Creativity in the Class

This little Bunny is new to our class and she's still experimenting with all the materials we have to offer.  We have so much to do in our class that the possibilities are endless.

These Bunnies have had lots of experiences with the materials in our class and they still have creative uses for familiar items.  The possibilities are endless for them, too.

Each day the children can count on some new materials mixed in with some familiar materials.  Having both allows them to really shine!

Carpentry Continued

The Bunnies continued their carpentry experiences by using hand drills.  We've never used these particular tools in Bunny Rabbit class before so we weren't sure what to expect.  My goodness, the children thought the drills were so neat.  We're definitely going to use them again!

Precarious

Check out this way cool structure.  If you look closely you will see just how precariously placed the blocks are on the top.  Only two or three small cylinders stacked on two or three large cylinders are supporting the weight of the entire top level.  All the other blocks on the rug are part of the overall design but offer no structural support. Materials and opportunity allowed these guys to learn about weight and balance through play.
Awesome!

Silly Sally Day

Every year in January when we have just one day to meet as a class, we have Silly Sally Day.  Get yourself a copy of Silly Sally.  Kids love it!
To celebrate Silly Sally Day we turned things upside down - literally - and we did a few unexpected wacky things.  Art was under the table.  We had huge white butcher paper taped to the bottom of the table and a bucket of markers.  The children crawled under the table, laid on their backs and colored up in the air.  Mrs. O'Connor and Mrs. Magee also got under the table to color, but there is no photographic evidence.  We even had a few puzzles and games under the table.  Some children had fun with that idea right away.  One little Bunny girl kept moving the games to the top of the table when no one was looking.  heehee.  She had a hard time understanding that we put the games under the table purposely!  Any guesses who it might have been?  At the easel, the children used dot markers to decorate an upside down girl as Silly Sally.  At the sensory table we had fake snow.  Not glitter or plastic-y fake Christmas snow.  We call it "real fake snow".  It is powdery white like sugar until you add water.  Then poof!  It becomes snow - cool to the touch, delicate and smooth.  It's an unexpected delight for Southerners like us.

Guess what! Jesus Grew Up

Through the years we have learned that most children know Jesus was a tiny baby born in a stable.  They also know Jesus was a grownup who did wonderful things. 

Most of them are super surprised that Jesus was a little boy!

We have a fantastic book called If I Had Lived in Jesus' Time.  It shows drawings of modern life and ancient life.  It's perfect for comparing and contrasting they way we live today with the way Jesus lived.  The Bunnies were amazed that Jesus probably slept on a mat on the floor - no bed!!! 

In our class, we learn the things Jesus probably learned like carpentry and sewing.

Jesus learned carpentry from his father, Joseph.  For us, carpentry involves lots of glue.  The children each added small wooden bits to a large piece of wood.  They will continue to work on these from time to time and then we'll send them home.

Jesus probably learned a bit of sewing from his mother, Mary.  Can young children learn to sew?  Absolutely!  We use burlap, yarn, a big plastic needle and a large embroidery hoop.  The Bunnies love it!  We will have sewing out from time to time and by the end of the year we'll have a fancy mat.

Good-bye and Hello

We are beginning the second half of our school year with some good-byes and some hellos.
Henry and Jaina left our class and Yeremi and Rebecca joined us.  Parents, we will get new photo rosters to you soon!

Happy New Year and Brrr!

I hope eveyone has greeted the new year with a smile and is ready to feel showered with blessings!

  Did you know that this is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese calendar?! 

I have lots of pictures to post, so stay tuned to see some neat things the children did right before our Christmas holidays.

The weather has gotten significantly colder.  Even on very cold days, we go outside to play.  It may surprise you to know that cold weather gives children excellent sensory information!  Please be sure to send warm coats, hats, gloves or whatever else you think your child would need.  LABEL EVERYTHING!