Maple Magic & More

After our Maple Magic Brunch, Nature Preschool was ready for more sweet, sappy fun! The children continued to explore the process of maple sugaring through creative play and hands on activities. Spring is starting to sneak up on us! We noticed changes to the trail like melting snow, budding branches and active wildlife.

Our favorite moments this week:
♦ The Bears were excited to go on one of their first long hikes since the snow storm! They hiked to gazebo, through the meadow and to the sugar shack at Irvine’s camp shelter to learn about maple sugaring.
♦ The Chipmunks are all about teamwork! They are famous for their encouraging chant, “Come together! Team forever!” This week they visited the tipi building area and had a blast. They gave it their all and worked together to build super tall standing structures.
♦ The Coyotes went to visit a favorite trail they hadn’t been on since before the snow storm. We headed to the wetlands and went out in the deep woods to explore. The children were excited to stumble across the stream in an unfamiliar spot! They heard hawks, woodpeckers and saw snakes!
♦ The Flying Squirrels took instruments outside. They used rhythm sticks to tap out songs inspired by our friends, the woodpeckers!
♦ The Foxes enjoyed hiking to the central meadow. They got up close and personal with huge flocks of red winged black birds and robins flying to the trees, circling back and feeding on the ground. It was a majestic sight!
♦ The Rabbits enjoyed hiking the entrance property at Irvine. They found an enormous puddle and tested out what would sink and float!

Take a peek at our galleries below to see all the fun we had in and out of the classroom!

♥ Nature Preschool at Irvine Nature Center

Outside Exploration

: The Bears hiked all the way to the log house!

: The Bears are cooking up some delicious food in the mud kitchen!.

: Miss Emily explains maple sugaring at our tapped tree!

: Maple Sugaring Lesson. The Chipmunks check out the sap! They noticed it looks almost like water!

: Touching a drip of sap for a taste.

: The Chipmunks are learning how the evaporator works.

: She made a bouquet for her dads birthday!

: Building a dam with rocks.

: Sidewalk chalk is even more fun when it is a little damp outside.

: Sensory cutting in the meadow. Snipping grasses outside helps promote strong finger muscles.

: The Foxes hike in the rain under a tarp. We noticed the sound of the raindrops! We then clapped and stomped out the tempo to “Raining Like Magic” by Raffi.

: The Foxes created a deer nest. They laid low to the ground to hide from predators and the wind!

: Mortar and Pestle Soup

: Counting rainbow stones. First the stones were hid in the woodland garden. After they were all found we put them in the order of the rainbow.

: People native to America first boiled sap into syrup using 3 hanging pots over a fire.

: The Chipmunks discovered an icy, muddy stream!

: The Chipmunks pose for a picture on the steps of the outdoor classroom after a long day of play.

: Rolling logs is a good way to move them if you only have one person.

: The Chipmunks used teamwork to build log structures! They were building their upper body strength by moving heavy logs and sticks.

: Miss Devon and the Chipmunks notice the winter trees. They think the acorns starting to bud make the tops look like broccoli!

: The Coyotes hiked to a new spot in the stream!

: The Coyote girls are all taking a break on a log in the outdoor classroom.

: The Flying Squirrels are tapping on trees with rhythm sticks just like a woodpecker.

: Climbing fallen trees is a favorite for Nature Preschool.

: The Rabbits are testing out what will sink or float in the giant puddle they found! They are testing out an apple!

: It floats!

: The Flying Squirrels enjoy free play at the overlook. They look towards the extending central meadow.

Discoveries In Nature

: A log roll revealed these tiny, pale eggs.

: Mud discoveries are some of our favorites.

: This snake is slowly warming up in the sunshine.

: An raccoon track left in the mud!

: Two friends sharing a worm discovery.

: Fungus among us!

: She found a herb from the herb garden in our outdoor classroom.

: He is noticing how the water flows differently when damming off a section of the stream.

: The Coyotes discovered the stream in a new location! They went off trail in the deep woods and were surprised to stumble across it!

: She found a fern!

: Sharing a discovery with friends always makes the moment a bit more magical.

: A foaming tree!

: Some children noticed the pattern of the flowing water from the heavy rains!

: Red Winged Blackbirds are a sign of spring!

: Red Winged Blackbirds were feeding before they were frightened away by a group of hikers!

: A long branch makes the perfect walking stick!

: Sharing a discovery found under a muddy piece of bark!

: A grub!

In The Classroom

: Sorting natural materials – This recycled box was perfect for sorting. The children use tongs to sort natural materials like: black walnuts, acorns and stones.

: The children use a hand drill to mimic tapping trees. Mallets and golf tees tap out woodpecker calls.

: Our birdseed sensory tables led to endless play. The children enjoyed using measuring cups and spoons.

: These watercolor painting were inspired by taxidermy birds, budding branches and flowers! Think spring!

: This science table is full of bones, bugs and rocks! There were magnifying glasses and clipboards for extra inspiration!

: Anything can be traced! We used: rocks, rulers, old CD’s and more!

: The children loved the maple trees in the classroom!

: An invitation to play for the Coyote class. This was made with tree blocks and toy animals.

: Scientific investigations in the sensory bin.

: Games are a great way to practice turn taking, counting skills, color recognition and more!

: Budding branches serve as an inspiration for art in nature journals. They were paired with watercolor pencils. Magnifying glasses help us closely observe the differences in the buds.