January was all about snow exploration and creative thinking for our school agers. With so much snow outdoors, the children were inspired to turn their ideas into large collaborative projects. One day, they worked together using shovels to dig four large holes in the snow, creating two snow caves. As they experimented, one of the caves collapsed when a child tried to crawl through. Instead of giving up, the group stopped and talked about what had happened. They observed that the top of the cave was too thin and would not hold its shape. Together, they decided the roof needed to be thicker to make the structure stronger. The children gathered more snow and carefully packed it on top of the cave. Their plan worked, and the rebuilt cave stayed sturdy, which brought a sense of pride and excitement. Another creative project took place near the slope at the back of the school. The children noticed large puddles of water and wanted to create more space for play. They decided to make a water stream so the water could flow down toward the forest. After discussing their plan, they divided tasks among themselves. Some children dug a path through the snow while others built up the sides to guide the water. They watched closely as the water began to flow smoothly down the slope. By the end of the month, the children showed strong teamwork, problem solving, and confidence in their ideas. Through snow play, they demonstrated creativity, communication, and a growing ability to plan and adapt together.
