The Magic Of Christmas

The Polar Express

Needless to say this time of year is one of the best times to focus on stories. Not only reading them to the children but listening to the children tell their own as they become captivated by the festivities of the Holiday season.

In the Polar Express a young boy dares to believe in the magic of Christmas and so he climbs aboard an enchanted train that takes him to the North Pole where he receives the first gift of Christmas.

This group of SK children is busy at work making the backdrop for the class production of the Polar Express.

Can Toddlers Work with Symbol Systems?

Aidan clearly demonstrates that even children as young as two can work with loose materials to represent their thinking. After looking out the classroom window on a snowy day Aidan sits down to make this beautiful tree.

" A tree with snow, " he says with satisfaction as he gazes at his work.

From Brushstrokes to Winter Tree

With a paint brush in hand and a simple brush stroke technique this young girl transforms a blank canvas into a beautiful "Winter Tree."

The Fountain

A trip to Casa Loma sparked the Fountain Project.

The children were intrigued by the fountain in the Conservatory.
How did it work. Where did the water come from?
They had a few their theories of their own.

"The water comes from under the floor and gets pushed up."

"It comes from a pipe in the ground and then gets pushed through the spout."

"It comes from a hose."

A fountain was made using a variety of materials that the children selected. In this particular picture the children tested the hose theory. Naturally they enjoyed watching the water pour around the fountain. But what happened after the water was shut down puzzled them.

Why didn't the water recycle?

What was the missing element?

They decided to dismantle a real fountain to find out why.

Wiley Wire

Working with wire can be quite challenging as it tends to have a mind of its own. Now try asking a young child to make a wire figurine of her body in motion!

Literacy

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Literacy is more than the ability to read and write. It is the ability to attend to a story, to follow the elements of the story line; beginning, middle and end; to identify the characters; the setting, the morals of the story and to connect the story to real life experiences.
Our teachers strive to find innovative ways for their students to engage in the world of literary development.

These masks were made as part of the props for a production of The Three Billy Goat Gruff.