Pass the Peas, Please!

This week our 2s learned the nursery rhyme, Peas Porridge Hot. 

We discussed how winter is a nice time to warm up with a nice cup of hot soup.

We counted together,shared opposites, and played a fun game of "peas in the pot".

During centers, we explored with some pots and pans. 

We noticed that the size of the pot really made a difference in the sound that was made when we tapped it.

We used the words small, medium, and large when we compared size.

We used  metal spoons, plastic spoons, and a spatula to make lots of noise with our pots and pans.  

We also explored with some real peas.  

We taught the boys and girls how to be safe with the peas (not putting them in their ears or noses) and then we closely monitored them as they played.   

One of the benefits of sticking to one center and staying in that place for quite some time is that you really get to see how each child, or group of children, approach the learning tools in their environment,   You get to see how they play and work together.

I noticed this little group of girls had a pretty cool system for filling a large plastic container that they had gotten from the dramatic play area.  They clearly thought that the marshmallow jar would be better served as jar for peas! 

P (in pink) spooned peas into the blue bowl that Z (in white) is holding.  Then Z poured her blue bowl into the bigger jar.

What a great display of teamwork, persistence, planning, and organizing.

How lucky are we to work with such a great group of kids?!?

Here is a blog post from one of my favorites in the field of Early Childhood Education on the benefits of play with small items like peas, and how children are building pre-writing skills when they engage in activities like these.  She focuses on rice, which is great, because it is easily available and can be played with right on the floor in the kitchen!

Building Pre-Writing Skills in a Bowl of Rice (or peas!)