Board Games at Choice Time

Board games are wonderful learning tools for young children. They can teach important social skills such as communicating verbally, sharing and waiting, taking turns, and enjoying interaction with others as they share each other’s ideas. Board games can foster the ability to focus, and lengthen a child’s attention span by encouraging the completion of an exciting, enjoyable game. In addition to teaching young children about patience and good sportsmanship, board games also help children improve their literacy, mathematical, memory and spatial skills.

As a selection during Choice Time, the Cardinals were provided with the opportunity to play either Candyland ...

or The Lady Bug Game....

They were so excited to have these choices. One Cardinal responded, “I want to play the Ladybug Game cause I already know how to play the Candyland Game and I want to learn a new one.” It is amazing all the leaning that takes place just by virtue of playing these board games. 

A Beautiful Day!

Friends started their morning off with Morning Meeting and a Moment of Silence. Next, we headed into Choice Time! 

Friends choices were making beautiful beaded necklaces...

other friends painted on the easel...

some friends built skyscrapers out of magnatiles...

other friends built winding railroads that twisted and turned around the magnatile skyscrapers!

One friend even discovered that if you mix red and white paint that it makes pink!

A group of friends pretended that their baby was sick and the only way to cure her was to pile up lots and lots of books!

To finish up our morning we headed outside to enjoy a little bit of fun in the sun!

A fabulous way to end our week...

We began our morning with Morning Journals. The Cardinals were encouraged to draw a picture of what they might be doing this weekend. The children had so much to say. One friend drew a picture of the “Storyland” they will be visiting and another made a drawing and wrote some words on the experience she will be having sleeping over her aunt Holly’s house.

Afterwards, we headed to the Music Room for the Winter Program rehearsal. All the 3’s/4’s classes joined Jason and some of the 4^th graders. We are SO excited and cannot wait for all our families and friends to see the performance. It will be SPECTACULAR! Please remember to dress your child with a black long sleeve top and black bottom, e.g., pants, skirts, leggins. You are welcome to add a white accessory  as a way to connect to our theme (white hair accessory, white scarf, white tie, white bowtie, etc.) 

Upon our return form Music rehearsal, we had free Choice Time were some friends imagined to be “Mommy and daughters” in the Dramatic Play Area or a Daddy feeding his “baby.”

One friend began to collect the MagnaTiles he needed to build a “car garage” and a visiting friend joined in to help. 

Another friend cooked us all a delicious “Jamaican food” dish in the Kitchen Area. 

A friend created an elaborate structure with blocks in the Block Area which she called “Aunt Holly’s House.”

In the Literacy Center, a few friends played a game of “Animal Bingo.” This game included real-life color photos of different animals such as a dog, cat, cow, chicken, bird, pig, elephant, fox, fish, sheep, donkey, duck, mouse, rabbit and horse. A friend would spin the wheel and read out loud the name it would land on. What a great way to develop listening skills, learn new words, and practice reading for those who are ready to read.

After much work indoors, we went outside to enjoy a glorious sunny and snowy day.

Before lunch, we had a friend share her V.I.P. item, her eagle’s homemade costume. Stunning! Thank you, Kate. Also, thank you for the most scrumptious muffins we had the chance to enjoy during Snack Time!

Our day ended with the sharing of a sweet snack to celebrate our friend Jayden’s 5^th birthday. Happy birthday Jayden! ¡Feliz cumpleaños!