Spring Is In Full Bloom in Pre-K!

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

Spring is finally here!!!! We have been celebrating the arrival of Spring in our Pre-K class for a little while now, but we have had several cold snaps, so it hasn't felt like Spring was official until the last couple of weeks. We have been learning about plants and flowers in our Pre-K class, so I thought I would share some of our fun with you here today.

We started by talking about the parts of a plant and how each part functions to help the plant grow. Later, we put together a little flower and the children helped me label each part (they named, we wrote). Originally, we didn't have pollen as part of this plant activity, but they insisted, so we cut up some yarn to make little pollen particles. (The children are very familiar with pollen, as in our area the pollen is so thick it coats the cars, streets and outside areas in a thick yellow-green dust. The kids actually collect bucketfuls on the playground and call it "broccoli" because it does look like little broccoli stalks when it falls from the trees, before being dispersed. )

We talked and read a lot about how water travels up the plant through the roots through little veins. This was a tough concept for the kids to really get without a visual, so we put some fresh cut celery stalks in colored water to we could observe the colored water as it traveled up the celery to the top. The children were so excited about this that they checked the celery every day!

We didn't want to waste the bottom we cut off, so we placed it in a bowl of water so we could observe it as it sprouted new growth.

We planted several kinds of seeds, and used some quick growing grass seed to make some "Hairy Harry"s. They drew a little face on the cups (unfortunately the faces don't show up very well in the pictures!) They loved watching the grass sprout and grow! 

The children were very busy drawing flowers and plants. It seemed every day I got a new batch of flower drawings! 

Right before St. Patrick's Day we used green peppers to make shamrock prints. 

We had several field trips that week along with other activities and didn't get to use all the peppers we had, so we used some of the peppers to make flower prints with paint in art center. I love that they experimented by making leaves and stems, and some even twisted the pepper around on the paper to make original flower designs a little differently.

We've been so busy with field trips and "getting ready for kindergarten" activities that Mother's Day just crept up on us. We made these cute little flower jars for our Moms using fingerprints to make flowers and planted a little flower in each for them to take home to Mom for Mother's Day. 

 

                 Happy Spring and Happy Mother's Day!

 Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!

PLAY-BASED SCIENCE!

"PLAY IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RESEARCH"

That is one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein.  

Anything can be introduced to young children as 

long as it is through the lens of play.

Enrique Feldman, Artist

Founder/Director of Education

F.A.M.E. Foundation

As an educator I have the great pleasure of working with partnering schools which have a sincere interest in finding elevated ways to guide youth, so that learning is something they crave.  At the Child-Parent Centers, Inc. Head Start program in Tucson, Arizona, we have been on this journey with them since 2003 and each year the level of learning for children, teachers, and parents increases.

One of the centers I interact with is the Sunnyside Center.  At this center, they choose areas of interest that the children have and connect them in meaningful ways to learning. Not just academic learning, but the Art of Learning... critical thinking combined with creative thinking.  The most recent area of interest led to a study in Science...physical science, biological science, and earth science!

Through experiences the children had over a period of months, along with authentic conversations with teachers and parents, children came up with their own definition of physical science seen above. Below is one of several adult definitions.

When the learner, at any age, is allowed to discover the definition for themselves, the amount of critical thinking and creative thinking is very high.  Even if the definition they come up with isn't exactly accurate, the journey they take in discovering at least part of the answer make the comprehension of the actual definition much more meaningful.  Let's take a look at that journey!

All children play with some form of block or puzzle.  What's important to notice here is that a teacher or parent took the time to ask a question, wait for the response, and then document what the child said.  For any learner, when you see yourself in an image and your words, this is highly affirming, which leads to more trust, then risk and of course leads to more growth.

Working in groups and taking the time to observe the process of things in nature may seem simple, but this usually leads to a love of observing which is connected to keeping curiosity alive in the learner... what would your life look like if you kept a high level of curiosity?

If you were the guide in the above setting, what question might you ask of the child related to what is happening, what happened or what might happen?  Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below.

Guiding children in creating liquids with different qualities can be a visually stimulating experience and one that has no limits.  What could you create with basic elements?  With the ability to search online for an unlimited amount of recipes, take a moment to think about what you could help your children create.  Could they eventually come up with their own recipes?

Science can be related to something children already enjoy doing.  It's our job to facilitate that with guided questions, paying attention to the child's response, whether it be a gesture or words, as it was in the case above with Robert.

The simple pleasure in life are so rewards and so are the simple pleasures in learning.  They may be simple, yet they can be profound.  Once Gabbi knows that she can use her hands to pinch clay to hold certain shapes, what else may Gabbi realize she can do with her hands, her fingers, clay, a pencil, and more?

Children also explored biological science and created their own definitions!

As part of biological science children can begin to identify stages or steps.  This is a form of pattern and sequence, which exist in any area of learning, from math to music and in this case, science.

Understanding a child's interest is key because any interest can be used to teach any subject matter, assuming the teacher is clever enough to improvise and grow themselves.  In Aniza's case, she enjoys food, cooking, and making things for her friends.  What kinds of questions could you ask this preschool child?  Colors, amounts, shapes, differences, contrasting elements (big/small, etc.)...  the possibilities are endless.

Speaking of food, how about making some butter!

Categorization and decision making...oh yeah! 

Children were also engaged in experiences related to 

Earth Science!

In the beginning stages of science, there is typically an overlap of definition and perhaps even confusion related to what kinds of things are certain types of science.  In letting the children first experience and later label, the children discover WHY something is earth science and WHY something is biological science or some other type of science.  This is very different than simply being told or memorizing different categories.  1) It's much more engaging, 2) the learner creates their own framework, 3) the learner fuels their curiosity and 4) they do actually learn the definition, but in a more meaningful context.

Comparing and contrasting soil and sand...think, think, think.... Pensive!

The Art of observation... in this case how a fish swims.

Can the study of science be integrated with Art?  Can it be connect to the understanding of shapes, perspective and color?  Yes, yes, and yes.  Can it be connected to academic standards?  Sure, but of course that's a natural byproduct of any truly engaged learner.

Plain old rocks, right?  Notice the care with which the learner is handling and observing.  What questions could you 

ask as this child's guide?

Understanding weather patterns and the relationship between the sun being out, still being cold, and it being winter.  What other combinations predict weather and/or seasons?

This next example could be considered a form of biological science if your focus is on the bag or the air, but it could be earth science if the focus is on the human being producing the air.  Either way the idea of experimenting to see if air can move is a big idea that has led to alternate forms of energy.  Encouraging children to recreate that information on their own allows them to take roads travelled by some very well known scientists and perhaps beyond.... oh the places you'll go!

Recently in Tucson, Arizona, it actually snowed.  This was a very special day for us who live in the southwest and provided a fantastic opportunity for children to explore where snow comes from, why it's not rain, how quickly or slowly it falls and why.

If you're new to my blog on the 5th of every month, you might be wondering why I ask so many questions of children and of you.  I could tell you, but I'd be robbing you from the experience if I did, so instead I'll answer this question in the following manner.

Why do you think I ask so many questions?

10 Ways To Help Children Enjoy Dental Health

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

Did you know February is Dental Health month? It's a great time to help kids get familiar with dental visits and dental routines. Many children are afraid of going to the dentist. One of the best ways to alleviate a child's fear of the dentist is to help them learn about visiting the dentist and what to expect. Today I'm sharing some ways to help children learn about dental health/hygiene AND ways to make the learning fun!

1. Get a fun toothbrush and tasty toothpaste and let your child help pick them out! There are lots of fun toothbrushes for children these days. Some light up, some play music, you can personalize or decorate some or get one with a popular character on it. 
   Now, let's talk toothpaste. I'm going to get personal for just a minute and let you in on a little family secret here. I have a teenager with special needs. She had a horrible smile. Her teeth were crooked, her smile was misshapen and she had a yellow tinge (common in our family). We found a local dentist that had a scholarship program that would provide dental and orthodontic work that we never could have afforded. Her smile was fodder for the bullies that plagued her every day. We applied and got the scholarship. Fast forward a couple of years and the braces are off and she has an absolutely beautiful smile!!!! Here's the tricky part---she wouldn't brush her teeth. After all this work, we were nagging and cajoling her morning and night to brush. She would "forget" more often than not. Recently, we've discovered a big part of the problem---toothpaste!!! She was using regular adult paste and with her food/sensory issues, the minty taste really bothered her. I mean REALLY, REALLY bothered her. So we went back to children's toothpaste with kid friendly flavors and she's brushing regularly again. If using bubblegum paste makes the difference between brushing and not brushing, we'll do what we have to. 

image courtesy of Amazon.com

2. Use a tooth brushing chart to remind kids about brushing and help set some goals. Help your kids get in the habit of brushing at least twice a day. Using a tooth brushing chart helps provide a visual reminder for kids until the habits become second nature. There is a great chart on my blog, little illuminations sent to me by "Love Your Teeth". Click here for the link. It can be personalized and is printable. Teachers---you can enter in a class list and print one for each student! 

3. Read some fun books about teeth and dental health! There are tons of great books out there, but I'll share some of my favorites below!






4. Play games! Honestly, most of the games we've played this week accented our math skills but had a dental theme. That's okay! 
  I printed out a coloring page of a toothy smile and laminated it. The kids roll a die and color in cavities on the appropriate number of teeth. At the end of the game, we compare the number of cavities, then brush them all away!

I have a board game, courtesy of Colgate's Bright Smiles Bright Futures program. I don't know if they still send out kits to classes, but the board game has lasted several years and is a fun little game. You could also easily make a game board with a file folder and colored dots. 

5. Identify "tooth friendly" foods/drinks and foods/drinks that aren't healthy for teeth. Yesterday, I let the kids get some cutting practice in by cutting out some pictures of food and pasting them on paper. (recycled women's magazines and grocery store sale flyers are EXCELLENT for this!)  I really didn't give them any guidelines---I just instructed them to cut out any food pictures they wanted. 

I made 2 giant tooth cut outs, one with a smile and one with a frown. I explained that the tooth with the happy face was for healthy foods and the sad face was for junk food and sweets.

 I asked the children if they thought they had healthy foods to sit down by the tooth with the smile and if they had junk foods or sweets to sit by the sad tooth. We then looked at each student's picture and talked about why they sat where they did. If, after discussion they were by the wrong tooth, we encouraged them to find the right tooth and sit beside it. 

Later, we posted the pictures on or near the right tooth and displayed them on our classroom wall.

6. Explore the damage soda, tea, coffee and sugar drinks do to our teeth by experimenting on hard boiled eggs. Soak each egg in a different drink and observe after several hours or overnight. For additional investigation, have students use a toothbrush to try and clean the stains off the egg. This hands-on experiment really helps them see the damage done.

7. Talk about the tools used in proper dental health. We examined and explored toothbrushes and floss. We explored how to use them properly.

We played a little simulation, using the children as teeth and a jump rope for the floss. I then "flossed" between the children!

Later, use toothbrushes and dental floss to make art! (Sorry, no pics for this one.) Use the toothbrushes as paintbrushes. Drag the floss through the paint like you would with string art. These turn out wonderfully creative and unique!  (If I am able to get a few shots later, I'll try to add them!)

8. Make a giant mouth and count out marshmallows, packing peanuts or cotton balls to make the teeth.

Or, use playdough to make a mouth and place beans to make teeth!

9. Set up a mock dental office. This is a favorite center to explore every year!!! I don't have any specific "dental tools", just items pilfered from a toy doctor kit, a few toothbrushes, rubber gloves and dribble bibs made from napkins or paper towels clipped to string with clothes pins. 

The reception and waiting area is also a very popular place to play. the kids make appointments, type on an old keyboard and answer the phone while others  thumb through magazines while waiting their turn for dental work!

10. Visit and tour a children's dentist BEFORE your first appointment. Knowing what to expect goes a long way in alleviating a child's fears. Many of the children's dentists really make the appointments fun and this helps the  children get excited about going to the dentist! We have FABULOUS children's dentist in our area that really goes all out for our visits. After touring the work areas, the children are given a dental health lesson from the Tooth Fairy. 

The Tooth Fairy also visits our younger students in the school to talk about dental health, as well!  

Before we visit, we always talk about what the kids think a dentist does. They can compare their answers with their observations after the visit. It may also give an indication if there are unfounded fears or misconceptions that are easily cleared up.

As a child, I had several very bad experiences at the dentist. My hope is that by making dental visits and hygiene fun, my students will look forward to visiting the dentist and perform proper oral health habits. No child should ever fear or dread the dentist the way I always have. I hope some of these ideas are of help to your little ones, too!

Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!