Learning Through Play-- Day 2

We had so much fun learning through play today!  If you are just joining me, read my play-based learning post here.

Today went pretty well overall!  I did notice my tendency to want to try to control the activities so I tried my best to just sit back and let them play!  We got to all our intended activities today with plenty of free play time.  Here is what we were up to today:

Pop sight words game

We have played this once before and it was so much fun for her!  We play it where each time the word "POP" comes up

"Popping" around the room!

This one says "Pop"!! It is most definitely her favorite part of the game! :)

Rolly Bowly activity

It's just a bowl, a ball, and a baby.  Let's see what happens! :)

Weston had alot of fun with this simple activity!

Markers

Charlotte asks to do this activity almost every day!  I think that even though this activity is more academic in nature, if the child loves to do it, then why not?!  Learning through play is all about having fun, not just doing certain kinds of activities and avoiding others.  Anyway-- here are some pictures from her practice with markers! :)

I am amazed at how much her fine motor control has improved!

Matching uppercase and lowercase letters

Tracing the alphabet!

Counting bears and patterns

We have done this activity several times too.  I usually just let them take the bears out and play as they please!  This is what we did this time:

Look at that concentration!

Mixing Colors--Paints

This was a fun activity for Charlotte!  She loved mixing the paints and then creating her own unique painting at the end!  The painting wasn't part of the original plan but I like how the activity evolved into something that was all her own!  She was so proud of her painting and couldn't wait to show daddy :)

Water Balloon Fountain

This activity was our favorite of the day!  Starting out, Charlotte was scared of the balloon so we pulled her chair back by the wall so she could observe from there.   By the end of the experiment she was laughing and squeeling, asking to do this again and again!  

Nervous about starting the activity.  When she's nervous, she always puts her elbow in the air :)

Here it goes!

She loved it!!

I don't think we are going to be able to go to the story time at the library as originially planned-- an ice storm is forcasted in our area and I just don't want to take a chance of going out there on the roads.  I'm an inexperienced Florida driver and ice is just not my thing :).  But I'm excited to see how our day unfolds tomorrow!