During Jesus time we reviewed the story of Jesus healing the blind man.  We learned that just as Jesus healed the blind man, He has healed us so that we are free from our sin sickness! 

After Jesus time we compared two cars: Mrs. Zwettler's car and Pastor Matt's car.  I wrote their observations of the comparisons on a Venn diagram.  We discussed how the cars are similar - a little the same and a little different.  This activity increased our observational skills as well as our vocabulary! 

One of the friends brought a coconut back from a recent trip!  We each had a chance to explore the coconut.  Our exploration led to a discussion of solid and liquid.  

"I hear liquid inside!"

"What is liquid?"  

"Liquid is the wet stuff.  Like water." 

We capitalized on this interest in the coconut and solids and liquids during small group time. We explored solids and liquids further.  I wrote the friends thoughts and observations down for us to refer back to at a later time. 

"See how the water spreads on the table.  It's a liquid." 

"This is hard.  It is a solid." 

We increased our observation skills as we observed the coconut further and did an observational drawing of the coconut. 

The friends also made words!  God made each child unique, and success for each child is different.  Success for some children is matching the upper and lower case letters.  Success for other children is identifying the beginning sounds of the words on the card and looking for the corresponding letter.  Success for other children is working to sound out the word using their letter/sound knowledge. 

Independently, the friends explored the marble works.  

Gym time! 

Back in the classroom, we predicted what the friends think is inside the coconut.  Thank you to the Pierson family for opening the coconut and sharing what is inside! 

During free choice time we continued to explore ramps.  The friends chose to roll their car down the steep or shallow ramp.  Then, they identified the number that the car rolled to. They documented their car's progress on the chart. 

Learning to collaborate with others is an extremely valuable social skill.  Free choice time allows children the opportunity to practice this skill! 

Independent exploration is also a valuable avenue for learning. In independent exploration, the children act out familiar play scenarios, try multiple ways to solve a problem, or simply think in a quiet space. 

One of the friends drew the blind man from the Jesus time story this week! 

"I drew B for blind."  

Our class loves paper airplanes!  During free choice time we had multiple paper airplanes flying in the classroom.  

Rather than telling the friends no more paper airplanes, we saw an opportunity to problem solve during morning meeting together!  

"We could save them until home." 

"Yeah but how would we know if they could fly?  We would need to test them first." 

"We could set up an airplane station." 

"Yeah!  But we would need a signup sheet so it doesn't get crazy." 

"Maybe the airplane station needs a box so we can try to fly them into a box." 

During second small group time we explored with the ramp.  

We practiced measuring and identifying the equal number. 

We then wrote our name and the number! 

We practiced rhyming with Mrs. Lipsey and some silly rhyming poems. 

We sang 5 Green and Speckled Frogs with Mrs. Helmkamp and practiced writing how many frogs were left. 

Independently, the friends explored the marble track. 

Free choice time 

Although the friends are unable to conventionally read, they are learning valuable concepts of print.  Not to mention they are fostering the love of reading! 

Exploring the ramps 

One of the friends noticed that there were two friends who were not having a turn.  He guided them over to the ramp and said, "Here!  You can have a turn."  What a great way to show God's love! 

Working together in the marble works