Thanksgiving Art Fest with Learning Buddies

Last year we held the Turkey Olympics outside with our Learning Buddies. Unfortunately, the weather was too wet for all of those activities this year. Thanks to Pinterest for helping us easily plan a wide variety of Thanksgiving activities that assist in child development in fun and exciting ways! You can follow Mrs. Max on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/smelmax/. Some ideas are my own creativity, but one of the many things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving is being a connected educator.

Paper Bag Fall Trees with tissue paper leaves.

We rolled corn in paint and then on our paper husks.

Pin the Tail on the Turkey

Tree Paintings with Cork Prints

Paper Plate Turkeys

Pumpkin Playdough

Turkey Sponge Painting

We used rubber chickens with our Turkey Bowling Station.

Our kinders were once again encouraged and motivated by their Learning Buddies to try something new, take risks, and create. Fine motor abilities were a focus this week and the kinders thrived from the support they received from their buddies. The afternoon was filled with excitement, learning, and pride by all for the success of the kinders.

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. - W. J. Cameron

Authentic Learning at Farm Grows Inquiry

This week both JK/SK classes from Pine Glen P.S. went to a wonderful farm run by Community Living called Morrison Meadows in Bracebridge, ON. They have lots of exciting fall outdoor activities for children to engage in. The rain held off and we had a great day together outdoors. We had 8 parent volunteers from our class alone. Our parents were generous with their time and provided support and care for all children. Thank you parents! It couldn't be done without you! Read more to find out about our inquiry that has spurred from our authentic learning experience at this farm.

The children counted the chickens, learned what chickens eat and where they sleep. 

The children counted eggs and wondered how many eggs chickens lay every day. 

Morrison Meadows has an outdoor track where children rode bikes. There is a giant sandpit in the middle of the track with many digging tools and toys for children to explore.

Lots of coordination require for these cool bikes! 

Children hiked around a large outdoor maze.

Children collected stamps at stations hidden all around the outdoor maze.

Tractor rides!

Hay Playground! 

Our kinders were very excited to leave the farm with a pumpkin. Questions arose on the bus trip back to school about how to grow a pumpkin. We're very excited that this authentic learning opportunity has enabled an inquiry to naturally unfold.

Thanks for a great day in the great outdoors Morrison Meadows!

“Teaching kids how to feed themselves and how to live in a community responsibly is the centre of an education.” ― Alice Waters

Fun Friday: "Leaf Festival" with Learning Buddies

Welcome to the Leaf Festival where our kinders led exploration about leaves facilitated by their Learning Buddies. 

We had a fantastic afternoon filled with fun, adventure and learning. We rotated through several stations about leaves that focused on art, reading, writing, physical activity, and inquiry.

This kinder's Learning Buddy held the leaf still on this windy day so they could paint the negative space of a leaf.

This kinder's Learning Buddy used words of encouragement and motivation inspiring confidence in their kinder to explore leaf shadows.

This kinder's Learning Buddy extended the learning in this activity to include name writing practice. 

This kinder's Learning Buddy read the experiment and asked questions to help their kinder make new discoveries about leaves changing colour in the fall.

This kinder's Learning Buddy lent a hand by tracing a hand. 

This kinder's Learning Buddy got messy and brought extra fun into a shaving cream tie-dye leaf activity.

This kinder's Learning Buddy asked questions to help them wonder. How many coins can rest on a leaf before it sinks? Can we put the coins on the leaf in a different way and get more coins on it?

These Learning Buddies and kinders played games with leaves on the parachute.  Some Learning Buddies even took initiative by trying new games with the kinders.

This kinder's Learning Buddy helped by cutting nature for their Leaf Face when their kinder felt sad.

The kinders had been longing for their Learning Buddies to come again. They had missed them. 

“Thoughts are roots; Words are leaves; Actions are fruits! Every success tree has all working normally!” 
― Israelmore Ayivor, The Great Hand Book of Quotes

Fall Colours Art and Nature Inquiry

Our kinders have been creating and exploring the relationship between art and nature. Our colour palette is inspired by the fall season, but not restricted in any way. Kinders have used techniques taught and then given freedom to explore techniques and colour by their own choosing. 

This first collection is used by making apple prints on trees. The idea was shared with my on social media by a parent. Thanks Lisa!  We love when parents get involved! 

We placed a variety of materials out several times inviting kinders to explore line in leaves. They have used techniques such as leaf rubbing, tracing, and copying. Some examples of materials we've used are shaving cream with food colouring, paints, pastels, and coloured salt.

Paint with Qtips - Fall Trees

Paint with Qtips - Fall Trees at Night

Painting and Printing Leaves

 Leaf Outline Painting - Exploring Negative Space

Handprint Tree with Fall Leaves

Leaf Shadow Tracing with overhead projector.

Leaf Man narratives based on the book, "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert. Kinders created stories to go along with their nature photo.

Art takes nature as its model. - Aristotle

Kinderland Tour Part 1

Kinderland Tour Part 1

Welcome to Kinderland at Pine Glen Public School in Huntsville, ON, CA. We are happy you stopped by to check out our classroom where exploring, creating, and learning are what we do. We call it Kinderland.  

Kinderland as a Blank Slate View #1 

Kinderland as a blank slate View #2 (Math Shelf and Loose Parts)

Art Inquiry Display - Prompts posted for reference and anecdotal records on sticky notes. 

Unused Cubby Space for Dry-Erase Table and Magnetic Table

Writing Display / Reading Nook / Teepee / Calming Corner with sensory and fidget toys / 

Kinderland Jobs Chart(Flower)

Kinderland Promise to each other - We work together to support each other's learning.

Birthday Bird Houses - Each student has one with their name on that they get to decorate when their birthday comes. They can take it home in June as a keepsake. 

Todd Parr Self-Portraits in the Hallway

Check out Kinderland Tour Part 2 - Coming Soon!

Fun Friday - Apple Day

Fun Friday - Apple Day with G6/7 Learning Buddies

This past week we have been using apples as a learning tool. Our poem of the week was "I'm a Little Apple". We made patterns and prints with apples. One of our curious kinders brought in a crab apple that they found near their Judo class. We cut it apart, investigated with a magnifying glass, asked questions, and asked deeper questions. Later, we planted crab apple seeds, apple seeds from lunches, and then any seed we found outside and in our lunches. We wrote what we wondered and what we learned. We are waiting to see what happens with our seeds...

Since Friday was approaching, it was clear to Mrs. Johnston and I that a Fun Friday - Apple Day was in order. Our Learning Buddies were scheduled for Friday so we asked if they would facilitate the learning and exploring of our Apple Day. They were given direction and freedom and excelled at their supportive role. Mr. Felhaber, Mrs. Johnston and I heard compassion and care from the Learning Buddies over and over again. One student said, "I'm just so proud of her. She is really trying to do it. She is also trying to copy what I'm saying. I'm just so proud of her." Another said, "Did you he what _____ said? He wants to do this activity now. Let's do what he wants to do." Another said, "All he wants to do right now is Apple Bowling". I replied that it's ok to stay at Apply Bowling, let's see what kind of learning we can help him with there. The student replied, "I know! I love bowling too!" Our kinders were surrounded by care and positivity. 

Apple Core Art with seeds

Sponge paint trees with cork print apples

Apple Boats

Apple Cider Volcanoes which the Learning Buddies also got a lot out of. They also recorded what the kinders saw, thought, and wondered. 

Apple taste test and survey

Apple Bowling(there are numbers on the bowling pins)

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” 
― Marvin J. Ashton

Community Helping to Create Outdoor Play Space

Our Pine Glen PS community is something to be celebrated. Brian and Heather Maxwell(a.k.a. Mrs. Max's stellar in-laws) give of themselves, their talents, gifts, and time, over and over again for their community. Pine Glen PS's kinder Play Space is benefitting from their generosity this time. Brian has built us an outdoor teepee, outdoor play kitchen, tree blocks, stepping stones, and a rickshaw for us to carry our outdoor toys in. Thank you for all you do for us/me. We are so very appreciative!

Thank you for setting everything up!

Stepping Stones

Outdoor Play Kitchen/Mud Kitchen

   

Tree Blocks (sometimes ours go MIA)

Our teepee is awesome too! Check back to see pics of the teepee and everything else in action.