Outside Time!

The weather was beautiful today and the playground is beginning to get dry, so we decided to play outside this afternoon.  The kids enjoyed it!

Miss C made some X's in the sand.

The sand was wet enough to mold some shapes with the sand toys.

Miss H is building strong gross motor skills on the Monkey Bars.

Jesus is Alive!

Today, Miss K  created another work of Art.  She titled this one "Jesus is Alive!"

Jesus Died on the Cross

One of our students created a piece of Art to describe the true meaning of Easter.  It is hanging in the hallway along with other unique expressions of student artwork.  Take time to take a look.  You may be surprised at the students' abilities.

Easter Baskets and Easter Eggs

The Easter Bunny left a little treat for the kids, today.

Parents came to help dye eggs.  It is always nice to have the help.  THANK YOU, Parents!

Making Cakes

The Art Center has been a bee hive of activity for the past couple of days.

I brought some white cotton batting from home.  We had no use for it at home, so I brought it to school and decided to see what the children would do with it.  One little girl decided it was perfect for making a "cake".  She worked hard at "icing" her cake by spreading glue on the batting and then decorating her cake with a variety of craft materials.  Her enthusiasm was contagious and soon, other little cake makers joined her.  This provided lots of fine motor development and language.  Self confidence increased, too, as the children felt proud of their ideas and creations.

Palm Sunday

We made palms by cutting out strips of green paper and stapling them together.  Then, we re-enacted Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey.  Everyone waved their palms and shouted,  "Hosanna, hurray for Jesus!"

Caterpillar Craft

Some parents and family members came to help with a craft today.  They helped the children make caterpillars that we will later turn into butterflies.  The parents also read to the kids and played with them.  It was a great opportunity for the kids to spend some special time with their family.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!  Thank you for volunteering your time!

Messy Play

     Messy Play is great for kids!  Today we played outside and the playground is filled with water!  Water is a magnet for kids!  They love it!  While they are having fun, they are learning and developing.  Gross Motor skills are developed while lifting, pulling and pushing the wet sand.  Social skills are developed as children plan, cooperate, and negotiate with friends.  Language abounds!

     Messy play is not as much fun for parents.  Kids come home wet and dirty.  Cleaning children's clothes is not much fun for parents.  I ask that parents send kids to school in "Play Clothes".  Just as painters, mechanics and farmers wear clothes suitable for their jobs, children need to wear clothes suitable for their job.  As a teacher, I struggle with this conflict of interest between kids and parents.  The playground is becoming a lake!  Tomorrow promises to be very warm and the lake will be growing.  There will be no dry ground to play on.   Although the children would love to play in the water, some parents might not love it as much.  Therefore, reluctantly, I think we will be playing inside for awhile....until there is some dry ground, again!