Our Toddlers are naturally curious about everything around them so when the educators introduced some enormous leaves that they identified as squash leaves, the children’s sense of inquiry and interest was captured.
Sitting together for this large group experience, the educators first introduced the leaves that were brought in from their home gardens. They also showed the Tod squad what type of vegetable grows from these leaves and veins through the use of the iPad and a squash that was brought from home as well. As we sat together the toddlers were encouraged to explore with these large leaves by using them to feel the leaf’s textures.
We observed that these large leaves were triangular in shape and much bigger in size than our hands! Using our sense of touch, we could also feel that they were bristly, fuzzy and soft. The leaves were also delicate and would tear easily they were manipulated so the toddlers were encouraged to be gentle with them as they were exploring. Attached to the leaves were their stems, which we observed were thick and hollow inside. When we looked closely at these stems we could see that they had little tiny hairs all over them too.
“Bugs, like caterpillars love to snack on these leaves when they are growing in the garden. But what do you think we should do with these large leaves? Should we take a closer look by using our magnifying glasses? These tools make objects look so much bigger then they are. Does my eye look so big?” asked the educator smiling as she demonstrated how to use the magnifying glass.
“That’s silly!” said Sierra smiling. “My eyes are big too!
“Big eyes!” repeated Oliver as he held up the magnifying to his face as well.
The tod squad seemed to think it was silly as well because they all began to laugh and giggle.
“That is pretty silly, isn’t it” agreed the educator laughing as well.
The magnifying glasses were then offered to the toddlers so that they could take a closer look at leaves too, and perhaps find a bug or two hiding.
“What do you spy? Can you see any bugs crawling on the leaves, maybe a little caterpillar? Can do you spy your friends sitting next to you with their leaves? she asked.
“I see my leaf!” said Seerat excitedly.
“I see my friends too!” answered Lily.
Once the exploring with the magnifying glasses was done the educator asked if the toddlers would like to use them for painting on.
“Does that sound like a fun idea?” asked the educator.
The tod squad cheered excitedly and soon they had paintbrushes in their hands and were creating on their squash leaf canvases. We then took our magnifying glasses outside and continued exploring with them as we went in search of some bugs. We found lots of ants crawling in the sandbox, a few butterflies that came to say hello and a big bug with lots of legs crawling along the grass. It was a great way to play and learn as we extended our exploration out on the playground, in search of other bugs that might make their homes in other green spaces like grass, leaf trees and on tree stumps.
