written by Lead Teacher Nicole Williams Mushy, gritty, oozing mud! Mud Day 2017 was everything I knew it would be and more! This year, I was prepared. I made sure to wear water shoes, a short sleeve shirt, and pants that I could roll up to my knees. I was ready to get down and dirty. As we entered...
World Building in the Aviary The start of Summer Camp is an exciting time at PIC; the air is alive with the hum of adventure and possibility, as new friendships are forged under the summer sun. This year, the Hawks and Eagles are privileged to be faced with an additional adventure: our first summer...
PIC opens a new preschool classroom On Monday, the Hummingbirds joined the ranks of the Fireflies, Grasshoppers, Leapfrogs, Peanuts, Roadrunners, and Starfish-- the names of the our other preschool classrooms. On their first day, the new classroom was a flutter of activity as the children spent time...
New Discoveries Young infants and toddlers are brand new to the world! Everything the children are exposed to for the first time is very special. Recently the Wild Things were introduced to new friends who have colorful wings and big eyes! A Wild Thing teacher raised caterpillars who transformed...
On the go! The Sunshines have been having fun exploring different modes of transportation. We have been engaged in a variety of activities that help us learn about the different types of ways we can travel. The Sunshines painted with different vehicles as a recent art activity. They picked the...
Super Staff I am mindful throughout the year of the talent that abounds in Philadelphia: young and young-at-heart teachers who are dedicated to working with children, whether they are pursuing a career in the arts, literacy, sciences, theater, physical therapy, music and/or special education. This...
Exploring Power It is not uncommon to see children running around open spaces, chasing one another, perhaps even pointing pretend weapons at each other. Postures of heros, doctors, and even families show an understanding of natural orders of power. “Good guys” and “bad guys” are common archetypes in...
Building Bridges to Kindergarten The transition from prek to kindergarten is a big one. New teachers and a new school can be hard for most five year olds, not to mention the change from learning through play to direct instruction and more academic skill building. In the Starfish classroom we took a...
Manipulative play The Doodlebugs are exploring new and familiar materials through manipulative play. Over the last few weeks we have been exploring objects, such as lego shapes, puzzles, magnets, small shovels and stacking cups. Our current Doodlebugs are children six months to two years old. This...
Moonbeams on the loose Not all parents may be familiar with the idea of “loose parts”. Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. Just a decade ago at PIC, toys that realistically mimicked genuine...
