Pumpkin Exploration

This fall at Scott we have had many different invitations set up for the children to explore. 

One of the many has been pumpkins.

First, we cut open all the pumpkins and emptied them out.   Once empty we put all the pumpkin seeds, etc. into a clear ziploc bag.  The children were then able to get a close look at what is inside a pumpkin.

Next we painted a few of the pumpkins and tried out an activity called "drip-painting." The activity uses acrylic paint so it is important to wear old clothes or a paint shirt to avoid stains.  The children were given a squeeze bottle of the paint .  They started at at the top of the pumpkin and squeezed out some paint and watched as it dripped down the sides of the pumpkin.  This can be continued with as many colours as desired around the entire pumpkin. 

Lastly, we tried pumpkin-cano’s. The pumpkin was placed in the bottom of the water table for an easy clean up. (Note: a tray or large dish would work as well.) The children then poured enough baking soda into the pumpkin to just cover the bottom of the pumpkin.  They added a few drops of dish soap (optional) and then poured vinegar into the pumpkin and watched the "science" happen! The children loved the erupting pumpkin-cano’s so much we repeated it several times each taking turns dumping and pouring different measurements of the ingredients into the pumpkin. 

Doing Science experiments with children help to develop math skills while they measure and experiment with different measurements.  They begin to develop critical thinking by seeing what happens if they change what ingredient is added first, etc. (For example: adding the vinegar before the baking soda, etc). Pouring and dumping the various ingredients also develops both fine and gross motor skills. 

As winter is quickly approaching be sure to come to our locations to see what new changes are happening. Also be sure to check out the November calendar to stay updated. 

Laura Bieber

Together we make a family

This fall at Scott we made family trees. Laura had the tree trunks already painted and the families wrote the names of their family members on real oak tree leaves.  They then glued the leaves on top of the tree trunks.  The finished trees were hung and displayed for all to see.    

The family trees reinforced the idea that there are many people who can support us with whatever we may need help within our daily lives. They also showed those who may visit daily, weekly, monthly or just once in awhile the friendship, diversity and support they will encounter at the Centre.  

We greatly appreciate all "our" families who come in and make our programs successful. We would not be doing the work we do without you!

Thank you for your continued support!

Laura Bieber

Creating Marbleized Paper

Our facilitator provided children with an opportunity to explore colour mixing but with a twist. 

Children were provided with three containers that contained vegetable oil, food colouring and a little bit of water. They were then invited to add drops of colour onto a black tray and to swirl the colours together.  Mixing on the black tray meant that you couldn’t really see how the colours were mixing until you pressed the blank sheet against the surface and then pulled it away to see your masterpiece. 

         

                                              

                                           

The children (and adults) were delighted to turn over their papers to discover how their colours had mixed and the patterns that were created.  One young friend stayed at this activity for over 30 minutes and experimented with different strategies and techniques.

 “Children use their senses, their minds and their bodies to find out about and make sense of what they see, feel and experience in the world around them. They gather information and develop new skills, including thinking skills. They form ideas and theories and test these out. They refine their ideas through exploring their environment actively and through interacting and communicating with adults and with other children. Much of this happens through play and    other experiences that allow children to be creative, to take risks, and to make discoveries. As they learn, they retest their theories adjusting them to take on board new discoveries and new experience”  National Council for Curriculum and Evaluation

Lynda Gellner 

Collaborative Art

Art is an important part to a child's development. Through art they learn to create and manipulate materials in a way that expresses their ideas in a different form than play does.

Collaborative art is a form of art that allows children the opportunity to work together as a team. This team building activity opens children up to sharing their different life and cultural experiences. By sharing these experiences children see and learn that everyone has similarities and differences and that everyone's contributions should be accepted equally.

By working as a team, incorporating all shared ideas in some way and accepting each other for who they are is evident in the completed collaborative art product.

Laura Bieber

Country Fair

Yes it is true! Laura's Country Fair is traveling to a Centre near you!

Come on out to enjoy some old time fun. There will be games such as: a fishing pond, ring toss, sack races, etc. plus a photo booth, ball pit, snacks and a pie eating contest that will be at 10:45 am!

Miller's Country Fair- Thursday October 22 (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Dr. Hanna's Country Fair- Saturday October 24 (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
 
Hope to see you there for a good ol' time!
 

Laura Bieber



Magic Milk

This week we had some fun experimenting with science and art.

What you need:

Milk

Larger tray/dish

Food colouring

Dish soap

Q-tips

Pour a little bit of milk into your dish (enough to cover the bottom). Next create a design with the food colouring in the milk (we covered all the milk). Lastly dip a q-tip into the dish soap and stick it into the middle of the tray. Watch the magic happen!

Experiment and explore as long as you want. 

After we were done we pressed a piece of paper into the tray to create a “water colour like” painting. 

Children of all ages were amazed with this neat science/art experiment. Guaranteed hours of fun. 

Laura Bieber