Satellites, Binoculars and Fun in KDH

KDH has baskets and bins in the art center filled with recyclables: cardboard tubes, different types of paper, all kinds of caps, and more. We also have colored tape, straws and Popsicle sticks. Supplies are added and taken away seasonally, at a holiday time, or to support an exploration. 

But, there are always recyclables. 

We leave it there with the expectation that the children's creativity will be sparked.

That is exactly what happened recently.

What did the children design? 

Satellites, Stop and Go signs, a music box, pumps and air guns, binoculars,a landing pad, a shooting band, a picture of a house, a "sattle tracker." to track noise in outer space. 

We asked Ilan what he had made. He replied, "I was just having fun."

Morah Sara and I were having fun just watching all the action. 

Morah Ruth

Literacy Outside with KDH

KDH children are always picking up the small branches and "cleaning up" the yard. Today, there was creativity added to this activity. They picked up branches that looked like letters. We had a few "Y's", a T and an a lower case "i".   What to do about the dot? Sholom picked up a ball to dot the i. This will actually lead right into a book I had set aside to read to the class, Alphabet Adventure, about the dot of an i that is missing. 

As we were ready to go inside, Amitai picked up a small branch that looked like the number 1!

Literacy and Math outdoors! We are always learning while we play.

Morah Ruth

Sensory Sand Slime (Say that fast 10 times!)

Sticky, slippery, gooey, heavy, bumpy...that's what sensory experiences are made of.  Did you know that learning and retention improve depending upon how many of our senses are engaged?

What would be more fun then super stretching sand? Here is another fun way we played with sand in our class:

Sand Slime Recipe

• 2 bottles of school glue (any kind will work)
• Play Sand (Traditional or colored works great)
• 1 cup of liquid starch

Firstly, checking it out...

Warming it up by touching and stretching it...

A little more stretching and shaping...

And now with a friend's help...

And then so many friends, stretching, pulling and shaping, almost across the whole classroom!  

Scraps and Blades :)

Working on our "ma nishtana " book is fun and creative. While cutting the paper and having scrapes all around Eli wanted to know how about the blade from the paper cutter that Morah was using with caution.   he even got a chance to cut some paper and learn how it works, again with caution and a Teacher using it with him. Perly wanted to collect the scraps and make pictures with them. Adaya and Mina cut small stripes  to design their own jewelry collection.  Nothing is wasted in Kitah Gimmel, not a new piece of equipment to learn from  or paper scraps to create with! 

Extended Day: Block Creations

During Extended Day the children love to create with the large blocks. They have made spaceships, dog houses, cars, and boats! It is so amazing to watch their creativity at work and to listen to the complicated games that go with. Building with these blocks allows the children to work together cooperatively as a team. They help each other by lifting the blocks together and deciding exactly where they should go. They enjoy talking about what they plan to create with each other. Working with these blocks allows the children to let their imaginations roam. These large blocks provide open ended play that last for days!