It’s Shark Week at Day Nursery Indianapolis Federal Center

It’s SHARK WEEK in Ms. Denise’s Preschool 1 classroom at the Day Nursery Federal Center in downtown Indianapolis. Her class has actually been studying sharks the past few weeks. They began by making a list about what they already know about sharks, and then another list about what they wanted to learn about sharks. Then with the help of Ms. Denise, they used their classroom tablet computer to look at pictures of sharks, and found their answers to the questions, and made a chart of what they found. One child visited the Newport Aquarium last month, and when her class started studying sharks, she brought in all of her aquarium pictures to share with her friends as well.

Day Nursery State Center Teddy Bear Picnic

Moms and Dads (and Teddy Bears, of course) gathered on the playground of the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center yesterday for a Teddy Bear Picnic over the lunch hour.  Thanks to Center Director Michelle Terry for sharing these pictures from her center.

Day Nursery State Center students embrace Earth Day

It is becoming a  Day Nursery State Government Center tradition for Mr. Tim’s preschool class to visit nearby Military Park and check for trash as a part of their Earth Day curriculum.  Last Friday, Ms. Ashleigh’s class joined them on their walk to the park.  As you can see by the pictures, some of them took the term “tree hugger” quite literally. 

Day Nursery Federal Center students learn about the US Mail

Ms. Kesha’s Preschool 1 classroom at the Day Nursery Federal Center has been learning about the US Mail this week.  They wrote letters to the person of their choice…mostly mommys and daddys, but also siblings that don’t live at their house with them.  The class rode in the wagon today to mail them at the post office a block away from the center.

 

Day Nursery Federal Center Leap Day Fun

The children made Leap Day frog cupcakes as a special treat today at the Day Nursery Federal Center in downtown Indianapolis.  They baked the cupcakes this morning and decorated them this afternoon when their parents arrived.

Day Nursery students participate in Souper Bowl of Caring

The Souper Bowl of Caring uses the energy around our nation’s biggest sporting event to mobilize and inspire youth to fight hunger and poverty.  Because one of the important lessons we share with all Day Nursery children is caring for others, and because Indy is hosting the “big game,” we thought 2012 would be the perfect year to launch the Souper Bowl of Caring in all our centers.  The teachers at each Day Nursery center have identified a local charity to benefit from their collections.  Our children are encouraged to bring in coins from their piggy bank and canned food items to support a local food pantry.

The Day Nursery Federal Center has elected to help Tackle Hunger in partnership with the Metro Baptist Center  food pantry at 952 N. Pennsylvania Street, a short walk from our Federal Center.  In a typical month, the emergency food pantry serves 400 to 500 people.   We will accepting donations at our centers  for the Souper Bowl of Caring through Friday, February 3.

Playground time is an important part of Day Nursery child’s day

Tricycles help children develop gross motor skills

Day Nursery children go outside a minimum of twice a day as long as the temperature is above 25 degrees.  It was hard to believe it was January today when these children from the downtown Federal Center  poured out onto the playground after nap time.  As I write this post at the end of the day on Thursday, the temperature in Indianapolis is still at 50 degrees. Thanks to director Sarah Parks for sharing these pictures from her center.

Play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation as well as for promoting language, cognition, and social competence. Children of all ages love to play, and it gives them opportunities to develop physical competence and enjoyment of the outdoors, understand and make sense of their world, interact with others, express and control emotions, develop their symbolic and problem-solving abilities, and practice emerging skills. Research shows the links between play and foundational capacities such as memory, self-regulation, oral language abilities, social skills, and success in school. 

While in a sandbox, children learn many concepts including cause and effect and sharing.

This student is using his problem solving skills to work his way out of this dead end

Frosty visits Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center

The “official” pictures aren’t available yet, but our staff in the center couldn’t help sharing this picture of Frosty the Snowman‘s visit to the Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center this morning.  We thank the parent volunteers who made this visit possible.  The children enjoyed interacting with Frosty and were full of questions.  State Center  Office Manager Tonia Wilkinson reported that she overheard a 3 year-old ask if Frosty’s snow would get on her pants when she sat down.

Wordless Wednesday: Day Nursery Indiana State Government Center

Students from Ms. Patricia's room taking a drive around the playground

Ryan, a student in the Preschool I classroom enjoyed his computer time today

Wordless Wednesday: Day Nursery State Center