pine cones and cornmeal

I realize that this is a strange combination and have nothing to do with each other..... 

They were the highlight of today's learning at preschool. 

There is something soothing and therapeutic about playing in the sensory table, no matter what is in there, kids are in it! (and teachers, too!!) 
It's so neat to watch them - pour, scoop, dump and sometimes even get messy - there is a lot of measuring (Math) going on even if the children don't realize they are gaining these skills. Another great thing about the sensory table is the social play that is going on - give and take, waiting a turn, conversation, language. As well as imagination and creativity.

This week there is cornmeal in the sensory table. I try to explain what it is, some children call it corn starch. Today they were making ice cream, cake, etc. Oh, the imagination!

I love how it ends up on their faces
and makes it look like they've been baking.
Most of the kids never left the entire choice time.

And now on to pine cones. While we were outside today, some children started gathering loads of pine cones in their hands. I pulled out the sand buckets for them to carry these prickly, pokey things around. We scrounged for every last one of them on the playground...and then there were none. But, Ms. Larisa discovered more on the other side of the fence. Ms. Anna came to our rescue and filled about 5 buckets of them and then handed them over to Ms. Larisa, who then scattered them on the ground for children to pick up. It was quite the action, but everyone was all smiles for more pine cones!! 

Pine cones! Pine cones!