New Centres

The Kiddoes have spent some time exploring new centres this week!!! I am a huge believer in the value of play as a learning medium. It is through play where children gain social and emotional skills, enhance language abilities, develop motor skills and increase cognitive abilities. Play is pleasurable and allows children to engage in repetitive acts which fuels confidence and mastery. This is why, as much as I can in my room, utilize play as a means to teach the curriculum.

1) Building Permits: This week saw the introduction of "building permits" in the block centre. I explained to the Kiddos, that in life, if you wanted to build a structure, you would need to secure a permit in order to do so. If not, there could be serious consequences. Thus, in our room, in order to construct, one would now need to obtain a "building permit". Building permits in our room are secured daily by taking a slip and filling in one's name and the date. Kiddos than bring the permit to either Miss Maier or myself and we give them a small sticker to show that a permit has been obtained. The children have reacted positively to our room emulating "real life" and quite enjoy the process of obtaining a building permit. Through this simple idea, the Kiddos are practicing their writing skills without even realizing it. The Kiddos are writing and enjoying it because it serves a purpose in which they are interested.

KA

2) Name Puzzles: Each day we have a special helper of the day. As discussed earlier, we examine this person's name, cut it up, and then challenge the special person to put it back together. We have taken the cut up names and created a centre challenging the Kiddos to put together each other's name. The Kiddos are working on sequencing, letter recognition and socialization skills as they become more familiar with friends in the room. 

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3) The Farm Table: The sand table has been transformed into a 'farm wonderland'. The Kiddos are able to use their imagination to collaboratively play while exploring an important aspect of our provincial economy. There are books for the Kiddos to inspect while making comparisons to the table, as well as answering questions that arise. 

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4) Colour Sort: In math we are presently learning about sorting rules. This centre provides the Kiddos with an opportunity to practice this numeracy concept as well as work on their fine motor control through the use of tongs. The Kiddos have been challenged not to use their hands, and only the tongs in order to pick up objects and then sort them based on colour!

KA

5) Alphabet Gem and Playdough Making: This centre provides opportunities for the Kiddos to practice making letters in a fun, and non-threatening manner. Often when writing on paper, children can become discouraged when trying to erase a mark and they can still see a faint line or a paper rips. In this centre, a quick shift of a gem/playdough and they can try again!

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6) Find The Missing Number: In this centre, the Kiddos have to figure out what number is missing, hunt for it in a sensory tub and then using their fine motor skills, open a clothespin to put the number in its right spot. The Kiddos are working on fine motor, and numeracy skills in this centre.

7) Fine Motor Writing Practice: Using bags full of a gel like substance, the Kiddos have been challenged to practice writing and making different shapes. They love the sensory feel of the bags!

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Have a great night!