March 20, 2018

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPRING SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

 Early Childhood Education has many science activities as part of their program and they are a wonderful way to help young children discover some fascinating facts about nature. Warmer weather provides the perfect opportunities for observing plants growing, insects crawling and all the other signs that the season is changing. Plant, seed, insect, and weather science activities are just some of the fun experiences you can share with young children.

Science is a significant part of any effective early childhood education program. It provides many opportunities to learn and use new scientific words, observe real world science, record data, and discuss findings. Below are three fun spring science activities you can do with preschoolers to bring in the new season while learning lots about it.

Seed Germination

This wonderfully simple activity enables young children to observe how seeds germinate and grow into plants. Seed germination will take about seven days to see the full results. Children can observe the growth stages and record their observations. Place a bean seed into a clear mason jar along with a wet paper towel. Place the jar in a spot that gets lots of sunlight, like a window sill. Your child will be fascinated to watch the seed develop into a plant.

Water Movement in Plants

Using a daisy, carnation or a Queen Anne’s Lace flower, your child can look at the movement of water from the bottom of the stem up into the leaves and petals. This activity takes only a day or two depending on the flower you are using. Pour water into a clear vase until it is about two-thirds full. Add one or two drops of food coloring to the water. Place a light-colored flower into the water. Watch as the colored water moves through the stem of the plant up into the leaves and the petals until the flower has changed its color.

Rainbow Formation

Create a rainbow in your backyard using a garden hose. A quick and easy activity, your child will learn about light refraction and the formation of rainbows. You will need to do this on a warm sunny day to create the best rainbows. Pull your garden hose into the middle of your lawn. Slowly turn on the tap and spray the water into the air. Watch as a rainbow forms in the mist. As the light from the sun travels through the small water droplets, the colors become separated, creating a rainbow.

Enjoy,

Ms. Nora Sierra

EC Assistant Principal

March 2, 2018

PAINTING IN THE PRESCHOOL

Painting is an important part of education in Pre-K. It’s messy, but purposeful. Painting is a big part of the little dreamer life. Painting is much more than a simple activity. It is a way for different types of children to express themselves in their own special way. Painting also helps children use their senses, express emotion, explore process and outcomes, explore color, and create aesthetically pleasing works and experiences. The paintbrush becomes an instrument of inner peace allowing the creative process to allow both good and bad feelings from the artist. As a child paints, both sides of the brain are engaged, strengthening the connection between the two hemispheres. Students enjoy the feeling of the cool paint gliding across their arms.  Next time your child brings a new picture home, remember that art is a language and that painting benefits children emotionally, mentally, physiologically, and spiritually.

Painting Benefits

Among the various aspects that painting allows you to cover, some of the greatest benefits integrated with painting are:

·        Painting can help your children communicate their emotions or feelings. Using different colors, they can express themselves without the use of words.

• ·        Painting allows children an educational opportunity that is also fun and exciting.
• ·        Painting aids children acquire hand-eye coordination, an important skill in their age. This is developed while they learn to paint the parts that they see; making sure their hand movement is at par with their vision.
• ·        Painting aids your child develop mobility skills. Their hand muscles are being used, which allows them a scope to develop both mentally and physically.
• ·        Painting helps children acquire skills on how to focus on trivial details, painting on a canvas or a piece of paper requires varied painting skills.
• ·        Painting can be a great podium for children to progress and discover their creativity. They learn about various color mixtures and how they go together.
• ·        Painting can help children learn sizes, shapes, patterns, and designs. These are all critical aspects of their curriculum during pre-school years.
• ·        Painting helps children develop their decision-making skills. They need to plan as they choose which color should be used for different parts of the painting.
• ·        Painting can play the role of therapy for a child who might be feeling different emotions; whether these feelings are subtle or extreme in nature. In addition to communication, painting can help children feel better about things that they may have bottled up inside.
• ·        Perhaps the greatest benefit is the fact that painting provides you and your children a great platform to bond and spend valuable time together.

These are just a few benefits your child can acquire from painting. Painting can be a significant part of your child’s overall development and upbringing. Making it a point to take some time out occasionally to paint with your child can prove to be very rewarding overall.

Enjoy,

Ms. Nora

EC Assistant Principal

Discovery School