December Snapshots!

Our December has been a very damp and windy month making no shortage of mud and puddles to stomp through and explore! Water is much more than just another element for the children to experiment with. It naturally challenges and relaxes them. These are just some of the experiences offered to our little Stompers this month -- Enjoy!

 

Treasured hand prints waiting to go home.

 

Looking for spawning salmon.

 

If you look closely you can see several salmon with white markings on their backs.

 

Wednesday group decorating their cookies.

 

 On the last two days of Stomping in December, before our winter break, a wind storm blew the heavy rain sideways at us. We made the rare decision to go inside to decorate our cookies.

 

Digging to China!

 

Thursday group decorating cookies.

 

May the year 2013 find you enjoying being 'outside in nature' more. We appreciate all the support, encouragement and positive comments from everyone all over the world, from our Stomping families and mostly to all of the children that enjoy Stomping in the Mud adventures with us...

Thank-you for believing in us.  Dianne and Gaie



November Snapshots!

With most of the leaves on the ground now November has come and gone. Winter is almost here, and it will bring the rain and cooler weather...perfect for stomping in the mud. 

Enjoy!

Sculptures...a great way to use up old playdough!

This group had a wonderful time working together with the bark!

Playing in the forest on our way back from our forest walk. This log is always very appealing to climb on and over.

This day we walked a little further to what we call the Stick Forest...there are sticks and branches covering the forest floor!

Lots of little paths to explore here, too!

It didn't take the children long to start building and working with the sticks and branches. 

The team work was exciting to watch develop...

We promised to come back again, soon !

Again, we headed back to the Stick Forest.

The children went right back to the same group of trees where they had started to build the week before...they had work to do!

This time we brought popcorn for snack to enjoy during story time in the forest!

The cooperative play was spontaneous, happy and natural.

The freedom to explore and play with sticks in this wonderful place was amazing to watch. 

Again, we promised to return!

On our way out of the forest we walked along the creek looking for spawning salmon...

And, we soon found some!

This final picture is of some 'land art' that we found incorporating some beautiful mushrooms on the floor of  the Stick Forest. It was something we all paused over, and wondered who might have made it. Quickly, and carefully, the children moved on to create their own stick creations. As always...thanks for Stomping by!

Spider in the Shadow!

At Stomping pretty much everything that we put out for the children is considered a 'loose part'. This means the children have the opportunity to use our things in as many different and creative ways as they can think of. Recently we set out a playscape with spring loaded tongs. The tongs are wonderful for small muscle development, and they are always very appealing to the children. 

We have two sets of tongs - one wooden and the other metal. The children were having a wonderful time experimenting with the sizes and weights of things the tongs could pick up. 

The boy with the metal tongs overheard that there was a spider running along the near by table. As he approached...still holding his treasured tongs...he noticed that the tongs were casting a shadow over the spider!

Soon he was 'grabbing' the spider with the shadow of the tongs. Opening and closing as the spider ran down the length of the table.

This is one of those 'Wow' moments in the field of  Early Childhood Education that could never have been planned.  The children were mostly quiet - they were observing and processing the moment. The lesson was powerfully obvious as our friend followed the spider along the table with the shadow of the tongs. 

Later, when Dianne and I were reflecting on the experience we felt great satisfaction in knowing that by our giving preschoolers lots of freedom to play and experiment with all that we offer we are supporting their individual learning styles and development in a powerful way. 

 

 

It was learning in the 'moment' at its best. Thanks for 'Stomping' by!