Blog

While using scissors is definitely an important skill for 3 and 4 year olds to start to tackle, scissors are not the only way to cut paper and make fun crafts.

Tearing the paper into bits, or trying more complicated projects like trying to tear specific shapes, creates an interesting effect. The kids think it looks cool… but the adults know that it’s especially great at practicing the coordination of those tiny fingers.

Will it be 6 more weeks of winter or any early Spring? Our 3’s and 4’s classes enjoyed learning about Groundhog’s Day and how Phil the very special groundhog from Pennsylvania predicts how much longer our winter will be.We read a book about a tricksy groundhog who didn’t take his job quite as seriously as the real Phil, and then we got to make our own groundhog puppets! Both classes loved predicting the weather based on his shadow.

In goes the groundhog…

And up he pops!

Children love books, they love to be read to and they love to look at the pictures and follow along. But do they know how a book is made or who draws the pictures and writes the words? At CNS we have been learning what authors and illustrators are and how they help to create the magical world we explore through books. We have been enjoying some well loved classic books by Jan Brett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 3’s classes created their very own Hedgie the Hedgehog.

 

And the 4’s classes acted out “The Mitten” with their own tiny woodland creatures squeezing inside the hat as they read along with Mrs. Scott-Kem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children also practiced their scissor skills, cutting out the animals for their very own mitten and used their fine motor skills to sew the mitten together with yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later that week the 4s made their own winter storms covered with snow, just like in the book:

The kids got to learn about mixing dark colors with white to make different shades of blue, then sprinkled sparkling salts onto the paint for snow. Using a paintbrush is great for working on that hand-eye coordination!

 

Hi all!

Gosh, it’s been quite a while since this blog has been updated, huh? Where has the time gone? How is it already winter???

Well I don’t know about the rest of you, but the winter holidays are my favorite time of year. Maybe it’s the music (I sing along with every song), the guilt-free cookie indulgence (my downfall), or the wonderful smells I associate with holiday time. Apple cider, ginger, cinnamon… mmmm!

With that in mind, I’ll offer you a cool idea – gingerbread playdough!

Y’all might already be familiar with it, but this is the first time I’ve stumbled across it and I think it’s absolutely brilliant. It smells fantastic, so it brings the sense of smell into a very tactile experience. Plus, the kids can then play with “cookie dough” all they want without a million dishes in the sink. And I believe that any ornaments they make with it (as long as they’re at least 1/4″ thick), once dried should be not only still be fragrant but also sturdy enough to hang!

This first recipe is from mamapapabubba. It’s a no-cook recipe that relies on hot water and a little bit of resting time to bring the dough together.

I also found a recipe over at housingaforest.com. It’s a cooked recipe, so while it uses the stove and a saucepan, it is ready to play with faster.

Have fun!