Sunshine Scoop

The Sunshine Classroom has transformed into a gallery! Our kiddos continue to engage in the endless possibilities of open-ended art experiences. In this, our children are provided with a variety of tools and then, set free to create! Their expressions are unfiltered, unaltered and 100% independent. There are no limitations, instructions or samples. For instance, recently the boys and girls painted with helmets! You may ask, “How is this possible?” Well, we simply taped paintbrushes to hats salvaged from the Dramatic Play area. Very fun! Do visit our display. Later, they utilized texture paints (just mix paint with sand or oats or rice or…whatever!), as well as pendulum painting. The Sunshiners have surely created timeless masterpieces!

Continuing with this exploration, the children continue to enjoy listening to a new classroom favorite, The Boy Who Just Couldn’t Stop Drawing by Kay Harring. This biography details the life and work of artist, Keith Haring. Inspired by sidewalk break dancers, Mr. Keith’s work could be seen all over New York City. During Choice Time, the Sunshiners created their own colorful, symbol-covered dancing bodies. Each is so unique and stunning. Be sure to check out our Magic Garden Subway installation in the front entranceway!

Coming up: Planting and outdoor team games!

Starburst Happenings

What do the Starburst friends see? What do our kiddos hear? And what is that smell? Lately, the Starburst Classroom has embarked on a new learning venture: The five senses!

Kicking things off, the girls and boys began to explore the world of hearing. Examining diagrams and nonfiction books, the children learned about the different parts and functions of our ears. For instance, the outer ear is the portion we can see, functioning as a cup to capture travelling sound. The inner ear, a spiral-shaped tube, translates vibrations into sound and sends this information to the auditory nerve and then, the brain. Very cool! Building on this information, the students crafted cup telephones, engaging in silly conversations with their classmates. Also, they had a blast playing several rounds of sound bingo.

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Now, the friends are focused on the topic of sight! Blindfolded drawing workshops and sightless walking tours are certainly classroom hits. The Starburst children are also learning about individuals who cannot decipher between different colors (color blindness). In addition, the pupils have begun to investigate the braille alphabet! Investigating this system of raised dots, each child continues to attempt to spell his or her own name. Amazing!

Coming up: The worlds of touch, taste and smell!