Preschoolers didn’t just play house; they built it from scratch, swapping out bricks and mortar for glue and cardboard. Their skyscrapers soared with plastic windows and newspaper roofs. For Earth Day, the preschool class created a replica of a town using only recycled materials – naming their sustainable city “Recycle Town.” Imagine a bustling town, but the size of a flattened cardboard box crafted entirely from recycled materials. According to teacher Laura Bashir, the project showed preschoolers how single-use products, such as papers, pens and cardboard, can be reused. Drawing from previous teaching experiences and workshops at Children Today, the preschool teachers worked collaboratively to help the children bring the town to life. PLANNING & COLLABORATIONBuilding Recycle Town wasn’t a one-person job. It took a village—or, more accurately, a community of families who pitched in their recyclables. Preschool teacher Julia Ochoa sent a note out to families, asking them to bring in their recycled products. Families responded by bringing in bags of plastic, cardboard, paper and more, which allowed preschoolers to see how their once-trash turned into town-building materials. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESSThe preschoolers dedicated their first day of building to construction. Preschoolers wielded glue sticks and cardboard like city-planning architects. They planned, they brainstormed and they problem-solved. According to Ochoa, the preschoolers learned how to ask each other for help and figured out how to resolve issues on their own.
THE IMPACT OF RECYCLE TOWNAnd the lessons didn’t stop there. Through Recycle Town, these preschoolers learned that recycling isn’t just about cans and bottles—it’s about giving old items new life. Bashir explained that this project is just the beginning. “I think this project will open their minds to be able to impact the environment at home and they can take this project and share it with others,” Bashir said. “We talked about recyclables and recycling plastics, but we also talked about how to recycle clothing and donations. Knowing that there’s lots of ways to recycle and reuse old materials, they can take that into the future and be able to recycle in a lot of ways.”
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From Candy Doors to Ice Cream Bars: Take a Look at How we Celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week5/9/2024 Saturday: Door DecorTeacher Appreciation Week kicked off the weekend before, as parents stopped by our center to deck our classroom doors with candy-themed messages. The halls were a sweet reminder of parents' appreciation for our teachers! Monday: Coffee & DonutsMonday mornings can be tough. So, we started the week by treating our teachers to a morning pick-me-up. Donuts, coffee, fresh fruit, and even some coffee tumblers to take home - our teachers were feeling the love! Tuesday: Goodie BagsTuesday brought even more joy as our teachers were surprised with goodie bags lovingly assembled by our program staff and parents. Gift cards, snacks, and little tokens of appreciation filled each bag, bringing smiles all around. Wednesday: Ice Cream BarBut wait, it gets even sweeter! Parents and program staff transformed our conference room into an ice cream bar. Complete with sprinkles, cookies and bananas for toppings - our teachers enjoyed a well-deserved treat! Thursday: Raffle PrizesThursday was raffle day, and did we have some goodies up for grabs! From candy to coloring books, coffee cups to car seat organizers, our teachers were spoiled for choice. Each prize was a little token of our immense gratitude for everything they do. Friday: Togo's LunchAnd as we wrapped up the week on Friday, we treated our teachers to lunch and sent them into their weekend with one last goodie bag! To all who contributed to making this week truly special, we extend our heartfelt thanks. And to our teachers, thank you for the energy, dedication, and love you pour into shaping the lives of our children every single day!
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AuthorVarious members of the Children Today staff contribute to these blog posts. Archives
July 2024
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