Coatsworth

The Mathematical Mind

Math is a life-long skill. We count objects, place rings of multiple sizes on dowels, sort objects into 2, 3, and 4 compartments, notice pairs of objects, and insert coloured pegs into numbered math boards. As the children differentiate patterns and notice sequences, we start to quantify objects, building the logical mathematical mind that will be further developed in Casa.

Please click “The Mathematical Mind” for more photos and information.

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Winter Fun!

The wonderful winter weather provides a great opportunity for the children to get outside and enjoy the snow. During a beautiful snowfall, the children go for a ride or pull friends in a sled, shovel snow, fill buckets, and make snow angels. What fun!

Please click on “Winter Fun!” for more pictures and information.

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Hanukkah!

To celebrate Hanukkah, in addition to reading stories, listening to songs, and lighting a candle on the menorah each day, we were privileged to have one of our parents volunteer to come in and teach us how to play the dreidel game. We each practiced spinning the top and enjoyed playing the game together. What a fun and informative experience!

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Music with Adriana

The children of West Casa enjoy music class with Adriana weekly. Adriana incorporates Montessori bells as well as various percussion instruments into the class such as tambourines, hand drums, and shakers. We also walk the line and take a step with each beat we play to the music.

Please click “Music with Adriana” for more information and photos.

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Stars are Born Video!

Listen to our children singing their favourite songs! Music and singing are an integral part of our day, whether with children’s songs on electronic media, song stories or sing-a-longs with friends and teachers. We also move to music, dancing inside as well as in the playground.

Please click “Stars are Born Video!” to see the video!

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Pop-Up Activities

Pop-up activities gratify a young child’s curiosity to explore how things work while reinforcing their eye-hand coordination and understanding of spatial orientation and cause and effect.

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Colour Box #3

While using Colour Box #3, children can develop their perception of colours and visual acuity. By following a pattern, such as a star or rainbow snake, the child gains a sense of order which they will be able to carry with them as they move on to more complicated activities.

Please click on “Colour Box #3” for more information.

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Summer Fun!

This summer has been a delight for those who enjoy the heat! We have had fun staying cool while running through the sprinkler, going down our ‘water slide’ and playing at the water table. The children have also enjoyed basking in the sun to dry off and having a little rest before running back to the sprinkler to cool down again. Let’s keep hydrated!

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Butterflies With a Wish

After watching our caterpillars undergo a metamorphosis into butterflies, we released them into our garden and beyond. We wished them well and added our wishes for world peace, and for everyone around the world to have enough food to eat; clean, plentiful water; somewhere safe to live; and to have people to love and to love them. Maybe the butterflies will come back to visit!

Please click “Butterflies With a Wish” for the Ancient Aboriginal Butterfly Legend and more photos.

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Metamorphosis of a Butterfly

We had the opportunity to witness the metamorphosis of a butterfly. We received many containers with a caterpillar in each. In the days following, we observed each of the caterpillars molt and evolve into a chrysalis and then emerge as a beautiful Painted Lady Butterfly. The butterflies dried their wings and we were able to watch their proboscis (tongue) uncoil as they sipped the Gatorade from the mesh. Later we gathered in the playground to set the butterflies free into their natural habitat. What an amazing experience!

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