We are always better together.

The Trees' Blog has combined with the Sky's Blog to become 

...drum roll...

The Sky & Trees Blog! 

Click on the above link to see what we have been up to.

What's that sound?

Kerplink, Kerplank, Kerplunk
Physics in the Trees Classroom

Our block area has been transformed!



The children have been working to create marble runs with hollow blocks, unit blocks, and wooden ramps. If all goes well, all of these elements work seamlessly together to carry your marble from the beginning to the end without upset, after which you get an exceptionally satisfying "ker-plunk" into the green bucket waiting at the end. But oh, so many things can go wrong along the way: the level of the towers, the slope of the ramps, the amount of grip under the ramps to prevent sliding, the placement of the walls to prevent the marble from escaping as it turns a corner. So much to fine tune, test, adjust, and discover! Gravity, slope, weight, resistance, movement. In a word, physics.

After an initial period of frustration, where the marble would sometime stay on course or sometimes deviate, a pivotal discovery was made when Benjamin exclaimed,"Oh! The marble moves the track! Every time!" The children then all began to see that, because of this phenomenon, the marble never rolls the same course twice. We had made an outstanding discovery, in essence becoming aware of chaos theory. (Click HERE for a reminder)

Before full marble runs were introduced the children conducted experiments on single ramps with different types of rollers. Which shape rolled the best? Why? Which weight rolled fastest? Why? How did a shallow or steep slope affect the roller? Why? These questions were posed and the children worked hard to uncover the answers. This prepared us to build.


As the children's work became higher, more elaborate, and more independent, the teachers saw that accomplishments  in physics was just the beginning.

Children are making a plan.

Children are working collaboratively to solve problems.




Children are listening as well as watching. 

Children are predicting

Children are sharing different ideas towards achieving a goal.

Children are fine tuning there work.


Children are asking "Why doesn't this work?"

Children are enjoying challenges and not tiring, even after multiple failures.

Children are building strong partnerships through working together. 




Children are encouraging and congratulating each other in their work.


Children are responding with awe and joy when, at long last, completing a successful marble run.

... the list goes on. 


Think back to the 'Twenty Habits' document that was shared with you at the beginning of the school year (Click HERE for a reminder) The work of the children reminded me of this list, and I began to wonder just how many of these twenty habits were being used in this one work area. The answer?  A full twenty out of twenty habits were being represented.

Frankly, this is truly hard work. And not just for preschoolers. This work would present real and frustrating challenges for much older children. Constructing a track which has the marble turning a corner alone, is something that takes an incredible amount of forethought, organization, and awareness. 

Ramps and rollers were introduced to the Nest curriculum only last year. This group has impressed us with their ideas, persistence, and accomplishments, and touched us by their partnership with and encouragement of each other. 

Please visit the block area in the Trees classroom on Monday morning for our final day of saved ramps and roller structures. You are invited to kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk.

Observations abound!

In these spring days, we are filled with observations!  Young children are enthralled observers of details in the world around them.  Wondering, exploring, and discovering are valuable habits for all learners.  There are observations of all kinds going on in the Sky and Trees Classes!  

Zoe found a seed at the park a few weeks ago, and we have “planted” it in water in a baggie and put it in the sunlight so that the children can watch it.  Each day children have hopped up on chairs to look in the window and notice how it is changing.  "I see white!"  "It is curving!"  They have been so excited to see the progress of the growing sprout emerging from the seed. 

Looking for changes in the seed.  

We planted micro green seeds last week and have been waiting and watching for when they will sprout.  We looked carefully each day and recorded how many days it took before they emerged (5 days).  The children have noticed many changes.  "The stems are longer."  "There are more."

Drawing the newly emerged sprouts!

Several children have also brought in objects to share that have been observed and drawn: seed pods, shells, bones and more. There are so many interesting things to see!

Observing many items very carefully.

We have been looking closely at insects that we have found, as well as insects in books.  Earlier this week, we saw a bee on flowers as we were coming back from the park, and we stopped to watch it carefully.  The children were amazed as we stood and saw it move from flower to flower, gathering pollen. 

Checking out the ladybugs.

Much of our observation work is accompanied by drawing, painting, building or creating in some way, what we see.  When you do an observational drawing or painting, or build something representational in blocks, you are forced to look more carefully to really see what it is you are looking at.  

Looking carefully and painting butterflies.  

It can be very tricky to remove your preconceived notion about the way something looks and actually draw what is in front of you, but it changes your thinking in the process.  How many leaves are on those sprouts? What shape are they?  How many body parts does that insect really have?  What is that bug’s face like?  You mean it doesn’t have a smiley face like me?  

Carefully drawing an ant.  

Doing multiple drafts of dragonflies.  

A great deal of learning comes from being challenged to look carefully and re-create what you actually see in art or a structure. But this can be tricky work that requires focus and stamina.  The work of observing carefully helps children to gain new knowledge and often helps them to reconstruct their ideas.

 

And the children are doing all of this observing so joyfully!  Young children look at the world with wonder and awe and inspire all of us with their fresh perspective on the world.  

Small Creature Study

The Sky and Trees classes are getting a bit buggy!

Though this is misleading, because did you know that not all insects are bugs?

And did you know that not all things that creep and crawl are insects?!

These are just a few of the things we have started to learn in our research of the small creatures that creep and crawl and fly around the earth.

Ask you child what makes an insect. In the meantime, keep your eyes out for all sorts of small creatures.

Small creatures in jars ...

(Ladybugs gifted to us from the Rivers Class!)

Small creatures in stories ... 

Small creatures in soil...

(There were reports of ants in our newly planted garden ... Though no sign of them in this photo.)

Small creatures in blocks...

(... though this does not look so small!)

Small creatures in drawing ...

Small creatures in paint...

Which ones are insects? 

Which ones are bugs? 

Which ones are neither?

For this and more, stay tuned!

All things bring and beautiful, 

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, 

The Lord God made them all!