Mrs. Farber and I signed out the bucket of child-sized tools from the resource centre for one of our afternoon stations today. Because the tools are sharp and the children are unfamiliar with most of them, I wanted to make certain that Team Awesome was aware of safe ways to handle them and so demonstrated. The small plastic wood clamps are a bit tricky to operate and I couldn't remember how to get the clamp open and visibly struggled with it in front of the children. One of the girls piped up, "Maybe you could get a man to help you with that Mrs. Bowden."
Please be advised that this week's Fresh Air Friday will have a station with real tools that are child-sized-- hammers, wood files, saws, screwdrivers etc. The tools are sharp. If you do not want your child to explore at this station, as there is a possibility of injury, please contact me. Just a reminder that Thursday, May 12, is a 12:30 dismissal day due to parent/teacher interviews. If you would like to schedule a visit, just let me know and we can figure out a time that works for you, even if its not on Thursday. As mentioned previously, you are welcome to come chat, email, phone etc any time you have a question or concern regarding your child.
Team Awesome performed this little play they had been practicing with Mrs. Phillips for their moms at Moms & Muffins. As some of our moms were unable to make it Friday morning, the children were most anxious that they also would miss our performance so I promised to make it into a video. The program that I use will only accept 10 second clips at a time so please excuse the choppiness. Don't they make the cutest little chicks?
Rules can be hard. Sharing can be hard. The rules around sharing can be hard. We have a 'no sharing food' rule in our classroom and the children all understand it's for safety reasons and usually abide by it. But sometimes the other 'rules' for sharing can be blurry and helping Team Awesome navigate them can be complicated. Early this week the intermediates had their track and field day which included a concession sponsored by PAC. Some of the children had money and some did not. Children with freely shared funds or treats with those without. Which was great.....until someone was left out or someone used their newfound popular status to their own advantage. And money was being given and taken away with many on both sides upset. Try explaining to distressed 5 year olds why people don't usually share or ask others for money even though we are encouraged to share most everything else. It's tricky. And confusing. And for the kids it usually wasn't about the money. While I don't want to discourage them from being generous, which seems to come naturally to most small children, I do want to teach them that sometimes society dictates that generosity has parameters around it. Which makes me wonder-- why? Why does sharing have to be so complex?
Hi Everyone,
Wanted to let you know that Mining Day in Kamloops is this Saturday. It is presented by CIM South Central Branch, Kamloops Exploration Group, hosted by the Big Little Science Centre. This is our 5th annual, hope you will come out to the event! We have lots of fun activities! As always, it is FREE to attend. This is a family focused event that is great fun for people of all ages! There will be fossils, rocks, interactive displays, heavy equipment, and Yukon Dan teaching people how to goldpan. Battery recycling will be done at the Teck Highland Valley Copper booth. If you have a rock you want identified, there will be rock identification by volunteer geologists at the Kamloops Exploration Group’s booth. Check out the Facepainting – our face painter is amazing! Displays include:
Hope you can come for the FUN! Susan Hammond Assistant Operator, BIG Little Science Centre |
Mrs. Bowden &
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