Christmas creativity

This year, we decided to move away from a teacher-directed craft and towards a more child-driven and creative activity. 

One of our learning goals is "We are learning to be artists." Part of being an artist is designing a project, taking time to do a good job, solving problems and making design decisions. 

Each bow, ribbon, pompom and sparkle was added with precise decision and deliberate thought. 

We appreciate all the donations  that supported this activity. 

We hope the parents of our children enjoy the creations as much as the kids did making them!

Hypothesizing and surveying

This week, Glitter has asked the children to share toys and to wash their hands really well. With an outbreak of tummy upset going around, this is an especially important way to be kind!

In other Christmas news, we did some hypothesizing and surveying today. We gave the children the little pill-shaped tablets that turn into big sponges in water.  The package said it was Christmas-themed, but It was hard to tell which was which.  So we showed them how to make a survey and tally chart to gather guesses. 

Some of the children surveyed the class to see what they thought the pill would become. 

At the end of the day we dropped it in a vase of water but we'll have to wait to see in the morning what it turned out to be. 

Tis the season of anticipation!

Celebrating with song

After we put on our glittery head bands and the Rudolph noses, we passed around the mirror.

The children were tickled by their costumes!

 Anticipation was high as we waited in the wings.

Here we go!

Click here for a video of our rendition of S-A-N-T-A.

Glitter and the dough

Glitter's been flying around our class!

She asked us to be gentle with each other and to use kind words. Today she wished us good luck on our show this afternoon!

Over at the playdough table, we had a lovely fresh batch of mint-scented dough. When I shook on a sprinkle of glitter, the children were entranced.

They observed how it felt on their fingers before they kneaded it in, and how it stuck to the bottom of the dough to make a slippery shine. It was great fine motor practice as well as an exercise in observation and experimentation.

Why don't you try it at home?

Engines running just right

Today's Kindness Job from Glitter was all about self-regulation. 

Part of being kind is being calm. We use the metaphor of an engine running just right...not too fast, not too slow. They did a great job of regulating themselves today under Glitter's watchful eye!

Glitter in disguise

Glitter was trying to hide in the Christmas tree today!

She had another Kindness Job today:

In other Christmas news, some children took on the challenge of wrapping boxes by themselves. 

There was lots of measuring and fine motor work, along with plenty of problem solving. 

They may not be perfect, but they represent a lot of real-life learning!

Glitter's morning message

 

Today's Kindness Job:

Help a friend get dressed. 

The children got into the holiday spirit by giving the tree a trim today. 

Meet Glitter!

Look who showed up in our class today:

It's Glitter, our Kindness Elf.

She wrote a letter for the children explaining why she is here.

We opened up the box she left under the rocking chair, and found the first Kindness Job: 

Help a friend keep their cubby tidy.

The children were so excited to write letters for Glitter! Her mailbox is already bursting at the seams. She will have lots of letters to write tonight back at the North Pole!

If your child would like to write a letter at home, please bring it in and Glitter will write back.

Merry Christmas!

Artists on Display

After a week's hard work, our class was ready to welcome families for our Gala on Thursday. 

Thank you to all the people who were able to make it. Sorry we missed those who couldn't! 

The children's pride in their accomplishments was palpable in the air. 

The grown ups also contributed to our community of artists by adding to our collaborative painting project. 

For many kids, the food was the best part. It was hard to delay gratification after making cookies, but they did a great job. When they got the ok to dig in, it was all hands on deck!

It was a special event that we will always treasure. Thank you so much for your support, donations, volunteering, and attendance. It means the world to us...we are lucky to have such a great group of families!