“Many hands make light work.”  The children have been helping to prepare our new garden boxes.  It’s an arduous and muddy job but one that has to been done.  We encourage the children to be part of the process because it creates a sense of community and ownership.  It is a work in progress.

Today, children sat down on the sand, side by side, and used shovels and their hands to bury their legs.  They talked about how the sand felt on their skin.  They worked together to share the sand around them.  They made up stories of who they were.  One child said, “I’m a mermaid.  Children need to have the opportunity to see, touch, learn, and express themselves.  Experiences in the sand area have a multi-sensory quality.  Sand experiences help children grow in all areas of development.  Children will usually have positive social interactions in the sand area.  We want to thank you for your understanding that in preschool your child may come home with wet, dirty, or sandy clothing or footwear.  Creative play and hands-on experiences are essential to the development of well-balanced children!

“The More We Get Together, the more get together, the happier we’ll be…….”  Five children organized their own small group music experience this morning.  Three year olds eagerly participate in music activities, can carry a simple tune, and remember some words to songs and finger plays.  Performance arts are a way for children to express themselves.  Can you tell how these girls are feeling?

Twice a month, Kupuna Nani visits our classroom to share her Hawaiian culture through mele (song), mo’olelo (story), and ‘olelo (words).  She has been teaching the children about ‘Ekolu Mea Nui (faith, hope, and love).  She is also talking about “Kane’ohe Where I Live”  (its meaning, its geography, its community). 

Today was also a spontaneous water play day.  This was the first morning of the week that the children were able to play on the playground.  We usually stay outside for 30 minutes.  Today, however, all the children gathered around the Water Play Area.   One child poured a bucket of water on herself and then another child followed her.  Eventually the majority of them felt comfortable enough to truly enjoy and explore the properties of water.  They were having so much fun and more importantly working and playing together nicely that we allowed the water play to naturally emerge.  We ended up staying outdoors for over 1 hour.

Today we did another parade around the playground.

Thank you ‘Ulu families for taking time out of your busy schedules to spend P.A.C.T. (Parent and Child Time) making a cardboard box vehicle with your child.  The vehicles showed creativity and lots of detail.  Awesome job families!!  P.A.C.T. time is a “block” of time for families to support their children’s learning in the preschool.  It allows you to spend quality time with your child doing an activity together.  All of the children were very excited to display their vehicles.    Yesterday, each child shared their creation.  Today, we had our vehicle parade.  They marched around with proud faces.

Today we had a presentation by community helpers from Hawaiian Electric Company and from the City and County Ambulance.  They shared some of their tools and talked about the jobs and responsibilities that they perform.  Each child got a sticker, a yellow HECO hat, work gloves, electrical tape, and an activity book.  One teacher was asked to go into the bucket of the HECO cherry picker truck.  They raised the bucket to 40 feet high.  Would you like to know who it was?  Please ask your child.

Today we made our 2013 stepping stone.  Each child had a chance to stir the cement mixture.  A large group activity such as this one helps children practice being patient as they wait they turn.  It also promotes meaningful conversation.  One child shared, “My daddy is a mason.  He works with cement.”  We poured the mixture into a round mold.  Then, each child and teacher placed a marble into the cement.  There are 16 marbles to represent the 16 children in the ‘Ulu class this year.  When it dries a little more, we will be etching each child’s name onto the stone.  The stepping stone will be placed in our backyard.  This 2013 stepping stone will be the third one in our backyard.

Play dough can be found in almost any preschool classroom.  We use homemade play dough because it allows us to add coloring, scents (dry kool-aid or jello), and texture (salt or sand) to appeal to all of the senses.  Play dough produces some of the best learning for young children.  Play dough develops small muscles and fine motor skills.  Play dough provides opportunities to increase vocabulary.  Play dough naturally leads to scientific discovery. Play dough can promote creativity.  Play dough can help improve social skills as children work together. The ‘Ulu keiki have access to play dough daily.