This week in the Purple Room, we’ve been inspired by the recent snowfall and the upcoming winter break. Many of our materials and activities have centered around the themes of winter, snow, and cold.

Snow and Ice

In our sensory bin, we made “snow” out of a mixture of baking soda and shaving cream. We included rocks, sticks, and animals to complete the wintery scene. Many children made homes for the animals or uncovered objects hidden underneath the snow.

We also made different types of ice, which we explored in our tabletop sensory bin. Some ice was colored with watercolor paint, while other ice had animals frozen inside! We explored various ways to melt the ice, including with our body heat, with paintbrushes, and with salt.

Wintery Tales

The changing season has inspired some new books on our bookshelf, as well. This week, we read: The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, and The Mitten by Jan Brett.

A Snowy Rooftop

On Tuesday, we headed outside and found the rooftop covered in snow! The Ice Creams worked to break up the ice using funnels and bowls. They also noticed their shadows on the white snowy ground. We heard kids saying, “Look! It’s my shadow!” and, “I can make my shadow move,” and, “I’m going to stand inside your shadow.” What an exciting discovery!

Collaging

After spending time in the snow, the Ice Creams asked to see photos of themselves playing on the roof. We decided to print out pictures from our roof time and use them for a multi-media collage. The Ice Creams cut and ripped the photos, then used tape to affix them to the black paper.

Finally, we added marks on top of the pictures using Stabilo crayons. The Ice Creams joked that they were “making purple snow” or giving each other “blue hair” as they colored over themselves and their classmates.

Below, the Ice Creams are taking time during Hello Meeting to appreciate their collaborative work.

We hope you all have a safe and joyful break.

We look forward to seeing you again in January!