Updates: Chicks, Loose Parts, and Sand/Water Wall

The chicks are growing! In fact they are so big that we now have a "Chick-a-Saurus Rex."  Some of the feathers, especially those around the wings and tail are starting to change.  A couple of them tried to escape today. Mr Allan found them on top of  the brooder box. (We placed a make-shift cover over it to try to stop them from escaping. However, I think the cover actually assisted them in their escape.)  We have decided to keep them until Friday, then they will go back to the farm.

Although, I think a few of the "chickens" might stick around! It has been hilarious to watch the children imitate the baby chicks. In the first few days, one of the major observations they made was that the chicks would fall asleep standing up and almost fall over in the process. So, of course, when they pretend to be baby chickens, that is their favorite thing to do! We have also worked in some great music from Mary Jo Huff having to do with chickens- you can get a preview of some of the music here.

The other day, we found a pile of tires for giveaway on the side of the road! (And a few more from my friend Carol....) So, we have added them to our collection of loose parts and have started on a painted tire planting station in the rock garden.

I am loving how the bright colors are looking on these tires! If the weather would cooperate a little more, we would be making more progress in this department. It has been either too wet or too windy to paint them. However, that has not stopped the children from using the tires as "loose parts." (For more information and great posts on the importance of loose parts for children, please visit let the children play. Jenny has a series of posts on this very topic!)

I am going to have to get my hands on a few more tires for our planting project because I don't think the children are willing to give up the ones in the yard, nor would I want them to!  They have been using them to:

• create obstacle courses
• improving their gross motor skills and cooperation by moving them around together
• adding pieces of wood to make bridges and ramps
• sitting in them to "float" down the lazy river (their dramatic water park play....)
• standing on them for a boost to reach the top of the sand/water wall.
• rolling them down the hill, and then back up again
• stacking them on top of each other to create a "tunnel hideout"
• trying to bury them in the sand
• creating a dinosaur land with volcanoes and raptor hideout

And.... this is the list of things I can remember. We have had a very creative playful couple of days!

The sand and water wall is only in the second day of use. I am happy to report that more than half of the children have mastered the use of the wing nuts and bolts :). The window has become a tv screen, and I have seen some very creative television shows. If actual tv was that entertaining, I might opt to watch it more frequently! The children have also decided that the hole is a great opening for an outdoor puppet show. I anticipate that you will hear more about that in the future as they work out their performances.