Reggie Rainbow

This semester we are participating in the Reggie Rainbow program.  For seven weeks this semester we will be trying different fruits and vegetables in our classroom.  Each week we explore a different color of the rainbow and try a fruit and a vegetable of that color.  We will taste, touch, smell and observe the food.  The children will share their opinions on the food and then we will be using the food in a recipe.  We are hoping each of the children will have an opportunity to try at least one of the foods (either during our tasting session or during a cooking exploration).  We'll record the results on a chart on our front door.  Maybe you'll be try some of these foods at home too!

Last week we introduced the children to beets and red pears.  We talked about the color red at group time on Thursday.  Then the children each had a chance to sample the beets and pears.  The pears seemed to be a much bigger hit than the beets, but some children were intrigued.  The next day we used the beets in a recipe to create beet chips.  The children and teachers loved them! The children helped to slice the beets and then we covered them in oil and a little bit of salt.  The beets were baked for about an hour and then they were ready for tasting.  Next week we will be looking at the color orange.  The children will be sampling sweet potatoes and apricots.  We will be trying a frozen yogurt recipe as well as sweet potato fries.

Group Exploration with the Large Drum

We have been trying to introduce new materials to the children during group time.  The children enjoy hearing new stories, but we are always turning to find different things to explore.  We are trying to find materials which help the children engage in conversation and participate with their peers.  By introducing the large drum we are hoping to encourage more children to join in and to promote more conversation, while introducing some new vocabulary.

The children love any opportunity to make noise (or music as we like to call it), so the drum was the perfect instrument to introduce.  We experimented with ways to make loud and soft sounds.  We also experimented with different rhythms (fast and slow) as well as using one hand versus using both hands at one time.  This was a great opportunity to help the children develop their social skills by taking turns and working together make music.  We were excited to see that most of the children were eager to participate.  The children seemed to enjoy watching their classmates during the investigation.  They were eager to try out new ideas and build on what they already know about music.

In the future we plan to introduce more musical instruments, including the rhythm sticks and egg shakers.  Developing a strong sense of rhythm as well as working on patterning is important for this age group.  Being able to share ideas and work alongside/with their peers are also important skills.  These are some of the goals we work on during group time, but it is also an opportunity for us to come together as a group and work with our whole classroom community.  We can extend on ideas from the day's investigations and help discover more about what the children know.