Sensory Exploration, Creative expression and More infant Class Adventures!

Dear Parents,

Here in the infants class, it’s been an exciting two weeks with your little ones! It has been wonderful to see them explore, play, and grow each day. From engaging in creative art activities to discovering new materials and enjoying music and movement, they have been actively learning in so many ways. Read on to hear more about our latest adventures!

As a reminder, next week on Thursday (March 13) and Friday (March 14) the school will be closed for spring break/teachers training.

Large group

Over the past two weeks, we introduced a new hello song, and the children loved it! As we sang, they happily waved their hands and greeted their friends and teachers by saying, “Hello, how are you?”. This song also helped them learn about body parts—for example, when greeting a friend, we pointed to our eyes and said, " Touch your eye!". The children were very excited and engaged with this new routine. We also sang two of their favorite songs, which they picked from our music book. This gave them a chance to make choices and enjoy familiar tunes. After that, we did attendance, where they recognized their friends and responded to "Who’s here today?". To end our large group time, we read the book "Why I Love My Mommy". The children enjoyed looking at the pictures and listening to the story, making this a meaningful and cozy moment together. It has been a joyful and interactive two weeks, and we look forward to more fun learning experiences ahead!

Music and Movement

Our music and movement class has been full of energy and joy! We held our sessions outside on the grass area, where the children had plenty of space to move and explore, and could enjoy some fresh air. Before we started dancing, we warmed up with various exercises, including jumping and moving our bodies. The children were excited and actively participated, getting ready for the fun ahead.

When the music began, they danced happily, holding hands with their friends and moving together. They laughed, twirled, and enjoyed the rhythm. One of the most exciting moments was when the music said “Freeze!”—the children immediately stopped dancing, stood still, and excitedly shouted “Freeze!” with big smiles on their faces.

Math

Over the past two weeks, our math activity with colorful rice in the sensory bath has been a great success! The children were very happy and engaged throughout the experience. They explored the concepts of volume, capacity, and transferring by using different-sized cups to fill and dump the rice. At first, they focused on filling a single cup, carefully observing how much rice each one could hold. As they became more confident, they started holding two cups at a time, transferring rice back and forth between them. This added an extra challenge, helping them develop coordination and control. A wonderful moment in the activity was when they began filling their friends' cups, showing collaboration and shared excitement. They enjoyed watching the rice flow from one cup to another, repeating the process with joy. The activity not only supported early math skills but also encouraged teamwork and sensory exploration.

Clay

The clay sessions in the infant class have been going wonderfully! This time, we focused on making a flower pot, creating a hands-on and engaging experience for the children. We started by discussing the pot, allowing the children to observe and understand its shape and purpose. This conversation helped spark their curiosity before they began exploring the clay. Once they got their hands on the material, they were eager to touch, press, and mold it, enjoying the sensory experience.

Next, they met the clay teachers as a group, which made the session even more exciting. Each child took turns rolling the clay, carefully shaping it with guidance. Afterward, they worked together with the teachers, engaging in a group activity that encouraged teamwork and creativity. The children were very excited throughout the session and explored the clay with great enthusiasm. Their engagement and joy in the process were evident as they experimented with different ways to shape and form the material.

Washing Toys

Recently, the children had a blast with a hands on practical activity- washing toys! We started by collecting the toys from our classroom, with each child choosing a toy and placing it in the bath. This step helped them practice organization and responsibility. Then we took the activity outside, where the children put on their smocks, excited and ready to begin. We added water and soap, creating lots of bubbles, which sparked even more enthusiasm. With sponges in hand, the children eagerly started scrubbing their toys, observing how the soap and water worked together to clean them. They were very interested and fully engaged throughout the activity, enjoying the sensory experience of water, bubbles, and different textures.

Art

We engaged in a sensory-rich art activity using different colored paints and rolling mirrors. We began by placing small amounts of different colors on a canvas, allowing the children to observe and explore the vibrant hues. One at a time, each child had the opportunity to stamp, roll, and mix the colors using a rolling mirror wrapped in cling film. As they moved the rolling mirror across the canvas, they watched the colors blend and create new shades, sparking curiosity and excitement. This activity encouraged sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and creativity, as the children experimented with movement and texture while discovering the magic of color mixing.

Gymnastics

During gymnastics class engaged in an exciting bowling game, combining movement, coordination, and playful exploration. We began by introducing the game, discussing how to roll or kick the ball to knock down the pins. Each child took turns participating, eagerly waiting for their chance to play. Some children used their hands to push the ball, while others kicked it with their legs, experimenting with different ways to send it rolling. Their enthusiasm was evident as they watched the pins fall, cheering for themselves and their friends. This activity supported their gross motor development, balance, and coordination, all while fostering a fun and engaging group experience.

Science

Over the past two weeks, we continued our gardening session, allowing the infants to observe and care for their growing plants. The children showed curiosity as they looked closely at the leaves and stems, noticing any changes. With gentle hands, they helped water the plants, eagerly watching as the soil absorbed the water. Their excitement was evident as they engaged in this hands-on experience, developing an early appreciation for nature. Through this activity, they practiced patience, observation skills, and responsibility while enjoying the sensory experience of touching the soil and feeling the water. Gardening continues to be a joyful and meaningful learning experience for them!

Our schedule for next week:

Monday – Music and movement

Tuesday – Gymnastics

Wednesday – Literacy

Our specials:

Wednesday- Art and football

• Reminders:

• Every Wednesday is art day, so please send your child with art appropriate clothing.

• Every Thursday is library day,  so we will be sending a book that your child picked from our library, which will be returned after a week on library day.

Have a nice weekend!