Olive Tree- a division of Strathcona Child Development Centre
205 Fir Street T8A 2G6 Sherwood Park, AB, Canada

The preschool children are really enjoying the snow both on the ground and in the air, so ECE Jacquie decided to bring the snow inside to them. They worked diligently during this snowflake math experience. Each child had their own batch of snow with a variety of materials to manipulate the snow with. After going on a walk and spotting and following bunny tracks the preschoolers used white paint and made tracks of their own during their art experience.

ECE Kelly set up a winter scavenger hunt for OSC today- and was a huge hit! They found frosty leaves, pinecones, a lonely bird nest and frozen grass the children said felt like hay

ECE Jacquie set up a beautiful Diwali loose parts centre today, as part of this festival. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. It’s a lovely world

As the first preschool child arrived this morning she quickly put on her safety glasses and began sanding and building with the pieces of lumber. Thank you to ECE Jacquie for this experience

ECE staff Jacquie and Sara set up a Fall based mathematics loose parts activity that the Preschool children thoroughly enjoyed today.

ECE Kelly spent time with the children in our mud kitchen today. The children made chocolate and golden tickets

Fall was in the air in the preschool classroom this morning. The children gathered round as their art provocation was being set up which involved turning the tables onto their sides. They were each offered a variety of gourds, dried corn on the cob and a tray of paint colours. Their smiles grew larger as they engaged their whole body into this sensory art experience. Each child manipulated their materials in different ways to create their masterpieces. One child discovered a footprint on the floor and they quickly turned into detectives on the case to find the coloured shoe bottom and with pride they located the shoe in question! Thank you to ECE’s Jacquie and Sara

A simple question posed to our OSC children today...they figured it out with teamwork alongside ECE Kelly

Shadow observation with our Preschool children-engaging in a play moment where they were singing and recreating animals using shadows.

We are Blessed to have ECE Jacquie as part of our team here at Olive Tree. Her husband built the children this mud kitchen- thank you

What a great day for some hide and seek in the fresh Fall leaves

ECE Kelly has a novel experience for the children today. The children have been studying wild animals, and interacting with them as part of that. Kelly attached writing materials to the animals, allowing the children the opportunity to experience drawing and writing in a completely new way. Cool!

Super sticky science in OSC today with ECE Miss Kelly

This afternoon the preschooler children had the opportunity to paint rocks, acorns and sandpaper offering them different textures to see how the paint will be absorbed on the items. The first question they asked was can we take them home. One of the children discussed how it was hard to get the entire acorn painted, but she kept on painting until she was finished. Thank you to ECE staff Jacquie and Sara

Teamwork makes the dream work! ECE Jocelyn set out the train tracks and working together, the children created.

Our OSC children asked to help set up some centre’s for their peers in Preschool. While the other children played outside, preparations were made for them. Thank you to ECE Kelly

This morning ECE Jacquie provided the preschoolers with a large piece of paper, trains and dots of yellow and blue paint. They quickly started moving the trains back and forth over the paint which they quickly discovered a new colour-green. This furthered the experience into a science moment discussing colour mixing.

Today, ECE Jacquie provided a painting with cars activity. She wanted to observe what the preschoolers would do as the music changed speeds from slow to fast- the faster the music speed played the faster they moved their cars back and forth! This created an example of process over product art.

While out for a neighborhood walk this morning, the children found a treasure trove of rocks. After some heavy lugging back to Olive Tree, the children washed and painted their rocks. Thank you to ECE Kelly

There is nothing more wonderful than being able to see a provocation for the preschoolers outside using our beautiful Mother Nature’s materials. A tree became a way for the children to engage their whole body in play while learning their limits. There were such large smiles on their faces as they climbed to reach their goal. A pile of branches became a fire protecting their fort and the two sticks they were rubbing together started the fire while others provided wind for the fire with branches. Thank you to this wonderful nature that surrounds our centre and provides the preschoolers with endless exploration and play opportunities! Thank you to ECE Jacquie

See 30 more inspiring quotes here: https://littlepinelearners.com/30-quotes-about-children-an/

Clay and loose parts are great sensory and fine motor opportunities as well as engage an endless imagination. Cakes, pizza and popsicles were served by our preschoolers today. Thank you to ECE Jacquie

When our preschool children were enjoying going up the walls with their toy vehicles, ECE staff Sara and Jacquie set up an on the wall track

Yesterday, child O asked ECE Kelly about mixtures of colour. He chose the colours to mix and was thrilled with the outcome!