Dirt Cup with Gummy Worms

 

For the insect theme on October, the children did a cookery session on 'Dirt Cup'! 

They used ingredients such as crushed Oreo biscuits, jelly pudding and 'gummy worms'. The children worked from scratch; pounding the biscuits with wooden rolling pin, scooping the dry ingredients and pouring the wet ingredients into the cup. The children were really enjoying preparing the 'Dirt Cup'!

 

Each child has an opportunity to use the rolling pin to crush the oreo biscuits.

After crushing the biscuits, the children got to pour the dry ingredients from the plastic to their own 'Dirt Cup'.

The children then prepared the chocolate jelly pudding by pouring the pudding powder.

With the pouring skills they have picked up during practical life skills activity, pouring of milk from the jug into their cup was a breeze.

Stirring was the most fun part as they got to observe the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients became a mixture.

        Lastly, they got to place the 'Gummy Worms' into their dirt cup!

 

The PNs learnt a variety of skills through this learning experience and importantly they have enjoyed tremendously! Have a go at home too!

Hands-on activities are cool!

Learning mathematical concepts in a Montessori classroom begins concretely and progresses towards the abstract. They are developed from simple to complex steps. Order, coordination, concentration, and independence are experienced by the child using these materials. 

Ern Yu is focus as she assembles the large tessellation. 

Chrishuan is attempting to balance the green tower. 

Kai Le is doing self-corection as soon as he realizes the tower is imbalance.

Yee Ann, feeling achieved. Great effort!

Jing Xuan successfully assembled the cubes.

Eu Yi is observing the diameter and the height.

The adult is responsible for the environment and the child’s experiences in it. It is therefore important that the adult will not pass any negative overtone on the child’s experience. 

These exercises are presented with great enthusiasm! It is also clearly explained to the child and important for the directress to observe how every child is progressing. From observation, the directress will know if the child is understanding the concepts or if further help is needed. As always, the adult encourages repetition and provides for independent work, which will lead to mastery in any area guided.

When the child is ready, the absorption is as easy and natural as for other areas of knowledge. It is empowering and brings the child to a level of confidence and joy!

Structured games can be fun too!

Play takes place in different forms. Structured play, sometimes called goal-oriented play, can help children learn how to do things, and there is often, but not always an element of competition in this type of play. Structured play activities can help in building children’s confidence and perseverance. Team games can improve communication and cooperation.

Ern Yu and Eu Yi are walking with concentration to balance themselves on a narrow line.

The children are working on their team spirit and building bond with one another. This enables turn-taking, problem solving skills, concentration as well as leadership skills. 

Kai Le managed to execute the over arm throw. Great effort!

Yee Ann is having such a great time!

Jing Xuan and Chrishuan, they make a good team. They were seen coordinating with one other as they tossed the ball to each other.

Time to exchange roles so that everyone has a chance to have a different experience! 

Adults often find structured play easier to engage with than totally free play, but it is important that children get plenty of opportunities to do both as part of their healthy, balanced play diet. Parents u may try this at home too. Your child is just going to love it. Enjoy!

Nature walk, what can we find?

Nature collage

Can you guess..What are they doing?

In this activity, children will get to go beyond the four walls to explore their nature and practise on their road safety rules.

 Before they start collecting items that can be use for their collage. They were seen gathering in a group and heard discussing on what they found and describing its textures and appearances.

Once they're back in their classroom, they started pasting the items that they have found. They were guided to place a few leaves at the back of their drawing block and rubbed it with crayon. A few were seen amazed by the design formed from the leaves textures and patterns. Soon, they started trying out with different colours and materials to see the differences when using crayon and colour pencil to rub the same type of leaves.

Isn't it beautiful and creatively done? Their learning is not only in the classroom but they go beyond the four walls and imagination to explore and learn!

Smack that fly!

 

 

For the month of October, we learnt about insects. The children were delighted and excited to learn in depth about some insects. For instance, we learnt about houseflies. They were surprised to know that there are 300 000 species of flies. They were developed 65 million years ago and can  survive in all types of habitat. We also talked about why a housefly is also known as a pest. The children were curious to learn about the housefly's features. They were surprised to know that a housefly has a red compound eyes. Each eye contains 4000 lenses that enable visualization of different pictures  at the same time, yet they have poor eye sight.

 

In this art and craft activity, the children are given two sets of colour. They were presented with red and grey paints, which is the colour of the housefly. The children used flyswatter to smear it with paint and smack it on the butcher paper. The children took markers to draw circle shapes that represented houseflies. They then smacked the flyswatter with paint over the circle shapes. The children were excited and pretended to catch houseflies.

 

 

Ern Yu and Chrishaun drawing houseflies.

 

Yee Ann looking out for the circle shapes.

Jing Xuan is observing the group at work.

Chrishaun had some paint splashed on his face.

Jing Xuan exchanging the flyswatter with her peer.

Chrishuan and Ern Yu at work.

 

Time to get dirty!

When both groups finished with their art work.

Eu Yi is finishing the art work with extra houseflies.

 

 

 

There are many household items that can be used for creative expression.  You can create fun prints using these household items with the young ones!