2-3’s Class
2-3 Year Old Class
Two-year-olds are just beginning their formal educational journey. As they enter school, they are learning to understand the process of separation, working to develop trust with their teachers and comfort in their classroom environment. With the help of their teachers, two-year-olds begin to form an awareness of their social footprint – both as individuals who can care for themselves, and as members of the classroom community who care for each other.
Teachers aid in the development of language acquisition as they talk to the children during all interactions. Using age-appropriate language to describe the world around them, teachers model language to help promote peer interactions and move children from simply playing side by side to more engaged in cooperative play.
Around the time when a child turns three, their language, imagination, and curiosity expands exponentially! They begin to take ownership of the classroom spaces. They understand the basic ways we socialize and interact with our peers, and so we begin to challenge them. We provide them with moments to work on patience through taking longer turns and sharing materials.
A Reggio-inspired project for 2-3-year-olds should center around their natural curiosity and encourage exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Here’s an example project idea that incorporates various academic connections:
Example 2-3’s Project Idea: "Nature Exploration and Sensory Garden"
Project Description:
The project involves creating a small "sensory garden" with the children. Over several weeks, children will explore different natural materials like soil, rocks, leaves, flowers, water, and sand. They will engage in planting seeds, watering plants, observing the growth process, and discussing what they see, feel, smell, and hear! The project will encourage children to use their senses to explore and describe their environment.
Steps Involved:
Introduction to Nature: We’ll start with a nature walk around the school yard. We’ll collect leaves, twigs, rocks, and flowers and encourage the children to observe and talk about what they see.
Creating the Sensory Garden: We’ll set up a small area with soil, seeds, and plant pots where children can plant different seeds. We’ll allow them to feel the soil, water the seeds, and observe plant growth.
Daily Observations: We’ll create a daily routine where children check on their plants. They can use magnifying glasses to observe details and share their findings with the group.
Art and Sensory Play: We’ll use the natural materials collected (e.g., leaves, flowers) for art activities such as leaf rubbing, painting with flower petals, or making nature collages.
Documentation and Reflection: We’ll display photos, drawings, and children's reflections on the project wall. This helps children reflect on their learning and share their experiences with peers and parents.
Academic Connections:
Science:
Observation and Inquiry: Children learn to observe natural elements, ask questions, and make predictions (e.g., "What will happen if we water this plant every day?").
Life Cycles: Understanding the basic concept of plant growth (seed, sprout, plant). We will use creative movement to act out and dance the lifecycle of our plants.
Senses: Using their senses to explore textures, colors, and scents in nature.
Language and Communication:
Vocabulary Development: Learning new words related to nature (e.g., soil, stem, leaf, root) and sensory experiences (e.g., soft, rough, smooth).
Storytelling and Sharing: Encouraging children to share their experiences and stories about what they observed in the garden.
Math:
Counting and Measurement: Counting seeds, petals, or leaves and using simple measuring tools (e.g., rulers) to measure plant growth.
Patterns and Sorting: Sorting natural objects by size, color, or shape.
Graphs: Using graphs to track votes on which seeds we should plant.
Art and Creativity:
Nature Art Projects: Creating art using natural materials, which helps in developing fine motor skills and creative expression.
Sensory Exploration: Engaging with different textures and colors promotes sensory development.
Social-Emotional Development:
Collaboration and Cooperation: Working together to plant and take care of the garden helps develop teamwork and communication skills.
Responsibility and Patience: Learning to take care of the garden daily and being patient as they wait for plants to grow.
