This month has been a wonderful time for our preschool friends at RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Patrick, to learn more about nature, our environment, and our connection to the world around us. In recognition of Truth and Reconciliation Day, we spent time reflecting on the importance of connection, community, and caring for the land.

Through stories, sensory experiences, and hands-on activities, the children had many opportunities to connect their minds, bodies, and spirits to their learning.

One of our favourite activities was making oobleck using blue and green colours. Some of our friends noticed that the colours reminded them of the Earth because Earth has blue water and green land. The children enjoyed touching, squeezing, and exploring the oobleck while sharing their ideas with one another.

We also enjoyed a garden-inspired sensory activity with cucumbers, carrots, and mixed greens. The children explored different textures, colours, and natural materials. They were also invited to use scissors to cut the garden vines. This was a fun way to build fine motor skills, concentration, and confidence while learning through play.

Another exciting experience was our sawdust sensory bin. We added different natural loose parts to the sawdust, creating a brand-new sensory experience for our preschool friends. Since this was a texture we had never explored in our room before, the children were very excited! They had a wonderful time touching, scooping, searching, and discovering the natural materials.

Through these experiences, the children were encouraged to slow down, notice the natural world, share their ideas, and appreciate the environment around them. Most importantly, they had fun learning together and building a deeper connection with themselves, each other, nature, and their community.

As we come to the end of the month, we are also getting ready for some Halloween fun! Our preschool friends have been enjoying the excitement of pumpkins, costumes, colours, and spooky-themed activities. We look forward to celebrating together with lots of smiles, laughter, creativity, and fun. We wish all our families a Happy Halloween filled with wonderful memories, sweet treats, and joyful moments! 

Thank you for being part of our learning journey!