Toward the end of March we had wooden poles out to place different colored and shaped beads onto, which helped the children learn patterning.  This activity promotes sorting of colors and shapes as they copy a pattern off a card.  They were also able to create their own patterns.  We then went into another pattern activity which included different magnetized shapes and a magnetic board.  The children were able to use their imagination or create a design off the card given.  We will end the month with a Lady Bug puzzle game.    

Even though they enjoyed the "hospital" setting, the children are thrilled to have the Dramatic Playroom back to the comfort of the regular housekeeping theme. There are hammers pounding, saws sawing, mixers mixing, microwaves dinging, and cash registers ringing!  There is food to be cooked, babies to be fed, floors to be mopped, and appointments to be kept.  It is a room just bursting with imagination and fun!  

Currently out at the Writing Center is folded construction paper in bright pink and yellow, along with Easter stamps for creating Easter cards.  Before that the children enjoyed trying to identify letters and spell words as they worked together to play Boggle Jr.     After vacation a game called "Tell a Story" will be available for the children to place picture cards in sequential order to tell a story.  This is a great language building and pre-reading activity. 

At the easels the children enjoyed creating their own prints by  

using white paint and a variety of textured roller stamps on green paper.  While this is a fun activity, it also helps build their fine motor muscles.  Currently the children are painting using hand held body sponges and finger nail brushes with pastel purple and blue paint on dark purple and blue paper.  They are enjoying talking to each other about the "clouds, sun, flowers, etc." that they have created.  Up next are coffee filters and ink daubers which will be turned into flowers to adorn the trees painted on our walls. 

We have also had chalk available at the easels and currently oil pastels.  These writing utensils, which are short and thin, help the children use the pincer grip when learning to write.    

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we had out Kelly green playdough along with shamrock cookie cutters.  Currently we have yellow playdough with different colored feathers and “googly” eyes available to stimulate the children's imagination while we're talking about birds. They have enjoyed making different types of birds (some with many eyes!), while conversing to each other about their creations.    

Our sensory table was filled with sand, sticks and a variety of life-like toy birds and small wooden eggs.  This activity is great for math skills, eye-hand coordination and social skills, while the children talk about their different homes for their feathered friends.  We currently have Easter grass, multi-colored plastic eggs, and small plastic animals.  This provides an opportunity to learn about baby animals and, now that Spring is here, we may see some of these animals outside (no more snow please!).   The children are also enjoying hiding the eggs under the grass.  After vacation there will be wood chips and plastic insects in the table. 

Monday's Extended Day continues to be lots of fun!  The children have come home with some unique pieces of art.  They used a salad spinner with a piece of paper, squeezed paint into it, and pulled the string in and out.  After seeing what happened to the paint, we added