Colors are everywhere, and recognizing them is an important milestone in a child’s cognitive development. Beyond just naming colors, children use them to sort, categorize, compare, and organize, which are key skills for early math and communication development. While colors are always part of our classroom experience through materials, books, songs, and activities, this week, we took a deeper dive into the magical world of colors, focusing on the colors of the rainbow!

We kicked things off with a fascinating walking rainbow experiment. Using cups of water, paper towels, and red, blue, and yellow food coloring, the children watched in amazement as the water traveled through the paper towels, mixing to create new colors like orange, green, and purple. Through this experiment, we explored capillary action, the same process that helps water travel from a plant’s roots to its leaves. The children were captivated by the transformation, with plenty of “Wows!” and giggles as they checked on the progress throughout the week. For our older toddlers who have already mastered primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, we also introduced the concept of different shades and tones, adding an extra layer of discovery to our rainbow exploration.

Our color celebrations continued with a vibrant introduction to the Indian festival of Holi! Holi marks the arrival of spring and is known as the festival of colors, symbolizing joy, love, and new beginnings. We read the beautifully illustrated book Festival of Colors by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, which helped the children understand the meaning and traditions of this special celebration. Then, the real fun began! We took to the field for our very own Holi celebration, where the children joyfully threw colorful powder into the air—and at each other! Laughter, excitement, and bursts of color filled the space. It was truly a sight to behold!

A huge thank you to Keerti Murari for introducing this beautiful cultural tradition to our class and for providing the colorful powder that made our celebration so special. And a big shout-out to Shannon Turkett for her generous donations that helped make our Holi festivities extra fun! We are so grateful for your support!

We also had the joy of celebrating a special birthday in our class this week! Our little friend proudly walked around the sun while we all sang and celebrated her special day. Afterward, we shared a delicious treat together, making it a simple yet joyful moment for everyone.

To top off our colorful week, we explored pineapple as our featured food tasting of the week. The children enjoyed observing, touching, and tasting this yummy fruit.

From science and culture to celebrations and food, this week was a perfect blend of hands-on learning and joyful experiences.

Enjoy the pictures of your happy children,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Read the March 8 blog post here.

This week, we immersed ourselves in the traditions and folklore of St. Patrick’s Day. The children were captivated by the festive environment, exploring new works and decorations inspired by the color green. It was a wonderful opportunity for sensory engagement and language enrichment as they encountered various shades of green throughout the classroom.

One of the highlights of our week was learning about leprechauns! We introduced the Irish folklore surrounding these mischievous little beings who are believed to guard pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. This story sparked a wonderful conversation about real and pretend, helping children understand the difference between stories based on history and those that come from imagination and tradition.

To bring this tale to life, we played an exciting math game in which we hid small leprechauns around the classroom. The children eagerly searched for them, practicing their counting skills along the way. The goal was to find a total of twelve, and once all were discovered, each child received a special gold coin. It was truly precious to watch the older toddlers helping the youngest to find their leprechauns! This daily game quickly became a favorite, fostering teamwork, observation, and early numeracy skills.

We also incorporated lively Irish tunes into our movement and music time. It was incredible to see the children’s musical development as they listened attentively to different instruments, mimicked playing them, and even named a few! They recognized familiar instruments like the guitar, drums, and flute while also being introduced to new ones, such as the fiddle, accordion, and bagpipes.

To round out our St. Patrick’s Day experience, we enjoyed a taste of Irish culture by trying some delicious Irish soda bread. They all really LOVED this part!

On another note, with the arrival of warmer temperatures, we made the most of our time outdoors, soaking up the fresh air and enjoying active play together. Lastly, we explored asparagus as our food tasting lesson of the week.  While some children were hesitant to try it, others surprised us by asking for seconds.

As we look ahead, our next theme will explore the magic of rainbows and colors when we return from the break. We can’t wait to dive into new activities that celebrate the beauty of light and color in nature.

Wishing you all a joyful and restful March break and Happy St. Patrick’s day for all of you that celebrate!

See you in two weeks! Ciao!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty 

As we wrap up this lovely month of February, our focus this week was on a topic close to many hearts—pets! Throughout the month, the children have been learning about different kinds of pets, their names, and the unique characteristics that make each one special. Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of children learning to live with animals, as it fosters responsibility, empathy, and a deeper connection with nature. Experiencing firsthand interactions with pets allows children to develop kindness, patience, and a sense of care for other living beings.

This week, we had the joy of meeting some of our students’ beloved pets!

🐱 Monday: We welcomed Quentin, a super cute and curious orange domestic cat who was beyond excited (or terrified—it’s difficult to know with cats!) and wanted to explore the classroom. Aruna happily demonstrated how she fed him treats in front of her classmates and brushed his fur.

🐹 Tuesday: After exploring lettuce as our food-tasting lesson of the week, we introduced the children to Mrs. Sankey’s guinea pigs: Teddy and Houdini.  The children were thrilled to feed them and observe them as they played, ate, and drank water. Their gentle nature brought so much joy to the class!

🐶 Wednesday: We had a visit from Elmo, the sweetest senior pup! (A mix of Jack Russell, Beagle, and Mini Pinscher.) He happily wagged his tail as he sniffed around, greeting each child with excitement. Evie was over the moon, proudly introducing her dog and having her dad join us in the classroom. We all had a good laugh when Dad commanded him to sit multiple times—and he didn’t! We think he felt at home, surrounded by toddlers. 😊

🐶Thursday: Everly’s gigantic puppy, a Great Pyrenees, made quite the impression! Looking like a friendly polar bear, he amazed the children with his size. We learned that he loves peanut butter sandwiches and has a knack for reaching kitchen counters! The children cheered as he followed commands and enjoyed petting him gently.

🦎 Friday: Lizzo and Scooter, Ms. Mollie’s leopard geckos, came for a visit! The children were in awe of their beauty, and most of them really enjoyed watching and feeling Scooter crawl all over them. Since Lizzo is pregnant, we gave her some space, but she still joined the bath the children gave them both.

It was truly a memorable week filled with excitement, learning, and hands-on experiences with animals. We are so grateful to all of you who helped make these visits possible, enriching the children’s understanding of pets and fostering meaningful connections. It truly takes a village!

🍊To end the week, the children participated in a hands-on food preparation lesson—juicing an orange! Engaging all their senses, they squeezed, tasted, and proudly enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Enjoy the pictures from this week, and have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty