COUNTRY FUN

an early education learning space ~ where play equals learning

January 24, 2012
by countryfun
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Bear Den Web Cam

We have been following the web cam for a black bear’s den this last week. The bear is Jewel and today when we checked it was noted that she has day-old cubs.

It’s all uhs and ahs around here and thought you might like to check this out together at home –  Jewel’s Den Cam

Jewel’s Cubs Birthing - This is the direct youtube link to the cub birthing. Did you ever think you would be able to see a black bear give birth in the wild? There are additional videos on this linked page also. Many are worth a look.

January 19, 2012
by countryfun
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Coloring Ourselves

What a super neat idea – copy off a picture of each child and laminate it. Then using dry erase utensils let them add embellishments to their faces. This fits in perfectly with our discussions this week about ourselves and similar/different. I saw this on Pinterest this morning. It originally came from Play At Home Mom.

I knew it would be fun, but was surprised with the excited reactions. Forgive the movement in the video, but between keeping the crayons out of R’s mouth and capturing all the excitement with the boys, I was a-movin’.

Good descriptive language usage and lots of motor skill work (I decided to use our dry erase crayons because they would offer even more muscles to clean-up.), sharing, cooperative play, comparing, really good grips, appropriate adult interaction, even some problem solving.

This involvement lasted a good 15 minutes with multiple erasing and recoloring.

January 18, 2012
by countryfun
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I’m Not Little. I Can Do That!

Most of my postings have to do with the activities that happen around Country Fun with the preschool age group. Well, a big reason for that is they are the largest group and here the most time. Documenting for assessment also means lots of photos. However, the other groups around here are not forgotten.

One in particular has made herself known since she started here last year. There’s not a lot of language, beyond the normal, but she has always made herself understood. Nicknamed Trouble with a Capital “T”, this bundle of smiles and giggles has added much to our group. I usually find having one infant adds so much for everyone here. Miss R is reaching for 18 months and she has no idea that she cannot do what everyone else is. That’s right “is”, there is no “can” here. She is modeling everything from using a computer mouse, reading a book, to bringing me food from the play kitchen making sure I eat it :) . It’s wonderful to see all she is persevering with and actually accomplishing. She just keeps placing smiles on my face, while keeping me flexible. Yesterday I missed the photo op when she placed her cup on the shelf with everyone else’s. Now this shelf is set up so Miss R could not get hold of all the cups – spilling them or drinking from them. She was on tip toes, but got her cup up there. Now the problem occurred when she immediately wanted it back in her hand. Helping hands got it for her.

R is into picking things up and putting them in lots of places. I loved seeing her put her efforts to use with the box of velcro craft sticks and the open weave basket. She picked up the storage container of sticks and I then handed her the basket. *self determination, directed self interest/learning/exploration

The loose sticks went right into the openings.

Then it was time to figure out how to separate the sticks were the velcro was holding them together. She pulled apart, put together and pulled back apart. * How items work, problem solving, decision making

Into the openings these went. Notice each stick was put into a different opening. * fine motor, eye-hand coordination, purpose, focus/attention span.

R played here for a good 10 minutes minimum and even put all the sticks back into the storage contain herself. She was not sitted on the floor, but squatting, bending and straightening. *gross motor, body awareness