Monday we brought in a big poster of the solar system. They were thrilled to see it and right away went into discussions. During drop off parents also got involved with reading and tracking what is where.
The bold and the brightest was our sun that captured everyone's eyes...
Children walking with reference books and books that they would like us to read, while parents had small groups to answer the children's questions...
We put the poster upright in our science area...B pointing to the asteroid belt and calling friends to check it out as well...
During the weekend, Teacher Rosemary took the boxes home in order to cut out the windows and door that the children had drawn, and to assemble the boxes into a rocket ship as per the children's drawn blue prints/ designs...
Our raw rocket...
We added the control panel and took the rocket outdoors...
Children painting and adding sparkles...
At the same time, the boys team worked together to paint the box for cutting out the wings...
Tada!!! One of the most outstanding results of our team work...it stood there glimmering and shining in the bright sun and we all wondered how thrilling and exciting our journey to the outer space will be! :-) :-)
After adding the wings, other accessories, and shiny silvery electronic looking stuff as decoration outside, our astronauts are getting ready to take off :)
Friends even looked out of the window and narrated what they saw to the control station on Earth :)
W is referring to the science area of our resources in order to work on the final touches if needed...
Well, after we had finished making our moon, the biggest struggle was how to hang it up. After a lot of trial and error (phew!) we now believe that "IT TAKES FOUR TO HANG UP ONE MOON!!!" Hahahahahaha
(Don't wonder, the fourth one was me...I had to capture this after all ;) ;) ;)
Our circle time began with admiration for our biggest star in the solar system- the sun, and many other questions relating to stars came up: how are they formed, how do they come out, how far are they, and many more. We saw a great video on the sun and how Earth orbits the sun and the sun gives it light. Children were excited to see the bubbling lava and the shooting fire from the sun. They also learned about the black spots, how the outside was the hottest and the temperature drops from out to This has been a tremendous learning for teachers as well as the children. They were also fascinated by the twinkling Milky Way galaxy and how there are billions and billions of stars in it. We spoke a bit about the different shapes of stars we see in the sky during night time. A child said that those shapes are called constellations. That was a big word, but everybody loved repeating it again and again. So later we pretended to be the stars and form a constellation.
"Constellation Purple Room!" :)
Checking out more constellations...
Customizing our own constellations using marshmallows and promising to eat them as a family snack after going home :) Everybody enjoyed it, wanted to make many more, and kept with their promise. I am extremely blessed to have these children. Thank you for sharing your precious bundles with me...muaah to all my kiddos :0)
We also made individual galaxies where we poked holes through foil paper and set it in a glass jar with a battery light inside. After switching off the classroom lights, we could see the little light coming out of the holes all around the glass jar. It was so peaceful. Some even named their galaxies with absolutely funny names.
We later enjoyed the glimmering starlights as centerpieces during lunch...
After watching the video on sun, and choosing to use three colors that represent fire, we went on to make our sun to add to our outer space model.
We squeezed paint on poster boards and added sparkles...
Using plexiglass to press down the paint...
Patting, pushing, and using all our muscles we squished the paint underneath...
Checking out the prints left behind...
We took the glass at the light table to have a closer look at the prints...
L bought a white paper to transfer print from glass to regular paper...he wanted to print the figure that he called the 'Martian' (you can see it at the right side of the above image. It definitely looks like a Martian :)
We bought the glass back to the working table and squeezed some more paint on the poster boards and this time moon walked over it pretending there was no gravity and jumping like astronauts...
Bringing the glass to the light table once again for checking more patterns and transferring more prints...
The next day when the prints on the poster board had dried, we cut two circles and stuffed paper inside, making a 3D sun and Added golden rays...
We later used the prints we had made a day before from plexiglass to regular paper, to cut and make our own individual suns.
After we hung up the sun, friends added glow in the dark stars on the door and the windows to pretend they are star gazing when inside the rocket...smart kiddos!
After all the hangings and decorations and lightings, we began our photo-shoot...
Other activities we did during the week...
SOLAR SYSTEM PUZZLE...
L got a solar system puzzle to share. I bet it was a tough one, but they nailed it!
A lovely example of team work...we learned how much fun it was to work together and with each other's help we could finish our big project!
The moment of success with all thumbs up!!!
SENSORY WITH MOON SAND...A THOROUGHLY SAND-TASTIC TIME :)
We mixed 16 cups of fine play sand, 8 cups of corn starch, and 4 cups of water to get the consistency of quick sand.
Friends preparing the mixture...
Friends landed rocket ships, satellites, and astronauts on the moon sand and saw how they slowly drowned..
D applying gentle pressure and checking her hands drowning...
We even made moon rocks and after putting them down, saw them gel up within the moon sand mixture. They said it feels cold, soft and not gooey. And yes, it was a very different texture to feel and enjoy!!!
Our designed bench is getting crowded each day and they love watching people, friends, and cars go by...
Looking forwards for another great week ahead!
Hugs,
Teacher Rashida.
