Movement in NatureApril 14-18, 2014

Mariel Weidman - Triangle Classroom

Art

Science and Math Gross MotorDramatic Play

Discovery Table Circle Time

Children will explore the movement of nature with hands on experiments using

their senses.

We decorated a branch using our fine and gross motor skills both inside and outside of the classroom. Children used critical thinking to figure out how to manipulate the art

piece. Indiana FoundationsFA.1.50 Delight in touch and feel of materials rather than what is being producedSE.1.81 Work together as a team toward a common goalFA.1.67 Use different colors, surface textures, and shapes to create form and meaning

Circle time included books about movements in nature. Some topics included rain, clouds, and bugs! After reading about each

piece of nature we looked for them on our playground. Indiana FoundationsELA.3.3 Explore a bookELA.4.5 React to a story or event

We had a worm habitat in our classroom for science and math. The children could interact with and observe the worms. They even

were able to take one home over night! Indiana FoundationsM.4.1 Notice objects and purposely move and manipulate different objectsELA.7.5 Actively attend to things and adult is showing

There was a storm in our discovery table! It was filled with water, strainers, and cups for the children to manipulate as they pleased. When water was poured through our large strainers, it simulated

rain. Indiana FoundationsFA.1.64 Focus on motions and movementsP.2.5 Develop increased control over their body parts

We had a fishing boat set out for dramatic play. There were fishing poles for the children to use as well.

Indiana FoundationsSE.1.40 Enjoy simple pretend playFA.1.44 Engage in cooperative pretend play with another child

Our class went on a bug hunt! Each day we added a different element or technique to look for the bugs. For example, we used magnifying glasses and shovels on different days of the

week. Indiana FoundationsP.3.2 Crawl, creep on kneesP.1.9 Enjoy movement activities

Ben (34 months) observed the toy fish we had in the table. He used the cups to pick up the fish. He then

poured the water in a strainer. Ben noticed the water disappeared through the holes, but the fish

did not.

Reese (35 months) explored our rain cloud. She poured water in the large strainer hanging above the table. Once it was full of water she

watched it rain into our table.

Mrs. Liggett worked with Sloane (10 months) at the discovery table. She

poured the water onto her hands. Sloane reacted by facing her palm up towards

the water, and with splashing.

We had Circle Time outside if the weather was nice. This allowed us to physically be a part of

nature while we read and sang about it.

As we read about elements in nature we would look for

them outside. After reading the book, Little Cloud,

we looked for clouds in the sky.

Matthieu (33 month) worked on his fine motor skills on the first day of art. He

tore tape into small pieces and wrapped them around the branch.

Amelia (16 months) grabbed the paintbrush and painted the branch

yellow. She focused her attention on the smaller pieces of the branch. She had to

use very gentile touches so she would not break the branch.

Reese (35 months) painted the branch while it was hanging up outside. She figured out she needed to hold the

branch still with her left arm while she painted with her right hand.

Veronika (30 months) observed a worm while it was in Mrs. Liggett’s hand. She displayed curiosity

while watching it wiggle. After watching for a while she held the worm in her own hand. She smiled

when it began to wiggle again.

Anika (26 months) dug her finger in the dirt to find a worm. Once she found one she picked it up

using her index finger and thumb.

Leo (19 months) caught a fish! He felt the textures on the fins and

the pointy nose. He continued to carry his catch

around the playground.

Veronika (30 months) sat in the boat and waited to

catch a fish. She grabbed the

fishing pole and held it in our

pretend water.

Sloane (10 months) sat in the boat while it was inside of our classroom.

She rocked back and forth

making the boat sway up and down.

Sloane (10 months) crawled in the grass during our first bug hunt. She used her

fingers and toes to explore the feeling of the grass and see what was in it.

Sam (43 months) used a magnifying glass to get a closer look at the bugs. He got on his hands and

knees to get an even better view.