This week in Quartz room the children were very interested in “Going places”. They showed their interest by building trains with chairs and listening to train sounds on the tablet. Outside they created a very interesting and high structure with big blocks and they were pretending that it was a train and sometimes an airplane! They sat on it for long time and talked about going to Ottawa to see grandparents. They also were talking about how the train has wipers, windows and wheels. It is so interesting and amazing that children can already identify the real parts on various forms of transportation. Some of the children insisted that “They want to go to the deep, deep forest to see the bear.” Some of them want to go camping and other wants to go to the grocery store to buy fruit and vegetables. It was very interesting to see that broad spectrum of curiosity of going places. So as educators we are planning to make a grocery store in the classroom by bringing real materials like cereal boxes, juice boxes, can food, empty ketchup bottles etc. If you have any of these items we can use please bring them in so we can utilize them. The idea behind building the grocery store it is that it prepares children for real life experience of going to a grocery store and buying groceries and building on their previous knowledge.

Some things we may explore in the next couple weeks:

• Encourage the children to draw their groceries list before we go
• Count how many things they want to buy. How much money do we need to buy? How will the children represent money?
• Recognise fruit and vegetables. Holding and pushing the shopping cart or baskets. Picking up stuff like fruit and vegetables.
• How do we go there?
• What do they need?

We look forward to exploring GOING PLACES with the children, and following the children’s lead. I wonder where you will go this weekend? Have a wonderful weekend !