That Perfect Little Bunny

A tree truck slab, by it very design, prompted Lorena to make this bunny. 

It's Just a Broken Tree!

The all green tree.



The funny tree;half green and half colorful.



The totally changed tree!



The broken tree!



During our morning nature walk the children noticed an abundance of colourful trees.

Sofia- This tree is all green but the other ones are colourful.

Then Karina noticed a tree that was half green and half yellow and orange.

Karina- This is a funny tree!

Teacher- Why is it funny?

Karina- It has different colors on it because it is autumn now!

As we walked further along the path Jack noticed a tree with leaves that had completely changed. 

Jack- The leaves will fall off the tree soon because they are different colors and winter is coming!

Leo stumbled upon a tree that had no leaves.

Leo- This tree is broken!

Teacher- Why do you think this tree is broken?

Leo- The wind made the leaves fall to the ground so the tree is broken.

Dear Colleagues, Friends and Fellow Teachers,

On behalf of all the educators at Reggio Kids, we would like to thank you for visiting our blog. Since it was launched in May of 2010 we have had 35744 visits from people all over the world. I have had the pleasure to dialogue with educators from China, Malaysia, Australia, Ireland, Italy and so many more.

We look forward to continuing our relationships and hope that you find as much joy in viewing these entries as we find in sharing them.

In the next few weeks, by popular request to post an ongoing project, a sister blog, will be launched to follow the exploration of our city, Toronto; a project that is being currently pursued by our three JK/SK Classes.

For now I wish you a life full of adventure.

Tiziana

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?

This wonderful story by Eric Carle provides children with a hands on approach to learning colors. So put away those flash cards and precut tools and make some fossils!!

A Beautiful House

“There is a mountain in the forest with a lake. There is a house on top of the mountain because people live there. I live in a house too! My house also has a door like this one. Now let’s do the sky, the sky is blue but the clouds are white”. -Dimi

Don't Fall In The Water!

Leo noticed a long stick resting on the wall and asked if he could use it to make a bridge.  Jack assisted him by creating one side of the base (using 5 tree cookies). Meanwhile Leo and Charlotte stacked six cookies on the opposite side. Jack placed the stick on top of the two bases.

Teacher- What is happening to the bridge?

Leo- It’s falling. It’s falling, the people will fall into the water.

Teacher- Do you know why the people will fall in the water?

Leo- It’s not even.

Jack- It has to be the same on both sides so the people won’t fall off. ( A lesson in symmetrical building)

Leo- We need a railing.

Teacher- Why do we need a railing?

Leo- If the people don’t have anything to hold onto the people will fall off the bridge.

Teacher- So what do you suggest we do about that?

Jack- We need to make a railing so the people don’t fall into the water.

A Fond Farewell to the Butterflies of 2011

I'm  not sure why we believed that butterflies live for only a few days. Over the years, while working with the children, we've discovered that some species of butterflies, such as the Monarch, actually migrate south just like birds. But how do these wispy winged creatures cross an ocean and arrive safely in balmy Mexico?
 As the butterflies prepare for their migration south, this group of girls take the opportunity to make these lovely wings!

What is that Sound?

We are surrounded by sounds; music, the wind as it moves through objects, the crunching of autumn leaves, the buzzing of a bee. Most times we are too busy to pay attention. But every once in a while a child stops to listen and then we listen too. Just as a seashell holds the sound of the crashing ocean waves so too do these tubes carry sounds of nature to the ears of listening children.

Austin brings the tube to his ear and listens, "I hear the ocean!"

Joshua takes the tube and listens as well. "No, it's a bee. A bee from the flower."

Joseph and Joshua  position the tube between them and lift. Joshua places the tube close to his ear and Joseph makes a sound.

Joshua then leaves the tube and moves to the zucchini plant in the garden. He leans close to the zucchini flower and  listens for a sound but hears nothing.

He retrieves the tube and places in near the zucchini. Perhaps that will help him hear a sound. He listens. "I hear the bees!"





The Big Tall Building with Lots of People

Leo arrived at school with a wonderful experience to share. "I saw a tall, tall, tall building with lots of windows in it. People were going in out. I want to make one."

While outdoors, his teacher offered him a variety of materials to make a representation of "the tall, tall building." The rope was not precut into the strands you see in the photos. Leo was able to unravel it to suit his needs

Autumn arrives, array'd in splendid mein;

Vines, cluster'd full, add to the beauteous scene,

And fruit-trees cloth'd profusely laden, nod,

Complaint bowing to the fertile sod."

- Farmer's Almanac, 1818

Clay Has No Master

Clay can be a difficult task master as it demands much from its students in the way of dexterity, skill and precision. Nicholas rose to occasion and used all his previous knowledge of clay to make this sculpture. Some work is done for the simple pleasures found in accomplishment.

Distorted Images

A set of four Plexi glass mirrors were given to the children.Since the mirrors were pliable the teachers were able to bend them to create distorted images. The children were fascinated with their reflections. A cube was also created and this of course allowed the children see "hundreds of me!"