This week was all about nature's engineer, the beaver! The beaver is quite a fascinating little creature. To begin our study, the children first looked at the
anatomy of the beaver and shared interesting facts that they knew. The beaver is the second largest animal in the rodent family and they are herbivores. They are especially good at chewing through wood and like to eat it too! Beaver families (also known as colonies) work together to build their lodges. Beavers like to keep themselves busy and they primarily build though the night, that is where the saying, "as busy as a beaver" came from!
To extend out studies into the classroom, the water table was filled with natural materials and the children were encouraged to created a beaver habitat. From the outdoors, we collected small sticks, rocks, autumn leaves, dirt and added a little water to make the mud beavers need to create a lodge. Miniature beavers were added and, viola! a beaver habitat. The children enjoyed the sensory experience as they created dams and lodges for the beavers to live.
At the art table, the children were invited over to create their own version of a beaver lodge using different sized wooden sticks, clay, and grass. To support their learning about a beaver home, we asked the children what jobs their colony of beavers had to do to help build the lodge. The lodges will be completed through the first week of December, each child will have an opportunity create their own! We invite you into the classroom over the next few weeks to see your child's beaver lodge!
As we continue our study, we will investigate beaver dams
and how they help our environment and help other animals in the environment.
Important Dates and Reminders:
November 22: Monthly Gathering at Winchester Gymnastics
November 25: SEE will close at 3:00pm
November 26-27: SEE will be closed for Thanksgiving break
December 1: December tuition is due
December 24 - January 3: SEE closed for winter break
January 4: SEE back in session and tuition is due
And the pictures from this week:
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| Beaver lodge inspiration and a child-made lodge |
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| The making of a beaver lodge! Of course we need mud, sticks, grass and beavers! |
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| This week's sensory experience, lodge building! |
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| The children worked like busy beavers to create a lodge for their furry friends |
Thank you for waiting so patiently for the pictures!
Have a great weekend!
Joanna
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