Happy Wednesday!

This morning the friends were busy cooking in the housekeeping kitchen.  We were washing eggs and cooking toast.

We then explored and played with our plastic bugs, while waiting for our turn to go into the kitchen to do the  bead activity.

We worked on our fine motor skills stringing the beads onto a pipe cleaner.  We also stacked the beads to make towers.

Our friends helped rake the leaves and collect them on the grass to make a leaf pile. After making a big pile, they each picked up a handful of leaves and threw them in the air to watch them fall down.

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

Lunch:  Farm fresh scrambled eggs, fresh cherry tomatoes (from the garden), fresh pineapple slices and whole grain wheat bagel with buttery spread.

Afternoon Snack:  White corn tortilla chips and guacamole

Wee Sprouts:  Red bell peppers.

Have a wonderful evening

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-23

Good Afternoon!

We explored more patterns using shape and color this morning for our PREK1 sign in. Each group member came up to the sign in board where they found their name and their pattern. They went through the pattern, saying it aloud before trying to figure out the missing shape at the end of the pattern. Once they figured it out, they found the shape on the ledge behind them and completed the pattern!

K.CA.5: Create, extend, and give an appropriate rule for simple repeating and growing patterns with numbers and shapes.

This morning we offered a pattern making activity using unifix cubes at the round table.  Though many used it this way at first, as the morning progressed, a new project emerged.  A group became interested in seeing how long they could make the unifix cube line.  As the friends connected more and more cubes, the group working on the project began to grow too.  It became a goal to use every cube in the tub and see how long it could get.  The kids were able to achieve this goal and span the entire classroom with the project.  At Wee friends we try to allow the emergence of new project ideas as children are encouraged to follow where their interest takes them!

PREK2: During group today we talked about how to make a pattern.  We tried making a pattern with our hands first, patting our right then left back and forth.  Next we made a pattern as a class on our board using black and orange paper squares.  Each friend came up to guess which color came next and then add it to the board.

Breakfast– Overnight oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh strawberries.

Lunch– Farm fresh scrambled eggs with whole wheat flatbread, fresh clementines/pineapple, and fresh green beans/snap peas/cucumber/pepper.

PM snack– Humus with corn tortilla chips

Wee Sprout– Fresh pepper/cucumber/snap peas.

Have a wonderful night.

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-23

Good Afternoon!

We used unifix cubes to integrate patterns into our PREK1 sign in this morning! Each friend had a specific pattern line assigned to them and after they said the pattern aloud, they found the next color that came in their pattern. The patterns ranged from ABAB patterns to ABCABC patterns to AABAAB patterns! They completed their pattern and then wrote their name on the sign in easel!

K.CA.5: Create, extend, and give an appropriate rule for simple repeating and growing patterns with numbers and shapes.

We explored leaves this morning since they are everywhere!  We practiced focus and fine motor skills as we chose leaves from a basket, cut them into small collage pieces, glued them to paper and then painted them with glitter glue.  The kids chose to spend an incredibly long time working on their individual projects which was amazing developmentally for focus/concentration and attention.  This only works if a child chooses to stay engaged.  They know exactly how far to push themselves developmentally when following their own interest!

We added leaves and water to the sensory bin to stimulate imaginative play while engaging the senses.  Sensory experiences do amazing things for the brain.  Research has shown that engaging most of the senses at the same time during play helps to integrate the parts of the brain, teaching it to work as one.  This increases attention, concentration and ability to self regulate. 

Painting continues to be a strong interest again lately.  Friends asked that we get out paint again today.  We added orange to the black and white pallet that seems to have everyone wanting to paint.  Many friends spent time painting Halloween themed pictures with pumpkins and ghosts!

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

Breakfast– Puffins cereal with banana.

Lunch– Homemade chicken avocado salad sandwiches, fresh cantaloupe/strawberries, and fresh snap peas/pepper.

PM snack– Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprout– Fresh green beans/snap peas/pepper.

Have a lovely night.

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-22

Good afternoon!

Our friends spent the first part of their morning at the reading steps. They read books individually or sat on Ms. Ashley’s lap to listen to her read books. Ms. Ashley got 3 friends to fit on her lap!

We then made our way to the kitchen to draw with markers. We made small and long marks, dots and circular lines with our markers. Our paper masterpieces are so colorful!

We headed outside to enjoy the beautiful morning.  Our friends went down the slides or played in the sandbox with scoops and dragons.

Breakfast: Whole grain Puffins cereal with fresh strawberries.

Lunch: Whole grain wheat tortilla with peanut butter with 1/2 mozzarella cheese stick, chicken avocado salad, red bell pepper and cantaloupe.

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

Wee Sprout: Mini cucumbers.

Have a wonderful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-22

Happy Monday!

We started our morning by dancing with rhythm sticks. We marched with our sticks to the “Ants Go Marching” song and then followed along to “Tap Your Sticks.” Our friends then brought down the bean bags to dance along to the “Beanie Bag Dance.”

Cece has now joined our classroom full-time. Eleanor has really enjoyed getting to spend time with her sister. They both sat together at the fish tank to watch the fish swim around this morning. 

We then made our way to the kitchen for loose parts play with pom poms, dominoes,  and a letter piece. Our friends worked on scooping up their loose parts with a spoon and then transferring them to a bowl or cup. Miss Bekah gave each friend a letter that corresponds with the first letter of their name. We worked on identifying the letter that Miss Bekah gave us.

Breakfast:  Whole grain wheat bread toast with butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture and fresh apple slices.

Lunch:  Whole grain wheat penne pasta with shredded turkey, fresh mini cucumbers and bananas.

Afternoon Snack:  Whole milk yogurt and graham crackers.

Wee Sprouts:  Red bell peppers.

Have a marvelous evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-21

Good morning!

We kicked off our morning with our PREK1 group by signing in. Children identified a simple ABAB pattern and filled in the last space.  We incorporated shapes AND color into our pattern.

K.CA.5: Create, extend, and give an appropriate rule for simple repeating and growing patterns with numbers and shapes.

This morning we offered a loose parts building activity at the round table.  Friends could use a variety of recycled materials, clothes pins and popsicle sticks to invent whatever came to mind.  These three boys got started and played at this table all morning.  We may have to offer it again so that others can try.  We would always rather offer activities over and over than stop kids who are deeply invested in an experimental learning process.  Interrupting children’s learning before they have seen it through can hinder the depth of their learning.  This is why we allow kids to see their ideas through completely to the end. 

The three boys made several different types of aircraft as well as water craft and played with the toys they had made together all morning!  Allowing children to play with what they have made is also an extremely important part of the learning process.  Building something without playing with it is like building a model plane of ones own invention, without testing it :).

The painting easel was occupied all morning by a different set of friends.  Katherine discovered a new group of colors to experiment with in her paintings, which delighted her.  She made painting after painting using black, white, yellow and purple.  Amelia worked next to her.  As a younger friend, she watched Katherine and tried out many of Katherines techniques!  What a wonderful pairing of ages!

PREK2:  During group we read the story “The Big Umbrella”.  After the story we talked as a group about different ways we could show someone that we love them.  We compiled a class list of our ideas.

Yard work has been a popular activity outdoors and we appreciate all of the helping hands!

Breakfast– Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and fresh clementines.

Lunch– Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce, fresh strawberries/banana, and fresh pepper/green beans.

PM snack– Whole milk yogurt with granola.

Wee Sprout– Fresh pepper/green beans.

Have a wonderful night.

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-21

Happy Friday!

Several friends enjoyed exploring clay today.  We worked on using the “pinch pot” technique to make bowls.  Afterward the kids took off with all kinds of intricate hand building.  Katherine created a bowl of cereal, an apple, carrots, a spoon and a fork as well as a tray of noodles all out of clay.  Paige and Ryan made a huge pancake breakfast topped with cherries and strawberries! Its amazing to see how refined the fine motor skills are in these kids, but not surprising given their all day access to the art center!

Dressing up in Halloween costumes was a popular activity today!  We had pretend play ranging from “family trick-or-treat” to “Two puppies and a dragon”.  Everyone enjoyed playing and bonding with friends!

We hope you enjoy some more photos from our day!

Breakfast: Brown rice cakes with cream cheese and fresh apple slices

Lunch: Humus on flatbread with fresh pineapple/banana and cucumber/snap peas

PM Snack: Mozzarella cheese and gold fish crackers

Wee Sprouts: Fresh green peppers and snap peas

Have a lovely day!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Link to Pictures:2024-10-18

Happy Friday!

This morning we painted with dot markers, only we didn’t sit in our chairs to do it.  We used our gross motor muscles and moved our body as we made our dots.  We marched, or walked in our spot or around the table to a different color, and swayed our bodies back and forth.  We also made our dots really fast onto our paper which was really loud or dabbed slow which made a much softer sound.  We filled our papers full of dots of many colors.

We then headed out with Miss Tina to engage with our bell and shaker instruments.  We were busy making our music while listening and shaking along to Shake Your Sillies Out.

We then headed outside to engage in our favorite activities and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.

Breakfast:  Whole grain brown rice cakes with cream cheese and fresh cantaloupe slices.

Lunch:  Turkey and melted shredded mozzarella cheese on whole grain wheat English muffins, fresh mini cucumbers/red bell peppers and fresh pineapple.

Afternoon Snack:  Whole milk yogurt and bananas.

Wee Sprouts:  Mini cucumbers.

Have a great weekend!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures:  2024-10-18

Good afternoon!

Our friends started their morning with the foam rainbow blocks. We sat on them and rode them like teeter-totters. We did a great job of sharing and letting our friends know that we were done with the rainbow so that they could have a turn.

Cece loves exploring the toys that hang from her playmat and her friends like sitting near her mat to interact with her.

We then made our way to kitchen to engage with play dough. Our friends were given golf tees, a popsicle stick or pattern cutter and 1/2 of  a plastic egg for us to use with our playdough. Our friends worked their fine motor skills when placing their golf tees into their playdough.

We headed outside to dig and pour in the sandbox, use our imaginative play skills in the housekeeping area to pretend to cook, exploring construction vehicles in the log house, and going down the slide.

Breakfast: Whole grain Kix cereal with fresh apple.

Lunch: Whole grain brown rice with shredded turkey, mini cucumber and fresh cantaloupe.

Afternoon Snack: Whole grain Ritz crackers with peanut butter.

Wee Sprout: Red bell pepper and mini sweet peppers.

Have a beautiful evening!

WWF Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-17

Good Afternoon!

We hope you enjoy some photos from our day!

PREK2: During group time today, we talked about warm and cold.  We read the story “The Sandwich Swap”.  Afterward, we talked about all of the different foods we eat at school.  We each came up to the board to help classify each food we eat at school as a warm food or a cold food.

Breakfast– Corn chex and fresh watermelon.

Lunch– Brown rice with shredded turkey, fresh clementines/banana, and fresh cucumber/pepper.

PM snack– Trail mix with sunflower, granola and raisins.

Wee Sprout– Fresh cucumber/pepper.

Have a lovely night.

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-10-17