The Turkey Feather matching game followed, inviting children to match assorted color and shaped patterns onto the turkey.  Eye-hand coordination, pattern, shape and color recognition were highlighted.

Next the Color Train board game will be available, expanding even more on the color recognition skill.

The Creativity Room continues to be a busy place as the children express themselves in a variety of different ways.  The playdough table is always a social opportunity.  The children enjoy conversing and building their fine motor muscles as they manipulate the dough.    It seemed natural to have orange playdough during October, while November brings brown playdough, scented with cinnamon.   It’s like aroma therapy!   

The easels had orange and white paint on one side, and bingo daubers on the other for two weeks.  For the following two-week rotation we put out a dry erase easel with colored dry erase markers, and a chalkboard with colored chalk on the other side.  We also put out pumpkin stencils, orange paint and sponges with handles on them.  This type of painting is done on a flat surface, rather than an easel.  The children loved experimenting with paint and sponges, and were thrilled to see their very own pumpkin shape when the stencil was lifted off of their paper. 

The sensory table has had popcorn kernels in it, along with scoops, sifters, funnels, measuring cups, and a spinning wheel.  The kernels make a soothing sound, almost like a rain stick, as the children pour them back and forth into different-sized containers.  Little do they know they are using math skills as they play!

Currently the table is full of pine shavings and a variety of construction trucks.  The children love driving, loading up and dumping out the trucks over and over as they plan, share, role-play and laugh with their friends.  

Our Dramatic Playroom has recently transformed into the Good Shepherd Grocery Store.  Our store is much like any other grocery chain.  We have employees who like working with money and operating a cash register, which is a great way to practice counting and math skills, while others like dressing up in sports jackets and instantly become the store manager.  Some friends would rather shop and bag their own groceries.  Our store is child friendly, complete with a full changing station when the need arises.  Aprons are available for those hired to stock shelves, along with fancy shoes, dresses and jewelry to look your best while you shop.  For shopping convenience our grocery flyers and coupons are located in the front of each register to help you get more for your dollar.  Shopping carts and carrying baskets are readily available for your shopping needs.   We also have a writing area in our store to write checks, cut coupons or play games while you wait.  Please stop by our one convenient location! 

Recently at our writing area was a gingerbread matching game.  Laminated paper gingerbread people decorated with different colors and patterns were cut in half.  The children used visual and cognitive skills and added to their vocabulary as they differentiated between “light blue” and “turquoise” or “curvy” and “zigzag” lines to match the two gingerbread halves.   Currently out is a memory matching game.