Ice Fort

We started our Ice Block Fort!!!!!

We started talking about building a fort and how we would use the ice blocks we have been making. The children started helping bring the blocks and salt we needed to build.

Working hard. 

Clearing some snow to start our Fort. 

Once all the ice blocks were together we started to lay them down. To make them stay together we poured salt over top. 

Bringing over more blocks. 

We were able to start two walls, stacked three rows high. 

Please help us finish our Fort by making some ice blocks at home and bringing them in for us to add onto our growing Fort. 

Ice blocks

For a month or so the children and teachers have been collecting milk cartons to make ice blocks. We have been filling them with water and food colouring, then placing them outside to freeze.

We were finally able to open them up and explore them. 

The children started to pick up the ice blocks. 

"These are heavy." 

"I can't pick it up! It keeps slipping." 

The children enjoyed finding ways to pick them up and move them. One of the children went and got a truck and started loading them in. 

We continued to open up the ice blocks each day we went out and the play just kept growing. 

Some of the ideas that came up: 

A game of ice push hockey.

Naming colours and matching them. 

We can't wait to see what else the children come up with. 

 We also added some smaller ice cubes. 

If you would like to help us make ice blocks at home it  would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Bay blades

One of the children brought in a new bay blade toy from home and was excited to show all of the children. The teachers remembered that the classroom had their own bay blade toys and brought them out for all the children.

A few children stayed at the activity all morning practicing how to use the toys. Once they figured out how to make them spin not one of them wanted to leave. 

Nature & light

Exploring nature on our light table. 

The children found some magnifying glasses and used them to examine the nature items closer. 

"Look a feather" 

"Look at this leaf!" 

It was neat to watch the children explain what they saw and the enthusiasm when showing their friends. 

Light table

With the weather being so cold we have been staying indoors more. We have taken out new and different activities for the children to take part in.

We set up an area with a light table and added different colourful see-thru items that the light can reflect through. 

The children started to add and remove different shapes to see what everything looked like over the light. 

One of the children started to stack the blocks. Which interested the other children that were playing.

They all started stacking the blocks higher until they fell over. It was great to see such wonderful cooperative play. 

One of the other children tried putting their hand on the light table to see what it would look like. 

As the morning passed the children continued to build and  bring in different blocks to see what they could do with them. 

Construction

The teachers put out new manipulative construction toys. The children have been using their imagination to build new things.

Using the teachers thumb to build. 

"I made a boat" 

"I'm driving my boat!" 

"The handles fly my boat, see!"

The children built many different kinds of boats during their play. Which brought about the idea of adding animals. 

Music class

Twice a month we have a music class with the children. We bring in a music teacher named Ms. Sonja. The children love when she comes to see us. 

She brings different musical instruments with her as well as different props for songs she sings. The children never know what she will bring. The anticipation is sometimes too much. 

Here is a video of our music class. 

Little chefs

The children found some aprons and chef hats. They put them on and opened our first nursery restaurant.

"Do you want some?" 

"I'm adding cheese and hot pepper."

The teachers helped by acting as their customers, but they would only serve babies. 

"Babies can only have tea!"

The girls needed some where to sit.

"Hey you can help me get the stool. We'll use teamwork!"

Our future chefs!!

Self expression

Nature and creativity are a big part of our program. We try to find different ways for the children to express themselves through play.

The staff made play dough and put out different natural items.

The children started to manipulate the play dough into different unique creations.