Using recyclable materials

We decided to make houses(sound of H) or beds(it's healthy to get good sleep) from cardboard, paper towel tubes, and tape.  Tissues make great bed linens, and we colored them with markers.

Every single block was used in this tower-that's a lot of teamwork.

I had no idea 'H' builders could be used this way...

H-Houses

We started with big paper and a pile of construction paper shapes.  The Caterpillars knew exactly what their house should look like.  Windows, doors, and roofs were added.  We also saw cars, dog houses, yards, roads, and family members.  Each of us found something interesting to do with matchbox cars, and the train puzzle(count to 20!) was completed.  All that and actual time outside on the playground...a good day!

Caterpillars make ice!

Another day of inside recess...what can we learn from cold air and ice cube trays?  The Caterpillars chose small containers, filled them with varying levels of water, added colors, and carried the whole kit and kaboodle to the patio outside our classroom about 9:45.  At first we checked every 15 minutes or so, but there was no real progress until about 11:15, heading upstairs to go home.  We made slush!  Nothing was frozen solid, but all had either a skin of ice across the top or slush all the way down.  Colors did not seem to affect the process.  Next time we will start earlier and be sure the tray is in the shade-even sunlight at 19 degrees seemed to keep our experiment from freezing.

Cold Monday

On this cold morning we played in Centers a little longer than usual.  The Butterflies got out all the food and dishes, made a train of chairs, used every block, and created quite a traffic jam with the little cars. We also searched magazines for the letter 'H' and things that start with that sound. Needless to say, fun was had by all.

Ocean Week

The Butterflies had a great time during ocean week.  We studied the book Rainbow Fish. It is a wonderful book about sharing and what it means to be a friend. Several students created their own rainbow fish.  In the picture below, Cole tries to listen to the ocean.

This picture shows friend playing with playdough.

Here students sort sharks  Be careful!!

Rainbow Fish

Our classroom was invaded (in a good way) by Rainbow Fish this morning.  The children traced a fish shape on rainbow colored paper, and with varying degrees of help, cut it out.  The fish was then glued on the blue finger painted water page from Tuesday. Result: a school of Rainbow Fish!

Several children added titles and names to their work.  It was a nice completion to a 2 day project.

Playdoh fun

The Butterfly class had access to playdoh on Monday morning.  This kind of sensory play can be stimulating as well as relaxing, even though we are all big kids.  'Jewels' left behind by the Caterpillar students were in the way for some, but part of the play for others.  The necessary sharing of tools is second nature to most of us by now.

Our volunteer Miss Tiffany is quite an artist in playdoh.

Fingerpainting the ocean

We had a number of different approaches to the blue fingerpaint experience that was offered to the Caterpillar students this morning.  Some of us were all in, others preferred to dabble one finger at a time.  Each, of course, created a masterpiece.

Bears and Winter

We had a great week back.  We learned all about animals surviving the cold winter.  We read Going on a Bear Hunt and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Here students use felt to retail the story.

Three boys paint bears.

Lots of sharing fun.

A new year, a new friend

The Caterpillar class welcomed a new classmate this week.  Mae brings our class to 6 students...still room for more!
We created snowflakes after folding tissue circles 4 times, and Mrs. Lewis was allowed to hang them in the classroom as long as they could go home later that day.  We also used white paint and cotton swabs to give our bear cutouts their own blizzard.

At last, school

On Friday, Butterflies returned to school after an extended winter break.  Mrs. Lewis was the teacher for a coughing Mrs. Schaefer.  The children spent the morning getting to know each other again.  Lots of interactive group dramatic play, and even a few takers at the snowflake making table.