 

Wednesday 18^th March: Sorting leaves

Today we did another autumn leaf collection around the playground and everyone was encouraged to collect 5 leaves each. This helped us learn about one to one correspondence and counting number 1 – 5. We brought out leaves back inside, spread them out on the mat and ordered them from smallest to largest, then tried to group them in other ways, too, such as small leaves/big leaves, colours, shapes. This increased our early mathematical knowledge and skills and helped us learn about the different ways items are grouped. We then experimented by painting the leaves and printing them onto paper to see what effect this had. We were intrigued by the patterns and mars that were made, and learned about trial and error, such as a leaf print is more clearly represented when there is only a little paint on it to start with.

Thursday 19^th March: PUMPKINING!

 Today we took a look at something that grows well in Autumn: Pumpkins! Children passed around, touched, smelled, looked at, and talked about two types of pumpkins. We shared some pumpkin facts, such as: Pumpkin flowers are edible, pumpkins contain seeds so are scientifically a fruit, they contain potassium and vitamin A, they are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red, the name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’, pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds. Children then watched as the pumpkins were cut, and again had a look, smell, feel, and even a taste of the flesh. We talked about the differences between outside and inside the pumpkin, and between the two varieties we had available. We were then able to make pumpkin scones! Through cooking, children learn about the science of change, turn taking and measuring, among other things. What a delicious way to finish off our day of pumpkining!

Toddlers and babies

Not many children had come this week so babies and toddlers had been sharing experiences. Young children learn from older ones even when they are not interacting with those older ones. They learn just from watching and listening. From such observations children acquire not just information but also motivation. Children seem to be most motivated to do what those who are a little older than themselves are doing.

Friday 13^th March: Color Green with Herbs 2.0

Doing science projects helps develop children resourcefulness, particularly their skills at goal-setting, planning, and problem-solving. It also nurtures intellectual curiosity, helping children acquire new ways of asking questions and understanding the world. Continuing with green colour and following children interests we made our own paint on based to mint and coriander. Children experienced the smell of the mint and the texture of the coriander. Their favourite part was using the mortar and smashed it, watching the green liquid coming out from the herbs, being able to paint with that!!

Monday  16^nd March: Verde week

A new week, new colour. This week we talked about blue, making children point this colour and repeat it in Spanish. Today we went in deep with sensorial experiences and listening what children said we all make blue playdough. In group we worked together to achieve a common goal. Some children helped with the flours, other with salt and others with water. When the playdough was ready, children spent around 20 minutes playing with it, pretending to cook a cake, make snakes, and more. This experience helps children to improve their social skills to work as a team. Also allow them be creative with and open-ended resource, following and extending their own interest with enthusiasm, energy and concentration.

Tuesday 17^rd March: Blue sensory bags

Keeping up working with the color “Azul” we collected blue things from the room, where most of the children were able to find and recognize this color.  Following by making a sensorial bag, children helped to pour water with blue food coloring and the stuff they found such as glitter, sequin, blue acetate and more. This helped to improve their creativity, they made their bags according their interest on based what they wanted. “a Sky” said L.C, thinking the glitter were the stars.

Wednesday 18^th March: Blue Party

To say goodbye to the last hot days, we made a party outside with water and blue balls. To make this interesting we also included some balloons to the party and food coloring to the water. We had a good moment sharing the balls and throwing them from one child to other. We shared a lot of laughs together splashing the water. The purpose of this activity was including more the children that aren’t comfortable in the group yet. As everybody participated, the aim was achieved. I saw all the children playing together and laughing, developing their social skills.

Thursday 19^th March: Blueberries smothies

Keeping up with the project, as this week we have been learning the color blue, we included healthy and simple recipe for children to teach them about healthy practices. Linking our topic with this recipe, for afternoon tea children participated in pouring the milk and the blueberries into the blender. Once it was done, they drank it finishing with a clap. This experience help children to develop their self-independence and autonomy, being able to serve their own meals, working on cognitive skills.