Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Hidden paths, surprise guests, and unexpected (or expected) discoveries

From the freedom to explore comes the joy of learning. From knowledge acquired by personal initiative arises the desire for more knowledge. And from mastery of the novel and beautiful world awaiting every child comes self-confidence. 
In The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth (2010)

Who needs science and math? 

Give us light!
One of the children shared her “light thing” that she “got at the store that way” and she led us on a search around the classroom for “the darkest place in the classroom” so that we could best see the light “when we hit on the ground and it lights up”.  We had several ideas-from under the table to the various corners of the classroom- but discovered that the small nook by the art shelf (where our cots used to be) offered the most protection against the sunlight (and the largest dimensions) so that we could all take turns bouncing the wand on the ground to cause the crown on the end to light up.  



Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Physical Sciences
Topic: Explorations of Energy
 Standard: With modeling and support, explore the properties and characteristics of sound and light.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 

How much do these pine needles weigh?
The children collaborated on two experiments that extended our knowledge of physics and physical sciences- placing handfuls of pine needles and pine cones on two different branches to discover which one bent first and moving the pine branch over our heads and then letting go to see what happens to all the needles.
Special note: Please discount the blurriness of some of the pictures. These images were photographed by one of the younger students!

 
 


  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Science Inquiry and Application
Topic: Inquiry
Standard: 
Make careful observations.
Pose questions about the physical and natural environment.
Engage in simple investigations.
Make predictions.
Make inferences, generalizations and explanations based on evidence.
Use simple tools to extend investigation.
Share findings, ideas and explanations (may be correct or incorrect) through a variety of methods (e.g., pictures, words, dramatization).


Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Physical Science
Topic: Explorations of Energy
Standard: With modeling and support, explore the properties of objects and materials (e.g., solids and liquids).

Pears and tomatoes

The preschoolers were excited to discover there were pears growing on the pear tree outside in the little field and tomatoes in Ms. Penny's garden (we picked several before the infants could eat them!) and decided to take their finds inside to gather additional information. We used the magnifying glasses and butter knives to learn that the tomatoes were ripe but squished when we tried to touch them and the pears were still unripe but both fruits had seeds.


 



Domain: Cognition and General KNowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Science Inquiry and Application
Topic: Inquiry
Standard: Share findings, ideas and explanations (may be correct or incorrect) through a variety of methods (e.g., pictures, words, dramatization).
Use simple tools to extend investigation.
Engage in simple investigations.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/garden-seeds.htm

Perpetual Motion
Preschoolers love cars…especially when they can travel down cardboard tubes!


The Pre-K class children helped one of our infant friends expand his knowledge of the forces of motion through a game of “push the ball and watch him throw it”. He was just happy when he got the ball back.


Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Physical Science
Topic: Explorations of Energy
Standard: With modeling and support, explore the position and motion of objects.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/physics-hang.htm

Articles to read for additional reference: 


Geometry is great! Math is fun! We like learning and we're never done! 
We have started to expand our knowledge of geometry, algebra and linear (and nonlinear design) by engaging in architectural projects, mathematical manipulation of materials and classification of animal species and families.
 

Three of the children draw different shapes from models available, write the names and then color them according to individual preferences while another assists in matching them once the work has been completed

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-Domain: Mathematics
Strand: Geometry
Topic: analyze, compare and create shapes
Standard: Create shapes during play by building, drawing, etc.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-Domain: Mathematics
Strand: Geometry
Topic: Identify and Describe Shapes
Standard: Understand and use names of shapes when identifying objects. 




Guess Who's Coming to dinner?
Spiders in the Mist
The preschool/ Pre-K class made an unexpected find one Wednesday morning when we went for an early morning walk in the fog: hundreds (if not more) spider webs of various sizes and shapes dotting the landscape.  Some of the webs were located on the grass and the trees while others were observed on the gates around the playground and even the playground itself!