The preschool class continues to learn about the human body and recently did a heart experiment.  The children poured red water into a balloon, inserted a straw into the opening and then taped it closed.

After filling the balloon with water the children could “pump” the balloon to see how blood flows through veins.

After completing the experiment the children and teachers talked about how important it is to have a healthy heart.

Little Pandas Preschool

I purchased an iPad for the preschool class a few weeks ago, and we’re just beginning to explore how we will use it with our kids.  About 10 or 12 years ago we did have a computer in the preschool class, but at that time it was not as successful a tool as I had hoped it would be.  In the past few years we have again used computers in the preschool, but they’re always used with teacher supervision, so the children don’t really get a hands on experience with them.  I think the iPad will prove to be a more versatile tool for preschoolers than a computer is.

The greatest advantage of the iPad is the tactile experience it provides children who do most of their learning through sensory means.  The frustration with using a keyboard or mouse no longer exists permitting children to engage in meaningful learning.

Since we’ve only had the iPad for a few weeks we only have a small number of applications.  I’m am looking for good quality applications for the kids that teach preschool concepts, support our curriculum goals and teach Chinese.   A few of the applications we are using include Montessori Crosswords, Tracing ABC, and Lingu Pingu which teaches Mandarin Chinese.  I did another search today and found some others that I’m going to let the kids try next week including some interactive books and a drawing pad.

Children learn to write letters with Tracing ABC.

Tracing ABC allows the teachers to set the pages to either lower or upper case letters. Our children are learning lower case letters which compliments the Zoo Phonics program.

It is also interesting to see how the children are using the iPad in the classroom.  One of my major concerns was that the kids would choose only to use the iPad and not choose to work at other learning centers.  When the iPad was originally introduced all the children wanted to gather around it.  Each morning after music circle time a teacher shows the children all of the centers and any new activities that have been set up.  The children are then given the opportunity to choose which center they want to work at.  This week I noticed that the iPad was not the first choice of most of the kids.  Other learning experiences were still appealing to them.

This is the opening screen of Lingu Pingu. From here children choose which page they want to play at.

Lingu Pingu's kitchen vocabulary page.

Since we only have one iPad in the classroom I was interested in how children would take turns.  A kitchen timer was introduced in the iPad center to help regulate turn taking.  As children want a turn with the iPad their names are written on the blackboard.  At this point each child gets 10 minutes and when the timer rings the next child gets his turn.  This has worked beautifully.  The children are free to engage in other learning centers knowing they will get their turn.  All of the children have been successful at leaving the iPad when their turn is complete.

I spent several months thinking about how the iPad would be used in our classroom including how preschoolers could safely handle it.  My first inclination was to find a way to lock the iPad down at a table specifically for its use.  However doing that would take away part of the experience the iPad can provide due to its mobility.  I found a Big Grips case that is designed for preschoolers.  It has worked really well and enables the children to use the iPad anywhere in our classroom.  The iPad can be placed vertically or horizontally in its stand or used without the stand.  

The Big Grips case and stand.

Overall I’m pleased with our iPad experience so far.  It is only used during morning center time, so children are still engaged in other activities throughout the day.  Teachers have the freedom to use it at anytime with the group as it supports other learning experiences.

During my research over the past few months I came across this link and Youtube video.      Weblogg-ed » Kids and the iPad      I have several ideas I want to try with the kids and I’m sure over time we will think of more creative uses for our iPad.

Our preschool class is moving on to a new science topic and will be learning all about the human body. 

Teachers traced each child’s body.

The children cut out their bodies and then attached them to the mirror in the gym.

This week the children are learning about the circulatory system.  After watching a video of a model heart pumping on the classroom’s ipad they they colored a heart diagram.

The hearts were cut out and glued to the children’s paper bodies.   More heart experiments are planned for this week.  

Over the next two to three months the children will have many opportunities to learn about individual organs as well as the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems.  The preschoolers will explore the 5 senses, and then we’ll end the unit learning how to stay healthy.  Some of the staying healthy topics include germs, nutrition, and exercise.

Little Pandas Preschool

Both the toddler and preschool classes made family snowman wall hangings for their parent’s Christmas gifts.  The family names have been edited out of the photo.  I found this idea at that artist woman: Family Snowman Portraits.  Gail did this project with second graders, but I thought we could try it with our preschoolers.  It took two weeks for all the kids to finish the project, but it was really worth the effort!

Blue and white acrylic paint was mixed to get the perfect blue sky color.  The children painted the entire 11″ x 14″ canvas (purchased at Michael’s) blue.

A contact paper mask was placed over the blue allowing the children to paint the snow at the bottom of the canvas.

The teachers cut circles out of foam purchased at the fabric store and then the children created a snowman for each member of their family.

Construction paper clothing was added to each snowman.  Family names were added to the canvas and then covered with a clear coat of Mod Podge.  Some glitter was sprinkled over the wet clear coat to add some sparkle.   I really loved the way this project turned out and will do it again in a few years with another group of preschoolers.

Last week the children created melted crayon collages on canvas boards.  I saw this idea at Teach Preschool and thought it would be a perfect activity for December when the kids are exploring color and light.

Children chose the colors they wanted and then used a cool glue gun to attach the crayons to the canvas.

A hair dryer was used to melt the crayons.

The finished collages are wonderful!

Little Pandas Preschool

The Bendaroos were added to our language arts center this week.  Zoo Phonics cards were printed and laminated.

Bendaroos are pieces of string or wire that are covered with a thick coat of colored wax.  This was the first time the children used them, so some kids were more interested in exploring the new media.

Other children chose one of the Zoo Phonics cards to work with.  They laid out the Bendaroos onto the cards to form the letter.  Currently the children are learning letters m, b, t, d, h, and p.

I found the Bendaroos at our local learning supply store.

Little Pandas Preschool

I don’t usually write posts for or about the little ones enrolled in our baby home, but I found the coolest item when I took my 14 year old to see her pediatrician this morning.  The teething ring/toddler toothbrush pictured above was in the display cabinet.   What a great way to help a child become accustomed to inserting a toothbrush in his/her mouth.  And yes, I know toddlers will put anything into their mouths, but when it comes to brushing many will fight it.  I should know as the 14 year old was a prime example of a toddler/preschooler who fought the toothbrushing and dental visits.  It cost me a $50.00 Tinkerbell Halloween costume to get the first dental xrays!  And that was after several visits where she refused to put the films in her mouth.  Our dentist eventually sent films home for her to practice with!

While looking for these teething rings online I came across Dental Care for Infants and Children.  It addresses the importance of caring for baby teeth.   Through all the years of operating our child care homes I have seen a few cases of children’s teeth becoming decayed to the point where those children had to endure preventable dental work.  For this reason Little Pandas Preschool encourages parents to wean their children off bottles as soon as possible.  While at school children consume all liquids and food at the table and are not permitted to carry those items into the play areas.

I found the teething rings at 900-902 Infant Safety Brushes – Tess Oral Health – Infant brush, Brush teether combo brush, Safety toothbrush.  I’ll have to  do some more research to see if I can find a site where they can be purchased in smaller quantities.  They may be available from your child’s pediatrician or dentist.

Little Pandas Preschool

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This school year we’re updating the blocks and related toys in our block center.  We’ve already added some more Brio trains and a Quadrilla marble run.  Last week a new set of unit blocks arrived.

It must have felt like Christmas to the kids.  They were very excited to open the boxes.

The kids spent the rest of the day building.

The older boys were very focused on their work and built some interesting and complex structures.

Even the youngest ones built some very significant structures.

The block center provides the children with many opportunities for group interaction and cooperative play.

Little Pandas Preschool

They loved rolling out the dough and pretending to cook.

Pie tins were filled.

The dough had to be rolled again once it was put into the tins.

After the pie was finished it was time to share the desert!  We’ll have to make real pumpkin pies next week before Thanksgiving.

The playdough recipe we used is one of the best we have ever found and have been using it for years.  It’s very easy and quick to make.  It would be a great project for parents to do with kids at home.

Cream of Tartar Playdough

• 1 cups flour
• 1 cups water 
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup salt
• food coloring
• flavorings (0ptional)

Each child was given a 12″ x 12″ piece of scrapbooking paper.  It was taped to the table using blue painter’s tape.  This helped the children to freely work on their projects without the paper moving, and it produced a frame around the finished product.  The children painted the entire paper blue.

A contact paper mask was placed over the top of the picture.  Children painted the lower half of the picture green.

Amber cut out the trees and then the children glued them onto their pictures.

Over a couple days the children worked on tearing paper into small pieces for leaves.

Children glued their leaves onto their pictures.  The result of doing the project over a period of time and in concrete steps insured that every child including the toddlers was able to produce a beautiful finished art product.  The pictures will be displayed in both classrooms.

Little Pandas Preschool