Water Colour & Coloured Ice

Anamaria and the children brainstormed about the function of water.
"What can we do with water?"

The children and the teachers discussed that how we use water during art time.
We found that we might be able to draw with paint directly; however, we could not draw with dry brushes and water colour!
Then, the children explored and painted with water colour. They enjoyed mixing colours and applying different amount of water to create thicker or thinner colour for their art work.

As well, Ann, Camille and the children explored art with another form of water - "ice."
The children observed how coloured ice melted on the paper and left a trail on it.
Together, the children made a piece of beautiful cooperative art.

Bubble Art

The coming Sunday, March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. This Friday, the children learned about the history of St. Patrick's Day and how people celebrate.  To link our art with St.Patrick's Day, we did green bubble art!


I can feel the wind on my palm!

First of all, we needed to practice how to blow air on our hands since we were going to blow bubbles with a straw. The children blew air into green soapy water to make bubbles.

 

 

 

Then, we put a piece of paper on top of the green bubbles to create beautiful patterns.

 

green shamrocks!

The children also used eye-droppers, straw, coloured water to create a cooperative art work. While dripping and blowing coloured water on the paper, the children recalled colour mixing from the colour unit. The children also enjoyed adding water on the paper to create a puddle!

 

 

 



Moving Droplets

We continued to explore the movement of water.
Starting with some videos about water droplets, the children gained more ideas about how water droplets move.

Then, we split into different stations to explore various water-drop movements.

First of all, the children used eye-dropper to drip coloured water from the top of our easel to create a collaborative picture. The children enjoyed watching the droplets dripping down the easel and mixing different colours when the droplets met on their journey. 

The children use white glue, water colour and salt to create their water drop picture. We squeezed glue bottle to make big drops and add salt to make a little splash!

The children could recall the field trip to the Kitsilano beach as they create pictures on a tray with rocks, sea shells and blue water. 

As well, the children had a fun water-drop game. The children use straws to blow blue droplets on a piece of baking sheet (wax paper). We observed how droplets move. Some children liked to see how fast their droplets could go; on the other hand, some children liked to watch how a big droplet splits into many smaller droplets!

Water Wonders - Rain

We started our new unit, Water Wonders, this week.

With a couple days of rainy days, children have had some interesting conversation about rain. Pippa, Alfie, Mila and Sophia G had a conversation about puddles outside at the playground in one afternoon.We wondered "who made puddles?" "What do we need to make a puddle?" We brought these questions inside during story time since I was reading "Mud Puddle" by Robert Munsch today. Here are some answers from the children:"I can make a puddle!" "Rain makes puddles." "We need dirt and water."

As a result, we followed children’s interests to explore more about rain this Friday. Ann read “Listen to the Rain” by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault to the children.

“How does rain sound like? Let’s listen.”

Simone: “Pitter-patter, pitter-patter!”

Jonathan & Pauline: “drip-drop, drip-drop!”

Children used crayons to draw what people would do on rainy days, what animals like rain on a piece of paper. Then children went into different centres. The children used big and small spray bottles to add rain drops on their pictures.

As well, the children used eye-droppers to make coloured rain drops. They enjoyed making rain drops and watching water drops dripping down the paper. Some children even said "pitter-patter" while they watched the water dripping down.

Weaving for our Potlatch party

The children applied the weaving skills which they've practiced to make gift boxes for our Potlatch party. We observed the beautiful clothes on the Coast Salish doll, which Deb brought in for the children.We discussed about how first nation people make yarn and how to colour the yarn. The children shared their ideas about using sunflowers, berries or charcoal to make coloured yarn.

 

Deb and Mary also explained why Coast Salish people have the Potlatch party. Coast Salish people prepare feast and give gifts to their guests. As well, they dance and celebrate together. In addition, first nation people have a habit of giving the first fish they catch in a year to others, in order to wish for more fish and to show their thankfulness to Nature. 

 

 

Chinese Almond Cookies baking

For the Lunar New Year celebration, Anamaria and the children also baked Chinese almond cookies to share with everyone. The children enjoyed rolling and shaping the dough into little cookies.

We brought the cookies to the playground to enjoy them with the warm sunshine!

Recipe for Chinese almond cookies:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup white sugar (can add up to 2 more tablespoons, if desired)
• 1 egg
• 2-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 30 whole, blanched almonds (one for each cookie)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (162.5 degrees Celsius).

2. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter or margarine, shortening, and sugar. Add the egg and almond extract and beat until well blended. Add to the flour mixture and mix well. Note: The dough will be crumbly at this point, but don't worry - that is what it's supposed to be like.

3. Use your fingers to form the mixture into dough, and then form the dough into 2 rolls or logs that are 10 to 12 inches long. Wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours (this will make it easier to shape the dough into circles).

4. Take a log and lightly score the dough at 3/4 inch intervals so that you have 15 pieces and cut the dough. Roll each piece into a ball and place on a lightly greased cookie tray, approximately 1 1/2 inches apart. Place an almond in the center of each cookie and press down lightly. Repeat with the remaining dough.

5. Brush each cookie lightly with beaten egg before baking. Bake for 15 minutes to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and store in a sealed container.

Happy Lunar New Year

This weekend is time to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
We wave goodbye to the dragon year and welcome the snake year.

We were a long dragon moving to see the video.

Deb showed the children some videos of lion dance and dragon dance. Chinese people believe that lion dance and dragon dance can bring people good luck and fortune for the New Year. The children also lined up to pretend doing dragon dance.
Click to see the videos (Chinese New Year for Kids)



We talked about how people write down good words and wishes for the new year on red paper. Chinese people write spring scrolls and hang them at home for Chinese New Year. Ann show children how to write "新年快樂" (Happy New Year) on spring scrolls.

The children did the snake drawing for the coming-up snake year. 

Associating to our "generosity" unit, the children learned about the meaning of red envelopes and lucky money. Parents and elders give youth red envelopes to wish them grow up healthily and safely in the new year. The children took terms to give a red envelope to their friend and said "Xīnnián kuàilè" (Happy New Year in Mandarin).