parachute juggling

(This looks just too happy not to share...)

"Hold on...lean down with your edge...1 -2 -3...explode UP!!"

a team of 16 four-year-olds and one teacher were able to make this gorgeous shot happen!

1. YOU can do mini-parachutes using scarves or blankets or beach towels! You can find light weight objects to "explode" together - ping pong balls, little stuffed animals, hats, sponges...you get the idea! 

2. IF you have a few extra people, you could use an old flat bed sheet...
and IF you have a few EXTRA EXTRA people, you could use TWO bed sheets for two teams and try to toss objects from one sheet to the other - Parachute Volleyball game :) (** water balloons are pretty fun to use for this game!!)

3. IF you really do have a parachute - or great big sheet -  you can do some SCRAMBLING UNDER the parachute when it is up in the air and try to get to the opposite side of the 'chute!

a boy in mid-scramble to get to the other side of the parachute!!

Have a
wonderful, outdoors,
laughter-filled weekend.

be that teacher

What IF... children could DO what they wanted with whatever materials they chose?
What IF...children could THINK of an idea then try it out with whatever materials they chose?
What IF... children could INVENT anything they wanted with whatever materials they chose?

Mix mix mix all the colors on the palette...creating just the color she wants, needs, wants, needs.

What IF...teachers loved teaching BECAUSE the children invented and thought and created in their own ways? 
What IF?

Make it happen.

Be that teacher.

The joy is endless. The joy is endless. The joy is endless.

Bugs, bears, GEO boards upside-down, dominoes, 1-10 blocks, pattern rods designed exactly just so by 2 children.

KAPLA wood blocks in star shapes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and working on #9...

Bears, red and yellow counters, rods, and geometric shaped pieces to work together to cover this flannel board!

Using a ruler and black pen to make lines over a large water colored art piece.

Magna tiles, cardboard tunnels, cube blocks, cones and one traffic orange-white striped cone on top!

THINK ABOUT the amazing creations that would not have been created if children needed (needed?) to do things like adults expect traditionally?
   
   What kind of learning environment is that?
   What kind of day is that for the child AND the teacher?

I have always wanted to have a joyful, surprising, wonderful day at school...just like children want.

Be that teacher. 

Make it happen for the children and for yourself.

This block structure is NO ACCIDENT - different sized rectangles and slanted ramp blocks to exactly create this.

Magnet balls inside of shells lined up in a lovely curvy line with one closed at the end.

Hat created with tape and specially cut papers, then curved and attached just so, with bits flaring out the side.

Using their marble ramp design skills to use variety of recycled wood balls to roll simultaneously.

"There is a big difference between
having many choices

and making a choice." 
(bender)

Skills in CHOICE MAKING:

• sense of self as meaning maker
• creativity
• small motor
• hand-eye coordination
• opinions and knowledge about colors, sizes, quantities (qualities & attributes)
• design ideas
• self help skills
• problem solving
• determining what I do need or want vs. what I don't need or want
• surprise and joy in the exploration

domino highway

Gotta love dominoes of any kind. Once you start playing, it is sort of addictive!
Try different kinds of BLOCKS, or CEREAL BOXES, or rectangular SPONGES, or LEGOs or actual DOMINOES: line them up - or design in a swirl or make a race with friends - then give them a little PUSH...
These boys took the challenge to new heights.
I had never seen children put dominoes up on a second level like this.
The boys worked together, steady hands, and repeated their attempts again and again (just like we all do when getting a focus for a game of dominoes!).

"I'll work from this end, you work from that end..."

"I think that domino in the middle started by itself!"

"Here we go! We used dominoes in our hands to give the PUSH and the whole top of the highway went down!" Please note that none of the pieces even fell off the highway! wow!

Great for:

• small motor
• hand-eye coordination
• space planning
• problem solving
• creative design
• cause & effect (IF I push this, THEN these will fall over...)
  
• indoors or outside
• done alone, with partner or in a group
• varied complexity depending on age, interest,  & objects used

Read for a game of Dominoes?

Have fun, be patient, and see how far your domino highway 

- or ground level road - 

can travel!