It Not "Just Recess" Anymore!

Teachers often heave a sigh of relief when they take their students out to recess. Finally! The children can burn off the pent up energy they had been accruing for the past few hours indoors. But what if we change our outlook on outdoor play time? What if we create an outdoor environment that offered all of the learning opportunities that one would typically find indoors? What if children could run out to a well-planned play yard to find experiences in math, science, nature, dramatic play, water, building and construction, sensory activities, physical development, art and music? What if they play yard developed critical thinking, discovery, problem solving, and cooperative skills? The result would be that we wouldn't have "just recess" anymore. We would have The Outdoor Classroom!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Christmas Sensory Bin

I have been envying several very cute and well-put together mini-sensory bins across the blogosphere lately, so I finally decided to make one of my own. I went to the 99 Cent Store and stocked up on a few Christmas items - plastic candy canes, a batch of erasers, mini ornaments, bells, glittery snowflakes, Christmas themed kaleidoscopes, and more. I also threw in some pompoms and set all the goodies on top of rice. Several of the children investigated each item in the bin. Two little girls lined up all of the items on the edge of the table. When I asked what they were doing, they replied, "setting up the presents!"

This Christmas bin is what I would call a "small world" or mini-sensory bin. For some PHENOMENAL large-scale bins, visit Tom at Sand and Water Tables. He takes sensory bins to entirely new level of engaging!!!!







Posted by at
Labels: , , ,

5 comments:

  1. Tom BedardDecember 8, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Kritstin, thanks for the mention. Since I get so many great ideas from others---you included---it is nice to know it works both ways.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KristinDecember 8, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    The joy of blogging...we all gain such fantastic ideas from each other!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 9, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    Your bin is beautiful! I'm going to check out Tom's site now. Thanks for the link!

    ReplyDelete
  4. vob editorDecember 11, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    So pretty blog.. I like it.. Great Christmas decoration accessories which you share above. I am so excited for that. Every thing looking great.
    avchd player

    ReplyDelete
  5. Turkish BendMarch 6, 2012 at 2:50 AM

    This bin is really beautiful. This is one my favorite festival. This Christmas decoration accessories such a excellent. I like your blog.

    adjustable ladders

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)