Holiday Fun
Please click view to see videos of children spinning a dreidel and making 3D pony bead art, as well as full photos and more information about the holidays they explored and the fun they had!
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Casa
Hanukkah
We learned how to play the Dreidel game and what each Hebrew symbol represents. We read stories and learned about the traditions, foods, and meanings involved. We used the shamash (middle candle) on our menorah to light one candle on each of the 8 days of Hanukkah. (Please click for full photos and more information.)
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Bank Game
The initial play relies on previous knowledge and experience with the units, 10 bars, 100 squares and 1000 cubes. The child receives a verbal request to bring one of the four quantities. As the child becomes more familiar with the game, the teacher will increase the challenge by including 2, 3 and finally all 4 quantities as the child learns to use the decimal placement mat to place the material in its corresponding places. (Please click for the full photos.)
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Care of the Environment
Care of the environment plays a crucial role in our development. Maintaining a clean and orderly classroom is so important as it teaches children how to take care of the space around them, which then internalizes as appreciation for one’s environment. When children feel involved, they begin to understand they are part of a larger community, which builds on self-worth and empathy. (Please click for more information and the full photos.)
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Pumpkin Volcanoes!
We experimented with creating Pumpkin Volcanoes. We carved and cleaned pumpkins, and touched and examined the flesh. We made predictions about what would happen when we mixed various ingredients together and determined which ones worked best to “explode.” Please click for more information and full photos, and to find out which mixture came in first place!
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Creating Ghosts!
The Casa West children mixed glue and shaving cream to create a foamy substance, spooned some of the mixture onto coloured paper, spread it out, then added googly eyes. As the mixture dried, the puffy ghosts started to appear! (Please click for more photos and information.)
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Grace and Courtesy
Grace and courtesy starts with intentional modeling. Children are always watching and learning from behaviours. Grace and courtesy is taught during circle time as well as in real-time situations such as table manners, greetings, polite language, waiting patiently for our turn, helping others, and respiratory etiquette. (Please click for full photos and more information.)
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Erupting a Created Volcano
The children enjoyed creating a volcano using modelling clay, painting it and then predicting what would happen, before spooning baking soda and pouring vinegar inside the volcano. It was so exciting to see the results of their creation! Science appeals to young children’s inquisitive minds as they try to make sense of the world and how things work. (Please click for more information.)
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Family BBQ
We hosted our first barbecue in several years and families of every classroom attended to mix and mingle. Proceeds of cash donations went to the SickKids Foundation. We also held a silent auction of canvas paintings designed by each classroom and the proceeds were also donated to the SickKids Foundation. Thank you to everyone for your support. We had a great time!
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Dinosaur Eggs!
The Casa children explored a fun dinosaur egg experiment outdoors during our dinosaur themed week. The children each received a dino “egg” made of baking soda and frozen water. To uncover the dinos, the children used eye droppers and “magic water” (diluted vinegar) to dissolve the “egg” and reveal different dinosaurs inside!
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