This week we have been learning about our five senses. We explored books on each of the senses, and discovered that certain experiences allow us to use more than one of our senses. Air-popping popcorn, provided a multi-sensory experience, that engaged all of our five senses: the sight of kernels rapidly transforming and expanding, the distinct sound of popping that built anticipation, the warm, toasty aroma that stimulated appetite, the light, crisp texture felt when handled or bitten, and the subtly sweet, nutty flavor that satisfied our palates. This combination created a unique and memorable sensory experience, even without the added oils and flavorings.
YUM! Air-Popped Popcorn - A Multi-Sensory Experience!
Since tasting is a multi-sensory process that goes beyond the tongue, we got to do a taste test, and talked about the taste buds. While the taste buds detect the basic tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory - our other senses play essential roles in shaping the full experience. Sight influences our expectations through color and presentation. Smell works closely with taste, as aroma enhances flavor perception. Touch contributes through texture and temperature, while even hearing - such as the crunch of a crisp food - can affect how we perceive freshness. Together, these senses helped us to identify and enjoy the wide variety of flavors we tried. We tried sweet apples, sour lemons, salty pretzels (two types), bitter chocolate, and savory cheese. The favorite in both Ladybug classes was the dark chocolate. I realized that I was really nice when choosing dark chocolate kisses, and not the baking chocolates, so no wonder they liked the special dark treat the most. An extension center also allowed whomever wanted to try some additional foods, the opportunity to talk further about flavors and likes/dislikes/surprises. We loved how all that we did together allowed us to experience flavors in a more meaningful and memorable way.
Another Tasty Multi-Sensory Experience!
Our centers this week were also focused on our multi-sensory experience. In the art center, we were able to take off our shoes and socks, and feel various textures. We compared and contrasted each item’s different feature, and then got to create a work of art using those materials (although not the ones that touched our little feet). The sensory bin included different varieties of pastas, and little hard figures, that we got to sort by color. I added a seek-and-find center, which was definitely a challenge to our little eyes, but some friends did find some pictures and hidden objects. The dramatic play center and blocks were also available, in addition to the reading center (where we could create a social story using magnet people).
Our Multi-Sensory Art using feathers, pipe cleaners, crinkle grass, beans, craft sticks, and more!
So many of us are finding our names at the door all by ourselves now! We are definitely feeling more confident, and know the routine. Everyone has a job to do each week: line leader, door holder, caboose, weather helper, etc, and are becoming experts. Our class jobs will rotate weekly so that everyone gets a turn to do each job. We practiced walking down the hallway to the big bathrooms this week, in order to prepare for walking down for our new specials. We are doing wonderful with keeping our bodies safe, and using hugs and bubbles while walking. We were a bit nervous with the bigger bathrooms, but did great. All seemed excited (and maybe a bit timid) to begin our new specials.
We had our first Chapel with Pastor Lee. He told us a story, taught us about lighting the candles to show that God is with us always, and had us each catch the light so that we are forever able to carry it with us. We sang, “This Little Light of Mine” at the end, and were encouraged to go out and share our light with others.
We also had our first music class with Miss Vicki. Everyone was very engaged, and loved singing, dancing, and being introduced to the rhythm sticks and new stretchy band. Stretchy bands are particularly useful for teaching rhythmic concepts, spatial awareness, and teamwork, allowing us to work together to create visual patterns and sounds synchronized with music. Miss Vicki also read a story about feelings, that was set to a song.
Music and Movement with Miss Vicki
You will be receiving an email with a link to sign up for our Fall Conferences. Fall Conferences will be held on October 14th and 15th. If these dates don’t work with your schedule, we will need to arrange an alternate time to meet.
We should be having a fire drill sometime during the week of the 29th. Miss Shelly will just use a bell to keep things very calm - no loud alarm to scare us. We will just be practicing how to line up and go to our safe spot outside quickly.
Enjoy the weekend with your sweet Ladybugs!
Miss Lisa, Miss Phoenix, and Miss Jennifer