Painting to music is a form of art that combines music and different art mediums (paint, markers, crayon, etc). Prior to this project, we had discussed as a class the basics of music, what rhythm is, and which instruments they know. I also introduced a few music instruments for the children to play. Materials: Paint Crayons Colored Pencils Markers Dot Markers Paper (we used white construction paper) Music This project focuses on the child’s sense of hearing and emotion. I had the children close their eyes for 30 seconds while the music played. We discussed what they heard and felt ..read more

Today in our preschool class we explored the vibrant world of vegetables through a taste-testing adventure. Our CMP Kids were introduced to the sweet crunchiness of carrots and the juicy burst of cherry tomatoes, two staples of healthy eating. Each child eagerly participated, their faces lighting up with each new taste sensation. It wasn’t just about enjoying the snacks, during this unit, we collaborated on a list of healthy foods that we have not tried yet and we narrowed it down to carrots and cherry tomatoes. This taste test introduced us to the importance of trying new things and discus ..read more

Process art is all about the creative process itself, rather than the end result or outcome from the project. It encourages children to explore and experiment with different materials, ideas and techniques which allow them to develop their own artistic style. We used some basic materials for our process art: -Rubber bands -Small tray or cookie sheet -Paper -Paint -Paint Brushes. Rubber band process art is beneficial for multiple reasons. Firstly, it encourages children to experiment different techniques to get the paint from the rubber bands to the paper and express their own artistic abilit ..read more

Making pancakes with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the children and the adults involved. Not only does it provide an opportunity for quality time spent together, but it also offers a chance for kids to learn valuable life skills in the kitchen. By involving children in the pancake-making process, they can develop their motor skills, creativity, and confidence as they help measure ingredients, mix the batter, and flip the pancakes. Ingredients: – 1 ½ cups of flour – 1 tablespoon of baking powder – ½ tablespoon of salt – 2 tablespoons of sugar – 1 cup of non-dairy ..read more

After learning about Earth Day and ways we can help the our planet, we decided to do a recycled art creation! As a class family we collected recyclable items from our class, other classrooms, and from our homes and brought them together so we can create art out of it. A few books that we read: Materials: -Cardboard as a base -Recycled items -Tacky glue/ Hot glue gun -Paint For this project the children were able to create how little or how big they wanted to build with it. We had plenty of recyclables to go around! One of the many things that I noticed was that the children were v ..read more

In classroom 5B, we explored the concept of community and the role of community helpers. This project aimed to teach  our little learners about the society around them but also to inspire their creativity and foster teamwork. Our project was a hands-on art activity where each child contributed to a collaborative masterpiece, a depiction of our town on one shared canvas.   Students were tasked with drawing buildings, shops, and significant places that we can find within our community. From the grocery store to our school, to the park down the road, every drawing was a window in ..read more

As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s the perfect time to introduce a wonderful project that combines environmental education with hands-on fun, Earth Day Seed Bombs. In our preschool class, we used blue and green paper to represent the Earth. The process involves soaking the paper until it softens and then blending it into a pulp. This step not only demonstrates recycling but also allows children to understand the basics of papermaking and how it reduces waste. Once we’ve created our earthy pulp, we mix in wildflower seeds. This step sparks conversations about plants, the importance of bees a ..read more

With the increase in technology, many parents worry that children are spending too much time looking at screens and not enough time engaging in social activities. This is where board games come in – they offer a fun way for children to interact with others and develop important skills. Playing board games is more than just a fun time for children, it creates social and emotional building blocks that they will continue to use in the future. One of the many benefits of board games for children is that they promote socialization. Many board games require the players to work as a collective unit ..read more

During Week of the Young, a family from 2A volunteered to do a Bubble Day with our toddler classes! The grandparent of a student is a university science teacher and brought fun activities for the children to learn and explore with. She brought her own mixture of bubbles that were made of: -Vegetable Glycerin -Dawn Soap -Distilled Water   She provided all the materials like bubble mixture, containers, bubble wands, kiddie pool, and paper towels. She showed the teachers how each bubble wand works and how we can assist the children to create successful bubbles. Skills practiced: -Taking tu ..read more

On Monday April 8th many people throughout North America joined together to witness a spectacular natural phenomenon, a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse isn’t necessarily a rarity, with at least partial solar eclipses happening every 18 months or so around the globe. Though this time was a special occasion. With visibility of the eclipse possible in all of the contiguous USA as well as a large section of total eclipse, millions gathered to view a once in a lifetime show. (April 8th, 2024 San Diego) In San Diego we were close enough to the eclipses direct path to witness 65% totality, bas ..read more