A Visit From A Park Ranger!

Today we had a visit from a park ranger from Bowie Nature Park to finish off our nature week! We got to see a turtle and a king snake.  The crowd favorite was the king snake. They love touching it and asking lots of questions about him. We learned that his name was Elvis.  We also learned that there are 34 different snakes in Tennessee and only 4 are venomous. We had so much fun learning about the wildlife around us! 

Topping Off Nature Week!

As children observe, reflect, play, and share nature's patterns and rhythms, they are also participating in a process that promotes scientific and ecological awareness, problem solving and creativity. I like to think that play is the "work" of children. We know that play is an essential part of normal childhood development. Our children have had a fabulous week learning and playing with/in nature.

I like to paint with mud! I also got to pick my own leafs for my "nature" art.

Did you know we can play tic tac toe on a log with rocks!

Nature walks are so much fun! We like to feel the grass and dirt!

We love being outside and going on nature walks.

This is where a bird lives.

This leaf is so soft!

What is nature?

Don't worry it's not a real snake!

There are all kinds of different bugs that like our nature log as much as we do.

Nature Week!

Our parents have started our week off with a bang for nature! Over the weekend the children's "homework" was to find something from nature with their parents to bring in and share/donate to their class. The children had a great time sharing information about what they brought in. We are definitely enhancing our centers through the "power of play".  

                  Famous quotes from the children:
               Do elephants really have green ears?    

This is one big leaf!

                                               
      Ms.Tonya, a little bird lives here in this house.

Hello Bird!

Must be a bird who lives here, look at the feathers.

Our pet turtle and snake live on our nature log.

Wrapping Up Our First Amazing "Power Of Play" Week!

We have had a blast empowering each other to go beyond just "outside play". The children have learned about different habitats, weather, land, animals, and water all through the "Power of Play"!
We have asked several parents what their children had to say about "outdoor play" this week.
Here are the children's input:
*We got to water blast the cup down the line.
*My teacher has "real" tadpoles from a pond in our class
*We got to read books in a tent
*I splashed in puddles after water play
*We made big bubbles
*We bounced beach balls to the sky
*My teacher went down a water slide I made
*Mommy I'm so happy you came to my school for a picnic
* I learned so much about clouds
*My class painted big paper with different color ice outside
*I got to sleep in a tent on my cot
*Tadpoles look slimy
* I played with purple water
WoW!!! The things we learned this week were amazing!

Sink or Swim?

Summer is off to a great start at the Academy of Harpeth Village! Today we brought the outside into the classroom while learning about objects that sink or floats in lakes, pools, rivers, ponds, and puddles. Today the children got to make a boat to see if it sinks or floats. Us teachers are learning so much by watching the children use the "power of play". We have also been learning about different "outside" habitats. One of our teachers brought in real tadpoles! How amazing is it for the children to watch them grow into frogs.

Here are some some quotes from the children about "sink or float":
* A boat floats because it's light.
* A penny sinks because it's heavy.
* A boat floats because it has a motor.
* A boat floats because water is heavy
* A pacifier sinks
* A wet sponge sinks, and a dry sponge floats
* Rocks sink

Here are some quotes about tadpoles:
* They're black
* They're wet
* They live with rocks
* They have a tail
* They eat lettuce