Harmon Oaks Nursery School

When young children are seen as capable doers, investigators and learners, they are given the opportunity to DO so much independently. This allows them to not only develop a strong self image, but it also gives them the opportunity to make mistakes and try again, growing their persistence and resilience. And just look at all the focus and collaboration is harnesses as well. 💛
It’s a win in every way!
Young children are so so so capable.
Share it- !
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Last month we discovered land biomes and lands animals around the world. It was so difficult choosing ten photos of favorite areas! Here are some highlights. Lots of discovery, observation, self-directed play, loose material fun, small worlds, sensory bins, books, print, microscopes and magnifies & talk.

We’ve seen so many variations of this invitation, but just love the simplicity of this one with Ms.Hillary.

❓What to do with flowers from mother’s days and teachers appreciation that begin to wilt, we’ll here are a few of our favorites:

🌸 These genius cardboards with literally just holes punctured atop and a vase shape drawn in or no shape at all depending on age/development.

🌺 Have the children pull apart the flowers (or don’t) and place them with you in ice cube trays to add water to and freeze for outdoor fun, sensory tray fun, etc etc.

🌹 Add the flower to a large bin of water, add some pots, water color, and ladles for hours of fun.

🌻 Flower nature press art is always fun!

🍃 Leave the flowers out with scissors, tacky glue, paper and paint (or markers) and let your littles have at it 👩‍🎨

🌷Create table mats or sun catchers with contact paper. Take out scissors and have children place how they desire on the contact paper. When they’re done, add the second layer on top or fold it over and viola. Table mats are perfect & such a confidence booster! Clear contact paper rolls are 6-10 bucks online for plenty for multiple projects at home.

Like, share, repost. Share ideas and don’t forget to with your creations!
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We just love this collage presentation of pollinators and the different ways our children at used the same paint set, writing tools, shapes and loose materials to represent pollinators in very different ways.

Open-ended invitations present a wholistic & developmental-NOW look into each child through their work and that is what is most important- for children’s work to be a representation of their work, their development and their thought process and for that to be perfection in the eyes of adults and peers who love them. each time. 🤍


meets meets

Inspired by & the Audubon Insectarium & Butterfly Gardens once in . So disappointing to hear that they’ve closed due to the financial burdens & impact of covid.
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Here Mr.Chris brainstormed various ways to execute this meets . What makes it a success is the engagement with the felt board, observational/drawing materials and overall simplicity. It’s certainly a provocation that engages all the senses.
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Children can play and clean up independently. Everything is labeled, integrates literacy & math, reinforces all we’re learning and also invites children to collaborate in , and .

What we love most about the area is that it’s not a stagnant. New bug specimens are added to the collection as well as work.

This photo does not do it justice as there are also pollinators hung above on a canopy, and much felt insect play to the left to explore.

Loving all the this month! ❤️❤️

Bottles are not only for babies and dramatic play areas are not only for playing “house”. Skip the traditional and choose creative & intentional.
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We’re discovering Dinosaurs and we’re also focusing on an overarching , What would the world look/be/feel/need if dinosaurs were alive & lived with humans on Earth today?
Naturally it would need a center. ❤️ And naturally, baby dinosaurs would be fed using bottles. I wonder what is in the bottle? Perhaps milk, perhaps water, maybe leafy goodness!? We’ll be sure to share answers in our stories. ❤️
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Our is a this month. preps a daily invite for the children & it’s safe to say, the interest is strong.
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Though such a complex topic, we more so focus on having children become curious- curious about , about the , weather they feel, and the they see. It’s all about , , about about quite literally “dreaming about the stars.”
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We hope everyone is taking time to look up this month. To awe & in awe of the wonderful and incredible planet we live on and in awe of all we don’t know and have yet to discover.
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… done right. , ,