52 WEEKS | 43

A portrait of wren and fox, once a week, every week, in 2015

Sage - "Mama? What sort of birthday party do you think I'll have when I'm 71?"

Alby - pulling all of the alphabetised DVD's off the shelf... your most favourite thing to do at the library!

Week 43 portraits of 2013 and 2014

The 52 Project, inspired by Jodi

PLAY-BASED LEARNING AT HOME [ VETERINARIANS ]

During the Christmas holidays, you may remember the little/dramatic/expensive tale about our dog Rudi getting himself into all sorts of trouble with a nasty fish hook... well now that he's well and truly recovered and we can all have a slight chuckle about his $2400 emergency surgery {on a Sunday... at three in the morning... four hours from home} we graciously accepted when Sage insisted upon a "vets" as her new investigation, a short time after our arrival home. She was naturally very intrigued by all that had unfolded while we were away and we knew that any worries or concerns she may have had as a result of Rudi's ordeal could be expressed and alleviated through role play. 

Usually we change our play-based environments every three to four weeks {depending on Sage's interest level}, however our veterinarians remained captivating for almost two months! We were amazed, not only by the literacy and numeracy understandings she displayed {and gained} from this setting, but also by her questioning strategies and depth of imagination. She 'wrote' {as the vet} and conveyed {as the customer} names, addresses, phone numbers, reasons for visiting {often rather elaborate!} and subsequent treatment options. I only wish we had have taken a video!

See more from the 'Play-Based Learning at Home' series:

[FARMYARD]
[FAIRY GARDEN]
[HOSPITAL]
[DINOSAURS]
[LIBRARY]

THE SUMMER SHELF

Summer

Lazy summer, warm and sweet.

Long, long days full of bees and flowers.

Time to dip your toes in the sea

or watch the breeze moving through the grass.

Time to pick a ripe tomato right off the plant

and pop it in your mouth.

Time to look at the sky 
and dream...

Nicola Davies

Top Shelf - Waldorf doll (purchased from here, similar here)  //  cane furniture, thrifted  //  seesaw
Second Shelf - mini grass bag, thrifted  //  Phoebe Wahl print  //  rainbow stacker  
Third Shelf - "Summer" book  //  cheese cloth  //  fish and chips felt set  //  drum, gifted
Bottom Shelf - sea enchanted playsilk (care of  Sarah's Silks)  //  ocean puzzle  //  vases, thrifted //  "Magic Beach" book //  whale  //  cheese cloth  //  lighthouse and buoy, purchased in-store

52 WEEKS | 4

a portrait of wren and fox, once a week, every week, in 2015

Sage - our three year old!

Alby - top teeth woes

Week four portraits of 2013 and 2014

{The 52 Project, inspired by Jodi}

PLAY-BASED LEARNING AT HOME [ LIBRARY ]

Sage simply adores the library. We are so lucky that our local is only a five minute walk from home, although it's an expedition that usually takes us three times as long, as I mindfully bite my tongue on the "hurry up, let's go's" and remember it is the journey that's often most important...

Along the way, Sage takes advantage of her mama being relatively distraction-free, and consequently, our dawdle is filled with her constant, bubbly chatter and endless ponderings. Numerals on each letter box we see are exclaimed over and questioned {"Mum! I see a 2 and a 5 -- that says 25!" "Mama? What does a 6 and a 3 say when they are together?"} - a girl after her teacher-mama's heart! We wave a friendly 'hello' to the neighbourhood pets watching us from the comfort of their couches and hold hands as she balances along low, concrete fences, practising her "twicks". Eyes often gaze skyward, spotting planes zooming overhead and a particular patch of yellow daisies on the nature strip is often one or two fewer upon our passing.

Once we arrive, she takes great delight in tippy-toeing her books over the too-high counter, only to go and fossick through the tubs and find very similar - often matching titles to the ones she has just returned! Hairy McLairy and Maisy Mouse are firm favourites, but mama manages to sneak in a few other beloveds along the way.


Here is our latest play-based investigation at home - our very own library to visit each and every day :-)

Library Resources

Large bookshelf, secondhand, from here

Double wooden school desk and chairs, from antique store

'Computer' cash register, purchased from here {similar here} - used to enter addresses, phone numbers, library card codes, number of books borrowed and days books can be kept 

Wooden flower, gift {similar here}

Bell, purchased in-store {similar here}

Barcode scanner - old, cordless phone

Alphabet poster, purchased in-store {similar here}

Blue hat, second hand {similar here}

Puzzles, baskets, fiction and non fiction books, collected over time

{Please note - no new items were purchased for this investigation - all have been collected over my years as an early childhood educator}

See more from the 'Play-Based Learning at Home' series:

[FARMYARD]
[FAIRY GARDEN]
[HOSPITAL]
[DINOSAURS]


Do your children have a love for the library too?

FORTYNINE | FIFTYTWO

A portrait of my little ones; once a week, every week, in 2014

Sage - the library is like your second home - shoes come off and sharing 'your' books is prohibited! {thankfully we're usually the only ones in the children's section, so other's don't have to deal with your wrath and we can lazily stay all afternoon}

Alby - just like Daddy {ginger beer lover}

{The 52 Project, inspired by the lovely Jodi}

FORTYFOUR | FIFTYTWO

A portrait of my little ones; once a week, every week, in 2014

Sage - the doll's house at my Aunt's kept you entertained all evening

Alby - hey there Miss! Stop reading... you have a customer!

{The 52 Project, inspired by the lovely Jodi}