Fine-Motor Friday! Fine motor movements require the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers. We see these skills first emerge in infancy and toddlerhood as children learn to grasp objects and eat finger foods. Strong fine motor skills continue to be essential for completing tasks such as printing, cutting, zipping, buttoning, tying shoe laces, twisting dials, colouring with precision, and turning the pages of a book. We frequently provide intentional opportunities for children to explore and manipulate materials and small objects in ways that foster these skills. Moving puzzle pieces, flicking spinners, threading beads, peeling and placing stickers, inserting pegs, painting, stencil tracing, squeezing eyedroppers, and building with Lego help children gain fine motor control.
Friday, September 25
Fine-Motor Friday! Fine motor movements require the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers. We see these skills first emerge in infancy and toddlerhood as children learn to grasp objects and eat finger foods. Strong fine motor skills continue to be essential for completing tasks such as printing, cutting, zipping, buttoning, tying shoe laces, twisting dials, colouring with precision, and turning the pages of a book. We frequently provide intentional opportunities for children to explore and manipulate materials and small objects in ways that foster these skills. Moving puzzle pieces, flicking spinners, threading beads, peeling and placing stickers, inserting pegs, painting, stencil tracing, squeezing eyedroppers, and building with Lego help children gain fine motor control.
0 Comments
Thursday, September 24
We have recently been working on a number of Math activities using Smarties. The children began by opening their small boxes and counting the number of treats inside. “Combien de Smarties ?” Interestingly, there were not the same number of treats in each package! On chart paper, we recorded the number of Smarties contained in each student’s box. From the information on the chart, we identified which child had the most and the fewest Smarties. We also noticed that several students had the same number of treats as a classmate. Next, the children sorted the Smarties by colour. In French, we discussed whether there were any colours that the children didn’t have among their assortments. Finally, the children made a pattern using their Smarties. At the end, the children were invited to eat their treats. Many students demonstrated excellent number sense and numeration skills. Nous sommes mathématiciens ! The activities using Smarties addressed several specific expectations outlined in the Kindergarten Math curriculum. Our students: • counted in French and practiced one-to-one correspondence; • investigated the idea that quantity is greater when counting forward and less when counting backwards; • analyzed data; • compared and ordered quantities; • created and extended a repeating pattern; • investigated addition and subtraction through the use of manipulatives. Thursday, September 17
As well as mixing primary colours to create secondary colours, the children have also experimented with creating different shades of a single colour. Using a strip of paint chips as a guide, we began by placing a splotch of paint in the centre of our pages. We then mixed in small amounts of white or black paint on our palettes to create lighter or darker variations of the chosen colour. After much experimentation, the children produced amazing spectrums of tones ranging from the palest hint of colour, to the deepest, most vibrant shades. Bravo ! Nous sommes artistes ! Tuesday, September 15
At the start of the school year, we read Leo Lionni’s story, Little Blue and Little Yellow. In the book, when best friends Petit Bleu and Petit Jaune hug each other, they merge into Petit Vert. We discussed the story’s themes of friendship and embracing differences. We also used paints to create our own Petits Verts (as well as Petits Oranges and Petits Violets.) These activities sparked a colour-mixing craze! For the past few days, the children have been pouring coloured water between jars and using eyedroppers to drip coloured water onto coffee filters. We have been making predictions as to what new colours will be created. As we watch the colours blend, the children make interesting observations and arrive at insightful conclusions. Nous sommes scientifiques! |
Tosh TiplerUGDSB Kindergarten Teacher Categories |