Color groups and Crafts

Cooperative learning and communication!

Friends worked cooperatively to complete floor puzzles.

The rules for birdwatching include looking for field marks.  These birds were made with sighted field marks in mind.  

Children build a nest

Poetry illustrations

The children have been memorizing poems.  We have begun to illustrate these poems as part of a book.  

Camping reward

The afternoon session decided on camping day for their reward.  This time, I provided sheets and put the children in groups and told them to build a tent that would fit their entire group.  One group came to the tables and everyone seemed to think that was the best idea.  We had smores for snack!

Groups worked together to build their tents.  It was tricky to negotiate with 3 or 4 other people.  We need to more of this type of open-ended cooperative grouping.

Field markings

I love the interpretation of the colors on an Eastern Bluebird.  

Children folded a circle in half, then chose one of the birds to represent.

This week children are crafting two of the birds we have right here at Vinton School; goldfinches and bluebirds.  I hesitate to label this process art, because too much of the materials selection was determined by me.  However, children use the materials to interpret the field markings on these two birds.  They refer back to the photographs to mark the colors and position of those colors on the body of the bird.

Discovery Center-Bird-watching

Our Discovery Center this week has artifacts from our visit with DOC employee Andrea Petrullo

Here a friend is spending some quiet time perusing our texts on native bird species. 

Wildlife & Pet Hospital

Animals need care and attention too!  The overall theme this year has been "All About Me".  Dramatic play typically centers around a common experience children have had or aligns with a Social Studies/Science theme.  Wildlife aligns with our outdoor nature investigations and pets tie in with ourselves and our families.

The Wildlife & Pet Hospital is a logical connection to both children's personal experiences with pets and with the local fauna we've learned about this year.  

Children engage in imaginative play with peers.

Sometimes the children are the animals in need of care.

Looks like the animals are in good hands.  

Water Table-Pond Life

Our sensory table is now a water table.  The river stones, waterlilies and animal life make for fun exploration.  Pardon the florescent light reflections!

Presentation on attracting and supporting song birds!

Coloring and cutting

Children completed part of last week's color group this week.  They were asked to cut out their representation of the child in "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!"  Use of scissors under supervision (for some) is recommended.  A great skill to develop

Inspecting woodpecker holes.

Friends learned how to focus the binoculars to see the birds.  Friends waited for a turn with the binoculars.  

Ms. Petrullo also presented a piece on attracting and supporting songbirds today.  She taught us some techniques of birdwatching.  She said to walk quietly, use all of our senses and look for field marks (colors or unique physical characteristics) on birds we see.  

A winter firefly beetle!

Friends work together to overturn a large stone in the clearing.

Looking for more beetles!

Question and answers from the expert.

Demonstrating and giving practice on how to adjust the binoculars.

Department of Environmental Conservation comes by to critique our brush piles!

The children built one brush pile in the woods and the other along the stone fence line.  Ms. Petrullo noted that there are plenty of entrance holes due to larger sticks being on the bottom of the pile, with medium and small sticks being on top.  

The children explained how they build the brush pile.

Mrs. Petrullo liked the idea of this sized brush pile, because it will house birds and other small animals like voles and chipmunks.