Learning is Messy

Sorry, sorry, sorry about the lack of updates recently! I'll try my hardest to be better at that.

Here's what we've been up to:
We have been working hard to learn as much as we can about water. We:

made our own ocean, complete with a water slide and a doctor's office,

 learned how rain happens in baby food jars by using hot water and ice cubes,

 explored melting and freezing with ice cubes,

and investigated our new water wall! My husband so graciously helped me create this over the weekend, although it didn't take much persuading. He told me over and over again how this is just the type of thing he would have loved to play with when he was in preschool. The bottles pivot on their nails so the kids can make new tracks for the water to run. It always falls into the gutter at the bottom and flows back into the tub.

We also have been taking some time to talk about fire safety, since this is Fire Prevention Week. This morning, the Lake Mills Firefighters came to talk with the kids about how to stay safe and to show us their truck. The fire puppy also made an appearance. The firefighters will be visiting again tomorrow afternoon to see the afternoon kiddos.

Just a funny side note: Our motto this year has become "Learning is messy!" Yesterday, after some intense investigation of ice cubes and water, we ended up with giant puddles all over the floor. While I was helping some of my young friends help clean the water up, one of them told me, "It's okay, Mrs. Hansen. Learning is messy!" I smiled.