Parkland Players

Typically throwing paper airplanes is discouraged in the classroom. But, today we are sharing a cool paper airplane activity that, if done safely, can be beneficial for both fine motor and gross motor development. And it’s also pretty fun!

Name of Activity: Paper Airplane Flying School

Developmental Goal/Activity Objective: To practice fine motor skills by folding paper airplanes. To practice gross motor skills by aiming and throwing paper airplanes.

Materials Needed:

1. 2 large poster boards
2. Tape
3. paper
4. Markers, crayons, pencils, etc.
5. Scissors

Procedures/Strategies: (how to present activity and what children will do)

First, create the target by cutting circles of various sizes out of two large poster boards and then taping the boards together. Hang this somewhere that the planes can fly through without going straight into a wall.

Next, let children make and decorate their own paper airplane. They can use the folding template below. Or they can try their own design and experiment with what flies best.

Then, let them throw the planes and try to get them through the targets.

Guidance and Safety Considerations

Be sure no one is on the other side of the target or generally in front of other children when throwing the planes so that no one is hit with them. The pointed tip could be dangerous to children’s eyes.

Source:http://www.sewingmamaraeanna.com/2013/07/paper-airplane-party.html#_a5y_p=1883731

Source for folding template: http://www.bigactivities.com/crafts/transportation/paper_airplane.php

The above is our newsletter for the month of December. Please refer to it for important information regarding the schedule for the month.

In this last week of November children are learning about transportation. Today we are focusing on water transportation, so we thought we would share this fun science activity.

Developmental Goal/Activity Objective: To practice making predictions and testing ideas while learning about the properties of water.

Materials Needed:

1. Materials collection from nature (examples: pinecones, pine needles, rocks, wood, acorns, shell, periwinkle, sea glass, walnut, dry lentils, raisin, cashew, etc.)
2. Large plastic bin
3. Water
4. Two paper plates with labels sink and float.

Procedures/Strategies: (how to present activity and what children will do)

1. First, allow children to go out into the neighbourhood or nearby park and collect materials.
2. Bring the materials back. Fill a large bin with water. Put out two paper plates one labelled sink and one labelled float.
3. Lay out all the materials collected. Go through each item one by one have children predict whether the item will sink or float and explain their prediction.
4. Then test the item in the bin of water. Sort the item to either the sink of float paper plate.
5. Have children compare the results to their predictions.

Source: http://mynearestanddearest.com/sink-float-sensory-sink/?utm_content=buffer05177&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The following is a guest written post from one of the early childhood educators at our centre, Yoon Ji (Amy) Kim. To learn more about Amy, visit our staff directory here!

The medium of educators is the curriculum. It is not a lesson plan or a rigid schedule. It is the flow of expressing values and meanings of the day, mood, interest, and inquiries of educators with children

The hundred languages of children are expressed through another hundred ways.

There are no ordinary moments with the children. If we think slightly different, it sets a totally different mood, rhythm, tone, and dynamic to the situation which makes it more valuable and extendable.

We are not educating children to have a just ‘fun’ or ‘happy’ day. Yes, those are important factors in the day yet we thrive to be with children when they are having ups and downs and letting them understand that we are there with them and here is the safe space to express who they are.

The children and the educators are learning together, not to be ready for school, but to know how to co-exist together physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

We value the wholeness of the child not ones we like about child but the whole child.

The pedagogy is a difficult concept to fully understand yet it is flexible to be inclusive to all children, families, and educators.

We think about how to be with the child. Often we might think we are doing for the child, to the child, and of the child, but we are reflecting our work to be with the child in our daily inquiries.

We value children’s differences through pedagogical listening, this is an active listening. Active listening is to be present not just physically in the room but truly participating and attentively being WITH children.

The child may be our hundredth child that comes through the door but we, educators can be the child’s first or second, less than the tenth educator. We may be their first teacher ever. How important are we? Their educational years can start differently. We may be the beginning of their journey.

Through pedagogical narrations and documentation, we express our care, hospitalities, and respect for children’s words, actions, creations, and play.

We deeply resonate with the BC Early Learning Framework when we present ourselves to the children, families, and the communities.

Demonstrate pedagogical practices that are connected to contemporary theoretical approaches to learning, thinking and teaching in the field of early childhood care and education.

Work collaboratively with children, families, educators, and community to provide relevant and responsive caring and educational experiences.

We use ethical pedagogical practices that demonstrate an understanding and sensitivity of each child.

We like to think the true care is the gift exchange, the children gift the room, others, and educators with their gaze, smile, creations, expressions, and actions. And we, educators send back the gift to the children with respondents of expressions.

The above is inspired by the BC Early Learning Framework and written by Yoon Ji (Amy) Kim.

Hello hello Parkland Players community! It has been awhile since we featured a book in one of our posts. Today we are spotlighting Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel. This book is a great read for many age groups from younger preschool aged children up to grade 3s. It features beautiful artistic depictions of a variety of animals, including a number of endangered species. The animals are created in a wonderful balance of cartoonish and realistic styles so that they are easily recognizable.

They story is a great read for young audiences for two themes: accepting all kinds of differences and diversity and caring for each other and our environment. With minimalist text, this book gets the message across in subtle ways, but by having all these extremely varied and different animals (including two human children), greet each other with welcoming hellos appreciating the unique characteristics of each reminds us to be kind and appreciative of the variety of people in our own communities. Also, as previously mentioned, Wenzel depicts a number of endangered species, which can help lead into a conversation or lesson plan on animals, and environmental preservation.

For a video reading of the book visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuT5e1C_5NY

But we recommend getting your hands on a hard copy, either from your local library or bookstore so that you can examine the wonderful art up close.

Developmental Goal/Activity Objective: To practice creative art skills as well as practice and learn more about the five senses.

Materials Needed:

1. Paper
2. Puff paint
3. Tempera or acrylic paint
4. Paintbrush
5. Sensory mix-ins for the paint: salt, flour, oats, birdseed, sand, etc.

Procedures/Strategies: (how to present activity and what children will do)

1. Mix different colours of paint with different mix in materials for texture.
2. Let children paint with these. It is more fun to use their fingers but the effect will still work with brushes.
3. There is also a visual texture component to this activity.
4. Have children describe the different textures and if you want guess what materials were added.

Guidance and Safety Considerations

Make sure younger children do not put paint in their mouths, it is probably best to stick to brushes with this age group.

Source: http://playfullearning.net/2014/10/sense-sational-painting/

This is our newsletter for the month of November. Please refer to it for important information regarding the upcoming month and events schedule.

What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

• DAP is an approach to education that is meant to optimize early childhood growth and development
• Goals of DAP include:
  • Educators seeing where children are
  • Educators meeting children at their developmental location
  • Educators supporting children in reaching their learning goals

Three Core Beliefs of DAP

• Knowing about child development and learning: this means understanding what the important developmental milestones at different ages and stages are.
• Knowing what is individually appropriate: this means paying attention to the children in our classes, their individual needs and development patterns
• Knowing what is culturally important: this refers to getting to know the communities that we are a part of and care for and understand their cultural uniqueness.

DAP suggests that these three core beliefs should inform all educational programming in order to provide the best learning outcomes for children. Essentially, DAP requires us to be aware and engaged educators, who are responsive to children’s individual and group needs.

To learn more about DAP visit source: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/dap

Many educators and parents are familiar with this question: “What can I prepare for the children to do today”? For many educators and parents, this question arises because we want to provide the best variety of engaging and educational activities possible in order to support our children’s development. No matter how many years of experience you have working with or raising children, answering this question in a meaningful way can still be a struggle sometimes. And it is not as if there is a shortage of resources out there. On the contrary, it can appear as though there are too many ideas, resources, and activities for one person to process on a day to day basis.

Here is where Bitaa comes in. Bitaa is a system we have begun to utilize at Parkland Players. It offers a collection of hand-picked activities from a number of different educational resources for ages ranging from 0 to 12. The Activity Book covers a variety of developmental areas, and skills. Bitaa is also wonderful for a Reggio Emilia inspired centre like ours, because it keeps activities open-ended and leaves plenty of room for parents and educators to put their own twist on activity implementation.

Check out this article to see what Bitaa is all about: What Is Bitaa? Visit their website to learn more: bitaa.com

Today we are talking about the importance of having a nurturing environment for children’s play. As mentioned in previous posts, an environment that supports inquiry and exploration is key to stimulating early childhood experiences in the child care setting.

This article https://bcearlyyearsblog.com/2015/02/19/the-importance-of-early-learning-environments/from BC’s early learning blog, shares some of the key aspects of a successful early learning environment.

Give it a read!