Spring has sprung in Preschool 2! The garden centre has officially opened for the season and our busy bees have been buzzing around. Our preschoolers have been taking flower orders, planting seeds, watering and “cutting” flowers for their customers. So much collaborative work and learning has been happening as the children worked together to create beautiful bouquets. By sharing their ideas and thoughts with their peers, the children have gained new perspectives and have expanded their social skills among each other. The educators have also heard some great conversations going on about how seeds grow into plants, flowers and even fruits and vegetables. The educators have provided some opportunities for the children to even plant their own seeds to see what they will grow into. The preschoolers have learned that it takes a great amount of patience for plants to grow, however, they have been very eager to see if their plants have sprouted anything.
With the warmer weather approaching, we hope to scaffold their learning by planting some vegetables and flowers outside in our small garden.
With the garden centre being a popular activity the past couple of weeks, the children have also been curious about bugs. “Where do bugs live? What do they eat? How many legs do they have?” These are just a few of the many questions the preschoolers have asked. Ladybugs have been the main interest among the children with them expanding their vocabulary with words such as antennae, along with building their numeracy skills while noticing how many spots some ladybugs have.
Learning about plants and insects has provided the preschoolers with opportunities to connect with the environment and world around them. This fosters empathy, awareness and understanding of how life, even the smallest, can have an impact on the world. As the preschoolers continue to learn about insects and plants, we encourage them to learn more about responsibility, patience and appreciation for nature!
