Monday morning in KDH

As a Reggio inspired classroom we fill our centers with materials to support child directed learning. We also are open to unexpected opportunities. This past Monday morning was a paradigm of what can be accomplished with this approach.  

The children came in and noticed paint, cardboard, lucite and magnets out on the table. What could we do with that? First we experimented to see if the magnets would attract and repel through the lucite and cardboard to move around bolts and bottle caps.  That worked so we taped on paper and put the bolts with paint on the paper on the lucite and cardboard. We tried to moved the bolts and caps and spread the paint. That did not work so well, so we tried paper plates. Voila! Magnetic art. One of the children remarked that magnets are all about attraction.

Parents and children were still trickling in. Gabi came in with his mother holding a large book.They asked if they could be surprise readers. Hurray! We all sat down to hear about Gabi's upcoming trip to Chile, a visit to his grandparents. It is summertime in the southern hemisphere now. Chile has the most sleeping volcanoes in the world. Chile is a long country with deserts in the north. Gabi will be in the center of the country, in Santiago. The boy in the book traveled across Chile.

After a few minutes of reading, we all returned to our play and work around the room. Emmett, Logan, Shayan and Avraham Chaim built ABC letters with the large blocks. Emmett invited us over to see the letters. Literacy and cooperative play.

Suddenly, we heard Harper call out excitedly from the dramatic play area, "I made an experiment!" Harper held up a silver tray and was reflecting sunlight from it onto the ceiling. Harper gave the tray to the other children to try the experiment too. Science and sharing!

Sorting with manipulatives - math skills

                                       

At the table next to the magnetic painting, Rafi and Eli Lipskier drew a picture of two people. They called over all their classmates to choose a picture and sign their names next to the people
. Name recognition and fine motor activities.

A Monday morning in IJP filled with love, learning and laughter, initiated by the children.
Come in and play with us!

KDH Morahs