Good Afternoon!

We ended our week deciphering between two phrases: plants NEED and plants HAVE. Each PREK1 friend chose a card from the bottom of the sign in board and they had to determine if it was something that a plant has or something that a plant needs such as leaves, roots, water, or air!

Science: K.4.2 Observe plants and animals, describing how they are alike and how they are different.

We enjoyed some holiday themed activities at the art center today.  We decorated paper eggs in different ways.  We could used strips of patterned paper to make designs on our eggs.  We could also make a “bean box painting” to decorate a paper egg.  We added our egg to a box filled with beans and paint.  we shook the box and the bouncing beans painted our eggs!

We hope you enjoy a few more pictures from our day!

Breakfast– Kix cereal with fresh pears.

Lunch– Brown rice with shredded pork, fresh pears/mango/pineapple, and fresh carrots/cucumber/pepper.

PM snack– Granola, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, banana/pear.

Wee Sprout– Fresh cucumber/carrot/pepper.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-17

Good Afternoon!

It was pajama day today! Enjoy a picture of all of our friends dressed in their comfiest jammies.

We started our morning by marching with rhythm sticks along to the song “Tap Your Sticks” by Hap Palmer.

We then headed into the kitchen for a loose parts activity with miniature farm animals and wooden shapes. Our friends stacked their shapes to make towers and identified the farm animal they had on their tray.

We explored object permanence boxes with Miss Bekah and worked on placing a ball or coin into a hole or slot and watching it reappear in the drawer  tray.

We made our way outside to enjoy the beautiful morning and to take advantage of the warmer weather.

Breakfast:  Whole grain Cheerios cereal and fresh mango slices.

Lunch:  Whole grain brown rice with shredded chicken, fresh blueberries and cooked broccoli.

Afternoon Snack: Whole grain wheat Ritz crackers with peanut butter and mozzarella cheese stick.

Wee Sprout:  Orange bell pepper.

Have a fantastic Easter weekend!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-17

Happy Sunny Wednesday!

We began our day by Going On A Bear Hunt around the circle with our stuffed animals.

Cece engaged with the indoor snowballs while Eleanor looked for a book to engage with on the reading step.  A friend engaged with the pop-up people toy.

We then headed into the kitchen to engage in the light table with the translucent beads and plastic eggs.  We were busy scooping the translucent beads up using our plastic egg halves or with our hands.  We noticed that the light would also filter through the plastic eggs.  Cece was given plastic eggs to explore and she was tapping hers together.

We then bundled up and went outside to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air, engaging in our favorite activities.

Breakfast:  Overnight Oatmeal with cinnamon/sugar mixture and fresh strawberries/blueberries.

Lunch:  Farm fresh scrambled eggs with shredded mozzarella cheese, cucumber slices, fresh pineapple slices and whole grain wheat tortilla.

Afternoon Snack:  Hummus and white corn tortilla chips.

Wee Sprout:  Cucumbers.

Have a wonderful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-16

Good Afternoon!

**With our short week, we’re offering a pajama day tomorrow!

One of our favorite topics to talk about is FOOD! We integrated that interest into our PREK1 sign in activity today which taught us a great deal. A few younger peers who were watching shared, “But we buy food at the grocery store!”

This allowed us to explore HOW food gets to the grocery store. Children each chose a card at the bottom of the sign in board that had a food written on it. They had to place their word into the correct category based on how that food grows: on a tree, on a vine, or in the ground through a root!

Several friends were eager to share that they’ve been apple picking! Another child said, “I’ve picked blueberries off of a bush.”

Science: K.4.2 Observe plants and animals, describing how they are alike and how they are different.

Today we made our first entry in our “Bean Journal”.  We added our name to the cover and kid spelled “Bean Journal” if we were able.  Inside we made an observational drawing.  We talked about how observation means looking very closely at something.  When we make an observational drawing, we draw only what we see.  Before we began, we talked about what physical characteristics we noticed such as color, size, shape, and texture.  We looked at how many beans we had in our bag.  One friend noticed that there was a “small hole” in his bean as he looked at it.  We talked about how this part is where the root and first leaves will emerge from.  This was very exciting for him!  Our oldest friend made an observational drawing of her entire bag with seeds inside.  She noticed every detail including her name spelled backwards since the plastic bag was upside down.  She drew it this way on her paper.  That is some higher level ability in the area of observation at this age!

We hope you enjoy some more pictures from our day!

PREK2: During group today we read “Bunny My Honey”.  We talked about the different attributes of rabbits and chickens.  At the end of group we picked a word from the basket.  We decided weather the attribute belonged to a rabbit or a chicken.

Breakfast– Overnight oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh strawberries.

Lunch– Farm fresh scrambled eggs with whole wheat flatbread, fresh pineapple/apple, and fresh snap peas/cucumber/carrots.

PM snack– Hummus with corn chips.

Wee Sprout– Fresh snap peas/cucumber/carrot.

Have a wonderful night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-16

Good afternoon!

Our friends started off their morning by building with hollow blocks or sitting on them.

We then made our way into the kitchen to paint with circle sponge brushes. We watched the colors mix on our papers and pointed out the difference between the big circle marks and the smaller circles. They all turned out so beautiful!

We then headed back into the classroom  after we finished painting to engage in several other activities. We worked on connecting waffle blocks, explored the baby animal Touch & Feel cards, pieced together a bear puzzle, or built with our Mix-and-Match magnetic animals.

Breakfast: Whole grain Chex cereal with fresh strawberries.

Lunch: Whole grain wheat flatbread with refried beans and shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh cantaloupe and cooked green beans.

Afternoon Snack: Whole grain wheat bagel with cream cheese and fresh blueberries.

Wee Sprout: Mini sweet peppers.

Have a wonderful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-15

Good Afternoon!

PREK1 friends came to the board where they were asked to locate their name on a card and then sort their animal into a group based on how their animal moves. This week, we’re talking about the similarities and differences between plants and animals and today, we focused on how animals move. There were four categories that children could chose from: fly, hop, swim, and walk.

We continued this conversation into group time as we added new animals to each group. As children were asked to roll up their mat, they shared an animal with their peers and then decided which group it belonged to.

Science: K.4.2 Observe plants and animals, describing how they are alike and how they are different.

This morning we began a “bean experiment”.  Everyone who wanted to, planted a bean in a plastic bag.  Each child added a wet paper towel to provide water and a place to grow.  When our beans were ready, we taped our bags up on the window.  We will be observing our beans as they germinate then grow roots and leaves.  Older friends will record their observations through drawings and written descriptions in a “bean journal” as the science project progresses. 

As our class talks about differences and similarities among plants and animals this week, we offered this welcome activity to explore these ideas further.  Friends enjoyed creating habitats, building nests, and planting acorns as they explored this “small world” activity.

In the art center, a child initiated “banner making activity” was popular.  Several friends made banners for birthdays, for family members or just for fun.  Many kids enjoyed helping others with banners with no concerns about the fact that their drawings would belong to someone else.  What a great example of social awareness and companionship from our young friends!

PREK2– During group, we read the story “Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?”  After the story we drew a card from the basket.  We decided if the plant or animal on our card would lay an egg or make a seed.

Breakfast– Puffins cereal with fresh pineapple.

Lunch– Peanut butter on whole wheat tortilla, fresh strawberries/cantaloupe, and fresh pepper/cucumber/snap peas.

PM snack– Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprout– Fresh cucumber/snap peas/pepper.

Have a wonderful night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-15

Good Afternoon!

Today we celebrated a friend’s birthday who turned 2 yesterday.  We enjoyed celebrating with you.  Thank you for the yummy blueberries you brought for snack.

This morning we engaged in the bird seed and rice sensory table.  We worked on our scooping skills using a variety of different sized spoons and cups.  We then poured the mixture from our spoon or cup back into a bowl, cup or back into the table.

While we were waiting for our turn in the sensory table or we were finished playing in it, we made music with our shaker instruments.

We then headed outside this morning without coats to enjoy our Wee Sprout before engaging in our activities.  We all were busy drawing at the art table with markers.  Over the weekend, Miss Tami and her husband worked very hard at revamping the play area by our house.  We engaged at the new water play area and with the new ramps and cars.

Breakfast:  Whole grain wheat toast with peanut butter and fresh pear slices.

Lunch:  Whole grain penne pasta with shredded chicken, cooked zucchini spirals and fresh strawberries.

Afternoon Snack:  Whole milk yogurt with graham crackers and fresh blueberries (birthday snack).

Wee Sprout:  Cucumbers.

Have a marvelous evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-14

Happy Monday!

We kicked off our week by welcoming a lot of friends back who were on Spring Break! Our PREK1 friends got back into the groove by signing in this morning, focusing on plants and animals as we build upon what we talked about last week.

This morning, children identified the two things that animals and plants both need to survive: water and air!

Later on in group, we created two webs where we focused on what animals and plants need to survive, highlighting those two things as we saw the similarities on our webs!

Science: K.4.2 Observe plants and animals, describing how they are alike and how they are different.

Last week we worked on squeeze bottle paintings using pastel colors on black paper.  Several friends were not at school during this project and were very interested in the paintings as I was taking them  down from the drying area.  We decided to offer this project again since there was so much interest!

Paige enjoyed the opportunity to try experimenting the puffy pastel paint and glue mixture. She made several paintings before she had an idea to try something new with the materials.  This is often how it works with kids.  If they can only make one painting, there will likely not be ideas, experimentation, growth and deep learning.  This is why we offer most activities until a child feels completely done. 

Last week, Miss Tami and her husband began a big project outside, adding a ton of new toys as well as storage and revamping interest areas after purchasing new materials from a grant that Tami was able to apply for. This weekend, they put in a ton of work, adding new materials to our outdoor space. Here’s a glimpse into what children were able to explore this morning!

The art area now has new additions as far as art materials and storage! The art table stayed busy all morning. We love having extensions outside of our favorite indoor spaces!

New loose parts were added to the log area which children loved exploring! Several new bug jars were also added to a bin by the garage and we immediately headed back to the garden where children were able to find rollie pollies and a few worms.

Who doesn’t love water play?! A brand new water table occupies a space down by the art table and children were able to explore it this morning. We added some loose parts and measuring cups to the table which occupied children for a long time! We can’t wait to extend the options in the table as it warms up.

And last but not least: our new tracks! We said goodbye to the house that occupied this space for YEARS but children were so excited to use the new tracks and loose parts for their vehicles. Ryan and Paige especially enjoyed using the hollow blocks to create a blockade at the end of their ramp.

PREK2: During group today we read “Cool Down and Work Through Anger”.  After the story, we took turns thinking of things that are not ok to do with anger.  Then we we thought about what kinds of things we can do to work through our anger.  We made a class list on the board.

Breakfast– Whole wheat toast with butter and fresh cantaloupe/banana/apple.

Lunch– Whole wheat pasta with shredded chicken, fresh mango/strawberry/pineapple, and fresh snap peas/pepper/cucumber.

PM snack– Whole milk yogurt with graham crackers.

Wee Sprout– Fresh snap peas/cucumber/pepper.

Have a lovely night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-14

Happy Friday!

Reminder:  Wee Friends will be closed next Friday, April 18th for Good Friday.  Thank you.

Today we celebrated a friend’s 2nd birthday.  We enjoyed celebrating with you.  Thank you for the yummy berries you brought for snack.

We engaged in building with magnet blocks that we occasionally borrow from the preschool classroom.  A few friends shared what they were building. Charlotte shared that she was building a “tower” and another friend shared that he was building “tongs.”

A friend asked Miss Bekah to “play catch.”   We then went to the habi-trail area to get the balls to toss them to Miss Bekah.

We then pulled out our plastic blocks to sit in while Miss Tina read teacher books to us.

We then headed outside to ride on the teeter totters with a friend, push the bikes up the hill, slide down the slide on our tummy and work on our balancing skills while walking or crawling on the balance beams.

Breakfast:  Whole grain brown rice cakes with peanut butter and bananas.

Lunch:  Honey Ham lunch meat, whole grain wheat flatbread, fresh yellow bell peppers/cucumbers and fresh red grapes.

Afternoon Snack:  Homemade vegan strawberry muffins (made by Miss Ashley), medium cheddar block cheese slices and fresh blueberries/raspberries (birthday snack).

Wee Sprout:  Yellow bell peppers.

Have a great weekend!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-11

Good Afternoon!

Our PREK1 friends talked about plant needs and animal needs. A few needs overlapped like water and air! Each group member chose a card from the bottom of the board and we read the word together. They taped it under ‘plant needs’ or ‘animal needs’. Katherine chose the word ‘soil’ which she taped under the ‘plant’ category.

Science: K.4.1 Give examples of plants and animals.

Several friends enjoyed an invitation for a special art project which was available in the art center this morning.  Friends used a variety of spring time pastel colors to create some “squeeze bottle art”, always a favorite paint distribution method among this group! The colors definitely brought to mind Easter ideas for many friends.  We had several easter egg and bunny pictures.  Many friends painted on both black and white paper to see the differences in their pictures with different backgrounds.  Dax got very interested in overlapping the colors.  As he worked, Dax asked what the colors he overlapped would make if it were mixed.  He must have asked about every possible color combination :).

Katherine finished her “shopping cart” that she began yesterday afternoon.  She used cardboard and tape to make the cart, then black bottle caps for the wheels which she taped underneath.  Katherine worked through several structural problems which came up as she tried to fabricate her design.  We spent some time problem solving together.  What an authentic use of her skills in the areas of executive planning, creative problem solving and fine motor!

PREK2: Older kids have been learning about similarities and differences in plants and animals this week.  Our younger group explored these ideas too.  We read the book “What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?”.  The book showed close ups of different animal parts and we all tried guessing what they were.  After the story, we came up to the board and drew a card out of the basket.  We decided whether our word was a part of a plant or a part of an animal.

Breakfast– Puffins cereal with fresh strawberries.

Lunch– Brown rice with shredded turkey, fresh pears/clementines, and fresh carrots/cucumber/snap peas/pepper.

PM snack– Whole wheat crackers with peanut butter and sunflower/pumpkin seeds.

Wee Sprout– Fresh cucumber/pepper/snap peas.

Have a lovely night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-10