How to make a Fairy Garden in a Box

I was inspired to create this not only because we have a forest for our playground but because I saw this link from Playful Learning.  So I started doing plenty of research on pinterest and craft stores for DIY ways to create a fairy garden.

I went thrift store shopping and found this book.  It is the perfect addition to our fairy garden box.

This book was made in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Things I created for the Fairy Garden:

1. A House (made from a Birdhouse bought at Michaels $4.67)

Jenn converted that bird house into a Fairy Garden house and I painted the house.

She even wallpapered the inside of the roof

2. A Tray (This is the most important thing to get because it keeps all the pieces together).  I made mine a long time ago for an art project in University.  A basket would work as well.

3. Fairies (I bought this Fairy from a local toy shop in Kelowna.  It is made by Playmobil for $3.79)

4. Decorations and little trinkets for the kids to play with.

I started to make this and enjoyed the process of making the fairy garden way too much.  The kids were also inspired to create their own fairy homes that they work at their constructions any chance they can get.

I put a fairy display out for the last week of school.  Come in and take a look!

Classroom Exploration

I absolutely love being an observer during our exploration time on Thursdays.

Here Josh is creating another one of his fantastic Snowboarding and Skateboarding magazines.  We decided to spice this copy up with a computer printed title page.  

Seth decided to make a book about Star Wars.  It is a masterpiece!

Thanks to my Mom she found these amazing felt dolls and fairy tale settings to play with.  I am reading all the fairytale felt stories to the kids but they are always allowed to play with the dolls.  Lucy dressed these dolls in all the different outfits.

Vanessa is sharing with us some beautiful window sun-catchers some of the kids were making that day.  We put them in our window to catch all the rays we can get!

They all were really into making these and putting them next to our birdhouse.  I think they were secretly hoping the birds would enjoy the colourful sunshine.

Another favourite for the kids is using the chain links as leashes for their pet wolves, dogs, and foxes.  They love acting as wildlife!

Finally, today we were very lucky to have a presentation from Lewis, Ned and Georgia.  The students taught us all about the ISS and even created a model.  They let us keep it to enjoy while we learn about Space.

Alien Animals

I was inspired by a conversation with one of my students yesterday.  We talked about Space and whether we believe in aliens.  We then got on the discussion, what if there were alien animals?  So we started to imagine all these crazy animals with 12 eyes, 6 legs, no teeth, purple, etc.  This morning we had to bring these alien animals to life.

These are on display in the hallway.  Come in and take a look!  

I also tried out a new theory of having the students start their drawing with a fine point pen (yes no pencil) and they turned out amazing.  The kids spent quality time on their designs and added more details than I have ever seen.  I have a great group of artists!

Bird Watching Station

My amazing Dad built this bird house and feeder.  We are so lucky to have a bird station right outside our window.  The bird house has a glass backing so we can see the birds living inside.  Take a closer look at the houses here.

I found some bird books in the library to help further their research on birds.  I also bought some field guide books this weekend that I will have to add too.  Next, will be a set of binoculars and we are all set.

Rainbow Catchers

Thanks to my Mom for finding all the bargains.  She found these awesome neon coloured beads from Easter on sale and some suction cups.

I made a station today in our exploration time for the students to create a sun catcher.  I had a few who were very excited to participate.

I love the concentration.

The finished product!  I love looking at them.

New Sensory Tray

Thanks Karen for the new sensory tray.  She used to teach Kindergarten and had this awesome Machines and Tools bin.  I created another tray with those treasures.

Do you remember having one of these growing up?  I sure do!

This basket contains all different types solid items that the students have to test the strength of a magnet wand with.  They loved counting the amount of nails the different magnets can hold.

For more information on our sensory trays click here and here.

Sensory Tray Shelf

Today I got a little more organized and made a sensory tray shelf.  This way the baskets are all in one place and the kids know that these are the trays they can explore after certain lessons.  I previously posted about the new trays I made for magnets and lights and prisms.  The kids right away were creating rainbows, reflections, magnetic energy, etc.  I loved seeing their brains work and with no direction and only observation the kids really tried all different sorts of things with the objects.

In Mexico, I came across this amazing artist who created balancing rocks using the vertical side of a flat rock and then adding smaller rocks in between those.  I was so impressed that I had to bring that back for the kids to try.  I snapped this picture and collected as many different flat (or somewhat flat) shaped rocks.  Ms. Austin and I tried to see how high we could stack them without them falling over.  I am interested to see what the kids will do with this new basket tomorrow.

This is the final basket I have at the top of the shelf.  The kids love our real pattern blocks and so I figured this would be a great addition with stamping a design out and maybe copying it using pattern blocks or vice versa.

I am still trying these new sensory trays out and I think it will be a great addition for student exploration and wonder.  The students are eager to finish their work and try out all these new stations.  I am finding the kinks with only two people per basket (makes it easy when I only have 10 students) and giving them the time to explore these things on their own (which I sometimes have to hold back haha not easy for me).

Stay tuned on our progress...

Sensory Trays

I was inspired from this blog post, Reggio Activities for Toddlers.  This blog post was directed for toddlers but I know that these trays are very open to ALL ages.  I found myself even playing with these trays to test out what they can do.  I love the idea of the kids exploring through their senses.  So I was determined to create these trays for the kids to explore.  The first two themes on display are Mighty Magnets and Colours + Light.  

Color + Light: I think this will be a popular station.  I have a laser that goes with this basket that I am still questioning whether I should put it in.  I also am searching downstairs (resource room) for coloured panels and prisms which are yet to be found.

Mighty Magnets:  This station the kids are already excited about.  I told them about this sensory tray before Spring Break and they were already hooting and hollering.  Everything in this basket is magnetic!  I even have magnetic sand for the kids to play with.

Birdhouse + Feeder

I am sure you all agree my Dad is pretty AWESOME!  He has already created so many wonderful, creative, interactive, learning tools for the kids.  Well, he is at it again.  My Dad created an amazing Bird Feeder that the students will be able to look into from the window.  The Bird Feeder has a glass backing!  He also made a feeder for the students that also attaches to the window.

Thanks Dad! You are the craftiness person I know (except for Auntie Shirley).  I am so lucky that you love my classroom as much as I do!

I hope to set these up the first week back to school.  I can't wait for the kids to see them!