Your little one participated in yet another fun sensory activity!

Using large styrofoam as ice, rocks, and walruses, your little one created their very own winter wonderland!

We began this activity with a discussion and review of the various arctic animals that we have been learning about.

We then talked about where these creatures lived.

Our discussion concluded with a review of the new vocabulary that we have been learning, such as glacier, albatross, walrus, Antarctica, and leopard seal.

Your little explorer then happily constructed the perfect living space for his walrus. This was the definite favorite for the week, as your little one applied their understanding of various vocabulary and scientific concepts.

Fine motor activities are the most difficult for young children to practice on a consistent basis.

Because they are mobile and constantly on the move, they tend to prefer gross motor activities such as jumping, running, pulling, and pushing.

To continue to hone these necessary skills, your little one participated in a special activity designed to build and refine the small muscles in their hands.

Experiences such as these aid your little one’s ability to grasp a writing instrument, manipulate tiny objects, and handle scissors. For this activity, your little one was directed to grab cotton with a large pair of tweezers. Their task was to maintain a firm grip on the cotton as they placed it into the jar.

Animals use a number of tactics during the winter months to survive.

Polar bears will hibernate, while certain types of birds migrate to warmer climates. Fish remain in rivers and lakes during winter, making ice fishing a popular activity for people living in colder climates.

Using a box covered with white paper to resemble ice, fishing poles, and magnetic fish, we went ice fishing!

To truly understand the definition of a concept of a word, young children must act physically on a concept in which the word is used.

When children have tested a concept by exploration and manipulation, then it has meaning.

Ice fishing provided the avenue to explore new vocabulary, which included the words fishing pole, casting, and reeling.

Using pre-cut pictures, we practiced putting walruses together! Puzzles help young children build the skills they need to read, write, solve problems, and coordinate their thoughts and actions – all of which they will use in school and beyond. They also help them begin to recognize colors and shapes, and come to realize that the sum of parts make up a whole – a concept that will help them with math later on. By arranging pieces into the puzzle, your little one also develops the muscle group used for writing, or the “pincer” grasp.