Happy Monday!! The beginning of the week seems to always require a rather calm start; children seem more sensitive, therefore needing more emotional comforting than usual while they work at re-adjusting back into being away from home. Today children began their morning asking their teachers to read lots of books. Later they moved into pretend play and became interested on trying different hats on in front of the mirror.

Outside time was spent on the bikes and playing with the new balls. We tried rolling, throwing, kicking and bouncing. Children run after the balls and seemed to have had fun.

For lunch they had noodles with beef and grapes and broccoli. Read aloud today included “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle and “My World” by Margaret Wise Brown, two “must haves” in every child’s library.

Anticipating the better weather and the possibility of spending more time outside WWF’s will be exploring a picnic theme. We see this as an extension of the birthday theme and a way to tie into the garden theme. Using picnics as a focus, we hope to:

• Bring awareness of the landscape and seasonal events (blooming trees, flowers, garden animals, weather)
• Learn about fresh foods, especially fruits and veggies that can be easily eaten and transported to the outside places we will be visiting on our picnics
• Going through the process of preparing and planning to go on a picnic
• Read children’s books and sing songs about picnics and the related themes.
• Emphasize counting and color description. This will be a natural experience in this theme.

We are looking for some picnic baskets, small tablecloths, and picnic blankets if you happen to have extras and are “not especially attached to it” please bring them over!

Thank you and have a wonderful start of the week!

Paulina, Amy and Marty