I see a song

We did a unit on our sense of hearing - which led to several lessons on music.  I introduced the children to several different musical instruments - we played each one and talked about how that instrument made us feel or how it made us want to move.  Then we "walked" through the book "I See a Song".  It is a beautiful book, with no words, just great pictures.  We talked about what we thought the picture was telling us and what kind of music we could hear by looking at the pictures.  We actually looked at this book several different times and several different ways.  One time we looked at it while listening to several different classical music pieces.  It was magical.  

Then we wanted to "see our own song".  We played a game like musical chairs.  I had 7 papers, next to 7 dishes of paint, and 7 paint brushes.  I turned on a piece of classical music, and each child painted with their color on their paper the way that music made them feel.  Then when I turned it off they rotated the next paper and took their dish and paint bush with them- then I would play a different song. This way each child added to the picture from before.

Afterwards all the papers turned out so beautiful, I made a bulletin board in our classroom that said, "I see a song" and then hung them all up.

Easel Painting

I put lines on the paper with painters tape.  I was curious to see what the children would do with the lines.

If they would use them as natural boundires to color inside the lines.

Or paint a different picture in each area.

or ignore them all together.

No right answer.  Just creativity at it's finest.

Bear caves

We made bears one day when we were talking about winter, and hibernation.  Then we had to make caves so our bears could hibernate.

I cut the tops off of 2 liter bottles and hot glued them to the inside of a shoe box lid (they will give them to you for free at Payless).

  Then we painted them with brown and black paint (next year I will put some glue in the paint to make it stick to the plastic better)

Then we added brown and black tissue paper.  Some added it to the outside, some to the inside, and some to both.  Some left it whole, and some tore it into to tiny pieces.

Then we put our bears to sleep for the winter.

Beans

I didn't take any pictures of them playing in it.  But they did.  I promise.  And loved it.

Sensory play - water, bubbles, and letters

Making snowflakes

For our winter/ice unit we made some snowflakes to decorate our room.  On the first day we made snowflakes as a large group activity.  We learned how to fold the paper, cut the holes, and unfold the snowflake.  It was truly magical to them!  Then we worked together to hang them all over our room.  We cut about 30 - so our room was truly a winter wonderland (I have been trying to remember to take a picture - but I never did).

Then for the next week or so I had this small little table with directions on how to make a snowflake to encourage them to make them independently during center time. (sorry the picture is sideways)

Snowman in a bag

To finish our "melting snow" discussions we did a science experiment.  WE went outside and scooped snow into a bag.  Then we added black buttons and and orange foam triangle nose to make our snow look like a snowman head.  Then we made an observational drawing in our journals of our our snowman looked at the start.

Then we hung them in my door window to get some sun!

We checked on them several times throughout the day and talked about what was happening and why.

Once they were all melted we made an observational drawing in our journals again.

 I made the carrot out of foam because I knew it would float and the buttons would sink.  This child figured that out and showed it in her drawing!

Melting ice with salt

I froze ice in several different size and shaped tubs, and then put them in our sensory bin.   I colored some water blue and added pipettes and paint brushes.  Then I added bowls of Epson salt and spoons.  I also put some blue water into some squirters.

I stayed around this center most of the morning to help kids understand what was happening and why.  We talked about melting temperaters, and how salt helps made ice melt.

Our ice creations were beautiful.

Trapped in Ice

One day I got most of my girls' frozen dolls and froze them in ice.  I put a tub of warm water and some pipettes to help melt the ice.  

I also froze some beads and sequines so they could have some "rewards" along the way.

They wanted something to help break the ice with, after a lesson in safety and close supervision I decided to give them sissors to stab the ice with.

First one free - Kristoff - they were so proud!

At one point they threw the ice blocks into the tub of warm water.  Genius!

This was a great center, because it had all of  their interest at the beginning, and then they could come back and forth through the whole morning, work for a minute, then leave and do something else, then come back. There was so much conversation, role play, problem solving, and negotiating going on.  Even a lesson in sacrifice.  Their hands were cold, and they wanted to stop - but they wanted to free Elsa - what should they do?