Making a sunflower garden

In the spring the kids planted a sunflower garden.  They went outside to find sticks.  They used the sticks to dig holes for the seeds.  Everyone picked several spots and planted their sunflower seeds.  Then we waited...and waited, and waited.  The sunflowers have come up and are growing so fast now!  It shouldn't be much longer until we have some big yellow sunflowers in the garden. 

Finding the perfect stick...

Making holes for the seeds with the sticks.

Putting seeds in the holes.

Lightly covering the seeds with soil.

Wow!  Our growing garden.

A Pre-K Puppet Show

If you give the kids puppets, they will want to put on a puppet show...and they did!  

Some of the pre-k kids decided to put on a puppet show for the preschool class.  They decided who would use which animal puppets. Then they sat down together and discussed what the animal puppets would do during the puppet show. It was a great exercise in cooperation and they excelled. Great teamwork!

The kids invited their preschool friends to watch the puppet show, showed them where to sit, and then put on a very entertaining show for their pals. The animals roared and acted silly and the audience ate it up!  

 Everyone loves it when we get to use the stage lights and perform.  

Our puppeteers took a big bow at the end.  Bravo!

Shapes

The pre-kindergartners recently completed a unit about shapes.  To learn more about shapes Ms. Lu Ann introduced the class to the works of Wassily Kandinsky. Kandinsky, a Russian artist, is known for his abstract paintings which feature colors and shapes.  

Kandinsky's Bauhaus, Plakat

Kandinsky's Composition VIII

Ms. Lu Ann shared several of Kandinsky's paintings with the class and asked them to use colors and shapes to create their own masterpieces.  Taking inspiration from the paintings, the kids used crayons to draw shapes on their artwork.  They discussed the different shapes that they used...triangles, rectangles, squares, circles, spirals, etc.  Here are a few of their abstract creations:

Using scraps from the recycling bin, the children found various shapes and worked together to make a huge collage:

Some of the Ohio Pre-Kindergarten Content Standards met from the above activities include:

• Mathematics: 
• Geometry: Identify and describe shapes.
• Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to.
• Geometry: Analyze, compare, create and compose shapes. 
• Analyze and compare two and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts and other attributes.
• Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components and drawing shapes.
• Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes.  

Mad Science: mad mixtures

Mad Science 

Mixing vinegar and baking soda together.

OH WOW!!! It fizzed up!!!

Observing how oil and water do not mix.

Now let's shake it and see it mix together.

Adding water to the color tablet.

It fizzed up just like the vinegar and baking soda did.

Adding water to the color tablet with a pipette.

Beginning to mix the color water to flour mix.

Stir, stir stir

Almost there. A little more water, a little more stirring.

PLAY-DOH

COOL CRITTERS

Last month the pre-k class enjoyed a special visit from COOL CRITTERS.  From their website: Cool Critters Outreach, LLC (CCO) is a fun, interactive, and educational way of looking at reptiles, amphibians & invertebrates. It is an opportunity to get an up-close, personal look at the fascinating world of snakes, lizards, dragons, alligators, spiders, and more.   

The kids were very curious and very brave!  

Western Hognose Snake

The Bearded Dragon, "Sergeant Stubbs"
(he lost most of his tail in a fight with another dragon)

"Peepers," the African Tortoise

American Alligator. He isn't so scary with his mouth taped shut!

"Venus" the boa constrictor!

Venus is demonstrating how she can wrap around trees (and other things). 

To see more picture from the Cool Critters visit go to our Facebook page.  

Costume Party

Visit our facebook page to see more pictures.

Merlin the Magician

 Merlin the Magician stopped by to entertain us with some magical storytelling!  

The kids listened to Merlin tell exciting stories
about pirates, caterpillars, and space. 

He was very silly! The kids loved volunteering
to go up on stage and help out with the tricks. 

"Reynaldo the flea" is holding up one side of the rope. How does he do that?!

Will the right pirate flag come out of the bag?

The pre-k class, listening to Merlin the Magician telling a wild tale!

A volunteer from the pre-k class helps Merlin with a trick during his story about a trip to space.

Want to see more pictures and video of Merlin's visit
to Endeavor Learning Center? 

Check out our Facebook page.