A Garden Grows in the Owl Classroom

Out with the old, in with the new! That's what we say!

 Today, we converted the dramatic play area so that it reflects our seed study. We removed all of the materials in the area that did not pertain to a gardening focus, and brought in a slew of new materials, including fabric flowers, picnicking items, butterfly headbands, and more.

 At morning meeting, we had a discussion about what kinds of things that we can play in our new "dramatic garden" area. Friends came up with ideas for planting, being superheros that need to stop animals from eating the pants, picnicking, being garden monsters, suggesting creating a garden play production, and more.

Our excitement towards seeds and gardening is also starting to extend towards bugs. We've been noticing ants and other insects on our playground, so we brought out Eric Carle's "The Very Quiet Cricket Game". Remembering our board game study, small groups cooperatively played and were very respectful towards the other players.

Other Owlings:

"I'm a taco!"

Bosses of Brushes and Babies

This morning, Sam, the art teacher paid us a visit! We got a chance to show her how the Owls have been working with watercolors and how we have become the bosses of our brushes.

We've talked about this concept before, but the idea is to push past the urge to simply "slam" the brushes down on the paper and mix the colors in the tray into muddy concoctions (no easy tasks for Preschool-age children). The Owls showed Sam our process of water, color, then paper for each shade, and how they try to be very intentional with the control of their brush, focusing on line weight, direction, and delicacy with the brush bristles.

Our dramatic play scenarios have been evolving rapidly since the start of our baby study, and today's happenings only fueled the fire. The Owls were very excited to make a rocket ship out of blocks this morning, but a specific purpose was applied to this vessel: the transportation of baby dolls. After the ship was constructed, a great deal of thought was given to where the babies would ride, with friends deciding that a pillow would be laid to provide a comfortable space for them. They were wrapped, fed, and given toys for their journey. Then, Mike played audio clips of babies crying, and friends  were challenged to try to make the imaginary infants stop crying. They were nurtured, rocked, fed, and loved. What a caring bunch of Owls we have!

A baby monkey lying with (or rather...under...) the human baby dolls

Mike: "Does your baby like to be in that 'suitcase'?" Alexander: "It's my baby, and my baby likes to be in my 'suitcase'."

Friends with babies in their tummies

Other Owlings:

Board games a la Tamara!

Continuing of the Collaging

Checking Out The Library and E.C. Boxing

Today, we visited Gwen in the library. She read us the story of Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett, a story of a girl who makes the acquaintance of several animals from the woods while searching for her cat friend.

We then were shown where animal books live in our AFS Lower School library, which was very exciting because we actually were encouraged to peruse the library shelves! In fact, Gwen let the Owls pick out animal books to check out and bring back to our classroom! Choices included various cats (both large and small), sharks and dogs.

 We enjoyed being placed into boxes today...ahh the joys of early childhood...

Friends enjoyed using boxes from a grill in multitudes of different ways, and incorporated them into play with other props. At various points throughout the morning, the boxes were ships (both regular ships and pirate vessels, of course), houses, hideouts, platforms of dance, workrooms, vehicles that traveled alongside giant eagles, and simply cozy places for friends to meet, snuggle, and enjoy each others' company. 

The majestic eagle

Pirates spraying water

 Other Owlings:

The fiercest dragon face on this side of Middle Earth

"Look! The sand has holes on the bottom, too!"

"I made it for mom"

We also brought out animals to our playground and enjoyed the possibilities