Sensory explorations are an important role in our daily play experiences. The whole month of December, the Robins were exploring and experimenting with different textures, loose parts, and art materials. Each and every sensory activity offered something new and unique for the children senses.
To encourage the children to use multiple of their senses, we used a wide variety of materials such colored sand, table salt, baby oil, flour, various beans, pretend snow, popcorn kernels, and natural and manmade loose parts.

​Moon sand was one of the Robins favorite sensory activities. The Robins spent long time exploring moon sand with their sense of touch, smell and sight. To make moon sand, we mixed baby oil and baking flour, this created a unique texture and gentle scent. To stimulate their sense of sight, we added some foil sequins and colorful glass beads. What could spark more curiosity than to dig your fingers into a smooth and fragrant mixture and feel the smoothness of the round glass beads?
While touching and feeling the mixture with their hands, the Robins shared their excitement with each other. The children often were heard saying “wow” and “cool” while exploring the moon sand table. The children had big smiles on their faces each time one of them would find a “moon rock” for which they named the various glass beads.  

​ The moon sand activity was a learning opportunity for the Robins. The Robins learned that if you mix baby oil and the flour, you can create a wonderful and exciting material which will provide you with an endless fun, ideas for an imaginary play and to identify which senses they were using.
Of course, the children explore with their senses on their own throughout the day, and there are many different kinds of sensory activities. However, we wanted to share this particular sensory activity because it is an activity that you can replicate with items commonly found in your home and the children’s creativity made this an opportunity to travel to the moon!

Photos/Photo albums and Family Tree
​Each Owl has a picture of themselves on display and they frequently look at it and talk about what they are doing in the picture. Seeing pictures of themselves and everyone else in the room creates that home like feeling. That is the type of community we want to build. 
Again, having family pictures of everyone in the room, including the educators is inclusive of everybody and shows the diversity of everyone’s family and backgrounds. It makes us all feel important and valued in this community.
​This is our photo album entitled, “Making Memories with the Owls." We often look through it to reflect on how much we’ve changed and grown or the variety activities we’ve done since September.

​Each Owl has their own rock which they have decorated with markers. Once they arrive in the morning, they put their rock in the basket, to signify that they are signed in to their classroom. The rocks provides transparency for the children and their belonging in the classroom. 

​Portfolios
In the Owl room, the children have easy access to their portfolios. Portfolios are a reflective tool that provide the children with the opportunity to enhance their learning. Having access to all materials in the room teaches the children that they are valued and trusted members of their community. The Owls frequently go through their portfolios to see what has been added. They also take turns looking in each other’s portfolios. This has been a great way to further build our community.

As he continued to place the cheese he began asking for different ingredients. With each ingredient the child added, their smile grew bigger and bigger. ​After placing all of his ingredients on to his pizza, he went to the wall to inspect his work.

​Another child tried using a variety of the magnets to see if the projector light would shine through if he stacked the magnets tall. He adjusted the light on the projector and experimented with where to put the tower to have the most amount of light shine through.
This invitation inspired the children to explore and play in many different ways, including building and construction, science and dramatic play. 

On this afternoon, we went outside and I opened the shed doors. One of the girls stated those famous words "I'm bored!" I  love those words because I know that's when our best ideas come. I told her to take a look and bring one of the bins out to the grass. She began looking for materials but she didn't know what she would do with them. She found a container with holes in the bottom and watched as the water poured through. What comes next is magical. 

​The first step was to search for materials to use. They weren't quite sure what the plan was, as it kept evolving into something different and more elaborate. Those are the best plans, aren't they?

​ Next came the pouring. Water was poured from different sized jugs into a medium sized silver bowl.
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“We need mud!” Dirt was gathered, then shaken into a sifter to create a “smoother” texture. “We can’t have lumps!”

​Out came the measuring spoon and spatula. Dirt was carefully shaken into the bowl of water. “Look! It’s clumping! Holly, feel it thickening.” Then a bit too much dirt was added. “Ooops. Let’s add water.” Water was then carefully added to the dirt and water mixture; one tablespoon at a time so as to not overfill with water. 

​Creating a dish from mud is not an uncommon practice. In fact, I'm sure most of us adults have done this very same thing when we were children. During this activity, there is so much experimentation and trial and error with ratios of dirt to water; getting that perfect consistency and pride when you have created something you’re proud of; and trust me, they were certainly proud!
 
I invite you all to go back to your childhoods this summer, and play with mud!