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

Good afternoon!

Enjoy some pictures from our day!

Breakfast: Whole grain Cheerios cereal with fresh grapes.

Lunch: Whole grain brown rice with red beans, pear and mini sweet pepper.

Afternoon Snack: Sunflower seeds with Wheat Thins crackers.

Wee Sprout: Cucumber.

Have a beautiful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-10

Happy Wednesday!

This morning we finger-painted with blue, red and yellow tempera paint.  We mixed the colors together to create a new color.  Eleanor told Miss Bekah she was making “circles” with her finger on her paper.  Enjoy looking at all of our colorful masterpieces.

The colder morning didn’t stop us from bundling up and heading outside to get some fresh air and engage in our favorite activities.

Breakfast:  Overnight Oatmeal with cinnamon/sugar mixture and bananas.

Lunch:  Farm fresh scrambled eggs with shredded mozzarella cheese, bananas, cooked carrots and whole grain wheat bread.

Afternoon Snack:  Refried beans and white corn tortilla chips.

Wee Sprout:  Mini sweet peppers.

Have a wonderful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-09

Good Afternoon!

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

PREK1 kiddos came to the sign in board where they were asked to find their name on a long sentence strip. Once they found their name, we read their animal prompt and wrote down an animal that fit! It was a great opportunity to practice our kid spelling.

Later on in PREK1 group, we read ‘What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?’. We learned about all different kinds of animals and how they use their body parts. For example, did you know that bats ‘see’ with their ears? Or that chameleons can look two ways at once with their eyes? We loved learning new and interesting facts about animals!

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

Friends worked together to explore marble runs this morning.  Several kids formed groups that worked together to build runs.  We saw a lot of excellent cooperation, sharing of ideas, taking turns and a simple relaxed joy in collaborating with peers.  These skills are rare to see among children this young!

Arthur made a marble run that had a slide piece at the bottom.  He was frustrated that his marbles were rolling away.  We talked about what he could do to solve the problem.  He decided to try to catch the marbles in the marble bowl.  It proved difficult because the bowl was small and the marbles bounced out.  Instead of getting frustrated we tried other solutions.  Arthur finally found a tray that worked and was delighted.  We love teaching moments like these that encourage creative problem solving rather than giving up because of frustration.  Arthur was rewarded with success!

PREK2: Today we read the story “When Sophie Gets Angry”.  We talked at the end of the story about something that makes us happy.  We talked about bringing this memory to mind to help us feel better when we are feeling upset.

Breakfast– Whole grain oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh strawberries.

Lunch– Farm fresh scrambled eggs with whole wheat tortilla, fresh grapes/pears/pineapple, and fresh cucumber/carrots.

PM snack-Air-popped corn with raisins

Wee Sprout– Fresh cucumber/pepper/snap peas.

Have a great night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-09

Good afternoon!

Our friends started their morning in the front area and worked on building with BounceBlocks. They made towers to sit or stand on with their friends.

We then made our way into the kitchen for a sensory play activity with playdough. Our friends were each given a tray that contained playdough, a shape cutter, a pipe cleaner, round metal dish and cutting tools (scissors, rolling cutter and large craft sticks.)Eleanor shared that she was making “snakes” and that they were each a different family member: “mama,” “dada,” “baby,” and “sister.”

Our friends then headed outside to enjoy the slightly warmer morning. We engaged with dinosaurs, scooped sand or played with a truck in the sandbox. We also played in the housekeeping area with a heart-shaped pan or tried to scoop up the mulch. We also rode the teeter-totters independently or with a friend.

Breakfast: Whole grain Kix cereal with fresh pear slices.

Lunch: Whole wheat tortilla with peanut butter, medium cheddar cheese block slices, cantaloupe and broccoli.

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

Wee Sprout: Sugar snap peas.

Have a wonderful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2025-04-08

Good Afternoon!

Our PREK1 friends focused on identifying parts of a plant today! There are four important parts of a plant, all with a unique and important job. As children came up to the board, they chose a card from the bottom that had a plant part written on it. We read the word and then taped it next to the plant part.

In our PREK1 group time, we read ‘Spend It!’ which focuses on spending our money to buy things that we want. In the book, the main character has three carrots (money in Bunnyland!) that he earned from his allowance. He also wants three things but can’t afford all three. So, he works at figuring out which one he can afford and ends up choosing a pogo stick for 3 carrots. We love these books (author is Cinders McLeod) that revolve around money that are developmentally appropriate! After we read the book, we looked at four coins that we use to buy things. We identified them and their value. One friend shared, “My mom uses two quarters to buy Pokémon cards!”.

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

We had another fantastic journal experience with our PREK1 kiddos. We journaled about Pikachu, dogs walking in the summer, and space! So many unique ideas that were journaled about today!

We continued exploring the idea of buying and selling, since friends enjoyed the idea so much yesterday.  Today, we tried a Lemonade Stand with colored water to make it as real as possible.  Friends got into a game of selling “ice” for the lemonade (one of the loose parts components of the activity).  They would trade a quarter for each ice cube to put in the drinks. Every time a friend would collect too much ice and needed to share, we would “sell” the ice to the rest of the table!    

As Dax explored the activity, he discovered when he overflowed his pitcher, he could make a “water slide” for the small puff balls with the pitcher handle.  He also discovered he could catch them and put them back in with his wooden spoon!  He was delighted with the discovery and shared his findings with friends!  Giving kids open ended time to explore allows for these spontaneous discoveries that have nothing to do with the original planned activity but everything to do with interest driven learning!

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PREK2: We read the book “How Much Is A Million?” at group today.  Large numbers have come up a lot in conversation.  After the book, we came up to the board to keep practicing our early math.  We counted how many lemons were next to our name.  Then, we added one more and found the sum.  Some of us wrote the sum ourselves.

Breakfast: Kix cereal with fresh bananas.

Lunch: Peanut butter on whole wheat bread, fresh pineapple/cantaloupe, and fresh peppers/cucumbers.

PM Snack: Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprouts: Fresh green beans and peppers.

Have a lovely afternoon!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Link to Pictures: 2025-04-08