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We have been exploring the life & work of Dutch Post-Impressionist artist #VincentvanGogh—reading stories about him, studying his paintings, & observing his bold, expressive use of color. Introducing children to diverse artistic styles and techniques from around the world nurtures appreciation, cultural awareness, & a deeper connection to the arts.  1. Invitation to Paint Roses:  In May 1890, just before leaving the asylum in Saint-Rémy, he created a remarkable series of 4 fl

Winter is the perfect season to explore art and science through ice! For this invitation, we provided trays filled with ice blocks in a variety of shapes and sizes, each embedded with winter foliage. Alongside the ice, children were offered Colorations Liquid Watercolors , pipettes, and paintbrushes as their creative tools. They were invited to create, observe, and explore the fascinating relationship between ice, color, and nature. Painting on an unconventional surface lik

Ten on the Sled  by Kim Norman (Author) and Liza Woodruff (Illustrator) is a delightful counting story about animals who are having so much fun speeding down a hill on a sled. As the sled goes faster and faster, the animals tumble off one by one, then leap back on again. This book is a wonderful counting resource that can be used in different ways depending on each child’s understanding of numbers. For children who are just beginning to count, counting books help introduce th

Before inviting the children to create snowflakes, we began by asking them what they already knew about snowflakes. Through discussion, the children shared that snowflakes come from the sky during winter. To build on their prior knowledge, we introduced them to Wilson Bentley, the first known photographer of snowflakes over 100 years ago. To integrate literacy and deepen their understanding of snow, we read  Snowflake Bentley ,  Curious About Snow , and  The Story of Snow . T

The Lights That Dance in the Night  by Yuval Zommer provided a beautiful starting point for exploring the magic of the Northern Lights during the winter season. The story takes children on a journey from space to Earth, highlighting how this natural phenomenon brings wonder to the animals and people who live in frozen lands. After reading the story, we extended the learning by sharing images and videos of the Northern Lights. We discussed how they are also known as auroral di

We rang in the New Year with three exciting, hands-on invitations that encouraged creativity, exploration, and learning. Each setup invited children to engage their senses while building important developmental skills—all with a festive NYE twist! 1. STEM Disco Ball Building on the Mood Light Table- Children explored engineering and design as they built dazzling disco ball creations on our mood light table . Using iridescent linking discs, disco balls in a variety of sizes,

To continue our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we read  Powwow Day  by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation). This heartwarming contemporary picture book honors tradition, community, music, and healing—all shared through the voices of Indigenous creators. In the story, Powwow Day has arrived, and River longs to dance as she does every year. But this year is different—she’s recovering from a serious illness and m

T he beautiful book  We Are Water Protectors  by @carolelindstrom and illustrated by @michaelagoade is the perfect read for #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth. This powerful story highlights Indigenous-led movements to safeguard one of Earth’s most precious resources — water.  After reading, we engaged the children in a thoughtful discussion to deepen their understanding of water’s importance: How do we use water every day?Where does it come from? What can harm or poison it?  How c

As we continue exploring #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth in meaningful, hands-on ways, today’s focus was all about math—using storytelling, culture, & loose parts to bring learning to life. We read   Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!  written by Art Coulson and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight . This beautiful story weaves together diversity, math, & the power of storytelling. In the book, Bo wants to find the perfect container to display his traditional marbles for the National Cheroke

November is #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, a meaningful time to celebrate the diverse histories, traditions, & cultures of Indigenous peoples. Honoring this rich ancestry through stories is a powerful way for children—& all of us—to learn with respect + curiosity. To continue exploring Native American culture, we read the beautiful book  Fry Bread , written by @noblemaillard & illustrated by @juanamartinezn . This story invites readers into themes of family, history, culture,

When it comes to supporting our children’s schools, a little creativity can go a long way & sometimes, it even glows! This year, a team of parents wanted to make our fundraising efforts for my son’s public school not only impactful but also unforgettable. The result? A GLOW Party that lit up the school for a great cause! From neon decorations to glowing games & endless fun, our goal was to create an event that brought everyone together while raising funds for the programs tha

Last month, our Artist of the Month is the legendary Salvador Dalí — the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his incredible technical skill, boundless imagination, and delightfully bizarre creations. Through stories and hands-on art explorations, the children have been discovering how Dalí transformed ordinary objects into dreamlike masterpieces that challenge us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. We also explored Dalí’s unforgettable personal style and larger-than-li

Last month, our featured artist was the iconic Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and dreamlike imagery. Through books, discussions, and creative invitations, we’ve been exploring his world, introducing children to the magic and imagination that define surrealism. Today, the children engaged with one of Dalí’s enchanting pieces — “Ship with Butterfly Sails” (1937). This surreal masterpiece beautifully

This week, we read How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace — a fun, heartwarming story about a brave young ninja who decides to face the monster hiding in his closet. What begins as a tale of fear transforms into one of courage and discovery, reminding us all that things aren’t always as scary as they seem. To extend this story beyond the pages, we invited the children to design their very own monsters using play-dough and loose parts. Our tinker trays were filled with an arr

Every year, my son’s elementary school puts on the most epic fundraiser — Creepy Hollow. This beloved event transforms the campus into a Halloween wonderland filled with games, a haunted house, a cake walk, bake sale, face painting, inflatables, raffles, and so much more! It’s an incredible community effort that not only raises funds for our public school programs but also creates lasting memories for students and families. This year, I was thrilled to join the planning team

It’s that spooktacular time of year again when we bring out one of our favorite annual traditions a Haunted Mansion made out of cardboard! Set up near our Outdoor Interactive Painting Gallery & Art Studio, this collaborative creation invites our little architects to dive into a world of imagination, creativity, and exploration. One of the most magical things about cardboard and process art is that  anything  can become a canvas. Cardboard’s versatility — with its many sizes,

There’s no denying the excitement that comes with Halloween! This season offers the perfect opportunity to build upon children’s natural curiosity—especially when they show a strong interest in something spooktacular like skeletons and bones. When we design invitations that follow their interests, we honor their learning process by allowing them to become active collaborators in their own discoveries. To spark curiosity and deepen understanding, we’ve been reading Give Me B

We invited the children to dive into some spooky, squishy fun with a classic sensory favorite — oobleck! Using scoops, baskets , @openplaytoys cones , and measuring cups, the children explored the fascinating world of this gooey mixture by scooping, squeezing, and squishing it through their fingers. What made this experience truly magical was watching their eyes light up as they noticed how oobleck behaves — sometimes like a solid, sometimes like a liquid. When they squeezed

Pumpkin season is here — and with it comes endless opportunities for creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning! These four invitations blend process art, STEAM discovery, imaginative water play, and fine motor development, making pumpkins the perfect seasonal learning tool. 1. Drip Paint Pumpkin Art: Pumpkin art meets process exploration in this vibrant invitation! To set up, gather real pumpkins and place them flat or slightly elevated inside a sensory bin. Dilute your

Storytime is such a powerful way to spark imagination and build meaningful literacy skills. Today, our classroom took flight with  Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler  — a beloved story filled with friendship, teamwork, and just a touch of magic. In the story, a kind witch and her cat soar happily through the sky on their broomstick — until one by one, her hat, bow, and wand go tumbling down to the ground! Luckily, three helpful animals come to the rescue,