What has been happening in Room 208 this week! (Jan 25-29)

Hello Families,

Children have been continuing to explore and make additions to their Castle learning area. In the Castle, children can put on crowns, wear jewelry, dress up, draw and write to each other, pretend to feast on food with one another, and use coins. Items such as crowns, jewelry, and the surrounding scenery were created by children themselves at the Art Studio. This week, we added a horse to our castle! There has been lots of excitement with the new materials and we are curious to see what happens next!

We have also been continuing the discussion of feelings such as 'sad' and 'shy' and what they mean to the children. Children have also been working on their writing about what makes them happy. Families, you too can also continue this discussion at home by asking your child "What makes you happy?"

Thinking ahead and as we move into February, we will slowly be moving into 3D (three-dimensional) shapes with the children. To get your child thinking about 3D shapes, when at home or outside, ask if they can can name any of the shapes they see around them. For example, you can ask your child what kind of shape is a garbage bin, a bus shelter, a box, a table, etc.

Hope you had a lovely weekend,
Ms. Hammond & Ms. Abdulla

"Let's sort all the beads by colour!" - A.W. & A.A 

"Look, we made a castle!" - Y.H. 

Some of the children working very hard to make a house with a pool 

Exploring the castle 

My face is feeling angry because his mom didn't take him to Dollarama - S.A. 

"She's feeling unsure like I dunno [Why?] someone said you need to jump in the pool and she said I'm not sure!" - A.A. 

How are you feeling?

This week, children were introduced to feelings through read-alouds, songs, and community circle discussions.

Social and emotional development is especially important in the early years. Starting this week, the playdough learning area now contains mirrors, play dough, pictures of different kinds of children displaying different kinds of feelings, and materials to make faces.

As we continue talking about feelings, children will explore and reflect on not only their own feelings but the feelings of others in the classroom. They will also begin to learn the connection between how certain feelings look and feel differently to every individual.

The big idea is that feelings are okay and we all experience them at some point or another.

Families, you too, can continue the discussion of feelings at home by asking your child about how they feel or ask them to explain why they might be feeling a certain way.

[What did you make?]

"We made you Ms. Abdulla!!" - RP & SA 

"I made a face. He's surprised because someone gave him a present." - RP 

"My face is happy" - LA 

Let's Make A Castle 1, 2, 3. ...

Hello Families,

Things have been very exciting in Room 208 this week!! The children have been working hard to create a castle for the Drama learning area.

It all started with one idea. From this one idea, many voices began to suggest other ideas, and it all came down to a vote - should the Drama area be turned into a castle? As you might have guessed the children voted YES!! By the end, the class had created a list of all the materials and props they would need to successfully create a castle.

Throughout the week, children have been working very hard to create items such as thrones, beds, the castle itself, crowns, artwork, scenery, flowers, animals, and people. But before that, lots of planning and negotiating had to be done! Children have been able to get a sense that things often don't happen over night and take time. The true value of collaborative teamwork can be seen as children realize the more they work together the more they can achieve.

Stay tuned as all the planning and hard work continues!

Here are some shots of all the work that has been happening: 

January 18 - 21: A week in review through pictures

Wow families, has it already been another week?! 

Every week you can be sure to find a post titled "A week in review through pictures". These posts will contain pictures of all the learning and exploring children have been doing in the classroom. You may also see separate posts dedicated to specific learning that has been going on in the classroom so be sure to check out the blog. 

Hope you have a lovely and restful long weekend, 

Ms. Hammond & Ms. Abdulla