This morning we delved into a project that was the “project that keeps giving”! First, the teachers cut out pictures of people, places and things for friends to create a collage and and inspire great conversation! We taped down paper, set out glue and a first group of friends sat down to work.

When they had squeezed the glue and stuck pictures to their heart’s delight, they asked to cut some more. We pulled out our magazine basket and got out the scissors.

Alexandra cut large and small triangles. Macy cut out a poodle and recognized the exact same picture of that dog on another page. Finn, Elliott and Marta worked with two different types of scissors, exploring how their fingers fit in and different angles to cut paper. Everyone, particularly our younger Wee Friends LOVE to squeeze things. The glue bottles were squeezed and squeezed and those finger muscles were getting a workout. The pictures of pets, flowers, mom and dads, children, food….all invoked descriptive words/observations and personal connections.

And then we turned the collage into a floor mat with contact paper. Friends pointed out which picture they had worked on. The slippery, slidey feel of the mat invited them to roll around and dance.

But no matter how much multi-faceted fun we had with our collage work, it was no match for the excitement of……

…the jackhammer.

And we leave you with that.

Our Wee Sprouts today are carrots. Breakfast was Cream of Wheat and pear slices. For lunch Tami made her fabulous three bean/veggie/ham soup with warm cornbread and apple slices.

Have a great day.

This morning, in every corner of the classroom our FAB’s K.1.4 -Divide sets of ten or fewer objects into equal groups and K.1.5 – Divide shapes into equal parts were being explored in full force!

A small group of friends each chose one pattern block and took turns laying it down wherever they chose. We studied blocks that created whole shapes and used ‘artist eyes’ to see what shaped they created. On the next round, they chose another pattern block and set them down so that all the blocks were touching. Again, we looked for parts that made a whole shape and studied what shape we had created. Friends saw a head, a castle, a rocket ship and other shapes.

On the oval rug, Melinda worked with an ever shifting group of friends and pattern cubes. First, they divided sets of ten cubes into equal groups. Next, they created color and number patterns.

Later, Kai led a small group of buddies in a math exercise that involved guessing how many bugs were on the pattern template.

Lisa played a dice game in the reading area: friends rolled the dice and pulled out the corresponding number of pattern blocks. At the end of the game, they examined who had the largest/smallest pile.

Using a variety of square and triangular shapes cut out of construction paper, a small group of friends worked at the art table to created a collage, “Parts of the Whole”. We talked about “two halves make a whole” and studied how to glue the shape parts together to make a “whole” new shape. At the end, Jane created an elaborate castle and drew in characters who lived there.

Using several of our “how to” drawing books, a group of friends spent time creating marker drawings step by step.

At the light table, friends made cookies, counted candy and studied the translucent glass stones, dropping them one by one into a plastic tray.

Our Wee Sprouts today are cucumber slices and broccoli. For breakfast, we served Corn Chex and pear slices. Lunch is peanut butter sandwiches, carrot/lima beans and bananas. For snack, we will serve pretzels and cheese.

Parent/Child Communication starters:

• What word rhymes with car?
• What shape is the tire on our car?
• How many tires do we have on our car?
• What is your favorite color? Where do you see your favorite color in our house?

  

Have a restful day.

FAB (Framework for Academic Balance) Week of Monday, February 20th.

Literacy: K.1.20-Identify and sort common words in basic categories; K.7.3-Describe people, places, things (including their size, color and shape), locations and actions. Math: K.1.4-Describe sets of ten or fewer objects into equal groups; K.1.5-Divide shapes into equal parts.

As always, our friends were ecstatic to see Miss Jennifer and her Blue Bus! Today, they worked on the climbing ladder and incline mat. They used the rope to climb to the top of the bus and then they touched the ceiling. They learned glide and tuck swings and, on the incline mat, they did forward and backward rolls.

While the big kids were on the bus, a small group of four boys worked collaboratively in the block area, creating a tall structure. They listened to one another when discussing what they were doing and where they would place their block. They negotiated how to adjust the structure when it was getting too tall for their safety.

At the same time, Lisa worked with a small group at the art table tracing letters and gluing them to paper.

After the whole class came together again, friends split up into different areas to work. Kai and Annie described feelings about school and friends. (FAB K.7.3)

Lisa worked with friends at the message board and recorded other descriptions about what happened to them over the weekend. After finishing their message board moment, friends had the option to sit at the art table and record their descriptions in a story board format. Using three ‘windows’, friends chose their top three weekend activities and drew pictures of them, discussing them all the while. (FAB K.7.3)

Afterwards, as a large group, Lisa read aloud what friends had shared with her. We shared the story boards as well, but this time, friends (who were not the artist) described in detail what they were seeing. We heard about colors and shapes and a variety of perceptions. The artist then shared his/her intention with the group. (FAB K.7.3)

The High/Low card game is continuing to capture the attention of many friends. This work gives our older friends the opportunity to practice comparing numbers and their value (less than/more than). (FAB K. 1.2)

Back in the block area, another group of friends worked with the building blocks to explore math. We discussed the concept of “equal parts” and “the whole” and created and identified shapes accordingly. Questions were asked, such as “Are all the parts of your circle/square equal parts?” and “Which blocks, when fit together, make a square/diamond/rectangle?” Ultimately, all of Macy’s many parts equaled one whole house, with lots of detail! (FAB K.1.5)

Our Wee Sprouts today are organic carrots. For breakfast Melinda served whole wheat muffins with peanut butter bananas. Lunch was whole wheat pasta with pork, mandarin/banana fruit salad and French cut green beans. For snack, we will serve animal crackers and fruit.

Have a great day.

Lisa generously shared her fading Valentine roses with us this morning. Here is an explanation of our Wee Friends multi-sensorial Rose Exploration!

SONNET 54
O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour which doth in it live.
The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses,
Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly
When summer’s breath their masked buds discloses:
But, for their virtue only is their show,
They live unwoo’d and unrespected fade,
Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth. -Shakespeare

Lisa continued working with Kai, Viv, and Annie on the high/low dice game introduced yesterday. Other friends gathered in our music center to play a stopping/starting game with the tambourine. We walked together as the tambourine shook and when we banged it like a drum, friends stopped and scurried into a hiding place. Using wooden building blocks as instruments, a small group of musicians sat together and beat out different rhythms. We practiced playing together and taking turns. After our rhythm work, we took turns laying the blocks down to create a structure. This cooperative group building activity encouraged friends to, again, take turns, and work side by side in a collaborative way. After the sculpture was completed friends expressed what they saw: “A smoke-stack!”, “a castle!”, “steps” were among the many observations.

We played outside this morning for nearly two hours! Our Wee Sprouts today are green pea pods. Breakfast was Corn Chex and raisins. For lunch we had whole wheat chicken salad sandwiches, corn and applesauce. For snack, Lisa made homemade muffins!

Have a terrific weekend.

Today we explored our last sense: Touch.

Melinda invited friends to join her at the art table to make clean mud. First, they grated one bar of soap. Then they unrolled three rolls of toilet paper. They measured 1/3 cup of Borax and mixed it with the soap and TP. They added water until it was wet and gooey. As they combined ingredients, they discussed what real mud is. Simon first said “Oil!” and then changed his mind and said “No, it’s dirt!”. Pulling the TP off the roll, and measuring and mixing the ingredients were favorite moments. When the clean mud was finally mixed up, we noticed friends leaving the table one by one. The texture of today’s clean mud, while sweet smelling and clean, when touched, was a little too warm, a little too wet and most unpleasant to touch. Oh well.

Lisa played a dice game with a few of our older friends. Two players took turns rolling dice. They each recorded what they rolled on the message board. Whoever had the higher number, got the next turn.

Simon brought in City Blocks today. All of our friends enjoyed creating sculptures with them. Alexandra made her letter “A”!

Elliott requested “Puff, the Magic Dragon” this morning. After reading and singing the song several times, we created Puff out of felt and worked with the felt pieces on our felt board. Later, Simon created a Star Wars creature out of the same pieces. We talked about, how, when an artist creates a work of art, he knows what he created, but another friend may see something else when they look at it.

Before heading outside, we asked all of our friends to find something or someone they loved and bring it to the oval rug. We meditated to Donny Osmond’s “Puppy Love”, snuggling close to our favorite lovie. After a few moments, Arleigh (aka Mrs. Kelly) stood up and started walking to each friend, touching them lightly and lovingly on the forehead as they meditated. When Finn, Macy and Marta saw this, they helped her.

And then we played “Dynamite”.

Books were read, cards were played, nursery rhymes were spoken/sung, dances were danced and the Jumping Beans letter game explored. A good day.

Parent/Child Conversation Starters:

• Which part of making clean mud did you enjoy the most? Why?
• What do you do during music meditation?
• Can you sing your favorite song from the Spring Concert?
• Who plays Jack and who plays Jill?

Our Wee Sprouts today are carrots, cucumbers and sweet peppers. For breakfast we served whole wheat bagels and green grapes. For lunch, Lisa prepared hummus on whole wheat bread, pineapple, Craisin fruit salad and mixed veggies.

Have a great day.