Good afternoon!

We had a very musical start to our morning! Ms. Jena brought down the drums for our friends. We drummed along to the beat of the “Jungle Animals” song. It instructed us to “stomp like an elephant” so we drummed instead of stomping. We also made music with the pianos and xylophones.

We then went outside for some sensory water play. We used slotted spoons or dishes to watch the water go down the small holes. Ms.Tina showed our older friends how to use the baster to collect and release water. A friend showed their other friends a frog and said “ribbit, ribbit!.”

We then engaged with our other favorite outdoor activities. We sat on a bench and cooled off in the shade, played in the playhouse, used our imaginative skills to pretend to cook in the kitchen, pushed trucks in the circle area, scooped sand with different tools and objects in the sandbox and rode the teeter totter. Eden had so much fun outside that she shared a big smile with Ms.Jena!

Breakfast: Whole grain Cheerios cereal with fresh cantaloupe slices.

Lunch: Whole grain brown rice with red beans, strawberries, and broccoli.

Afternoon Snack: Sunflower seeds with whole grain wheat Triscuit crackers.

Wee Sprout: Cucumber.

Have a wonderful evening!

Tina and Jena

Link to pictures: 2024-05-23

Good Afternoon!

We spent a lot of time caring for animals today at the farm!  We helped out with cleaning out the horses, goats and turkey stalls.  We fed the animals as well.  Next we helped move a mother hen and her new baby chicks into their new enclosure.  We were probably most interested as a group in watching an injured house receive wound care and a change of bandages!  We left with every kind of animal poop on our farm boots, but also with rare and unique learning experiences!

Back at Wee Friends, we had a busy morning of various activities including painting at the art easel, playdough, and an engaging music session!

At the playdough trays, children used a variety of tools to manipulate their playdough including plastic scissors and a garlic press. These two were our favorite tools to use!

These two boys had the same shirt on today AND the accordion was their favorite musical instrument! It was quite popular and we did a quality job of taking turns! Children explored musical instruments such as maracas, triangle, and wooden sticks.

The art easel was opened and quickly, a few friends came to set up camp and complete several paintings. There were several different markings that children made on their paper including dots and thin lines. When Paige finished her painting, she pronounced, “It’s my sister; Rowan!”.

Breakfast– Chex and fresh pineapple.

Lunch– Brown rice with shredded turkey, fresh watermelon, and fresh snap peas/cucumber/green pepper.

PM snack– Whole wheat crackers with peanut butter and a mixture of toppings including sunflower seeds, pepita seeds, and peanuts.

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

Have a great night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-05-23

Happy Wednesday!

Last week one little girl had been so interested in scissors that all she wanted to do was cut paper into little pieces.  This led to cutting up the envelopes that were provided to hold the little pieces of paper…  So this week we created a sensory bin where cutting things into tiny pieces was the entire objective!  There were several friends that learned to use scissors during this activity who had never tried them before. Paige was a little nervous but as she got the hang of using the scissors she exclaimed “Yeah! I like this!” 

We continued to follow the scissor interest into the art center, cutting up colored straws for open ended creation.  Some friends decided they would cut up straws for “other friends” to use…so they could keep cutting.  Others enjoyed making things with the straws.  Adrian said he was making “hammers and hats” with his straws.  William made a “person”.  He chose to lay out his design ahead of time so his pieces were pre-cut to the correct size.  In doing so, he demonstrated some excellent forethought and planning skills!  All this was the result of one child’s interest!  That’s why we love child led learning at Wee Friends!

Several friends created an obstacle course using squares to jump on.  It attracted a lot of attention and participation from the rest of the classroom!

Breakfast: Oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh strawberries

Lunch: Whole wheat tortilla egg and cheese roll-ups with fresh pineapple, banana, carrots and snap peas

PM Snack: Air-Popped corn with raisins

Wee Sprouts: fresh snap peas and carrots

Have a wonderful afternoon!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Link to Photos:2024-05-22

Good Afternoon!

The friends began their morning engaging in a variety of activities.  Eliza, Eleanor and Milo engaged at the circle table with the colored bucket people and color bowls loose parts, another friend looked at a book, Eden dressed up in dress up clothes and accessories, and Charlotte walked around carrying an animal.

We then headed into the kitchen to engage with more loose parts.  There were hollow circles and rings with people.  While Ben was playing with his loose parts, he asked Miss Tina, “is this how this goes?”  Miss Tina then explained to Ben that there is no right way to play with loose parts.

When we headed outside, Miss Bekah got out the wagon and we all made multiple trips around the circle before the preschool friends came out.

We then enjoyed engaging in our favorite activities.

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

Lunch:  Farm fresh scrambled eggs, fresh cantaloupe, cucumbers and whole grain wheat tortillas.

Afternoon Snack:  White corn tortilla chips with hummus.

Wee Sprouts:  Red bell peppers.

Have a wonderful evening!

Rebekah and Tina

Link to pictures: 2024-05-22

Good afternoon!

This morning, our friends built with the BounceBlocks and created mini towers along the Habi-trail rails. They practiced their balancing skills by climbing on them to stand. Our friends also enjoyed playing in the kitchen and bringing different fruits and vegetables to the table.

We went outside to do art with watercolors. Our friends dipped their brushes in the water and then chose a color to paint with. Some of our friends identified the color they were choosing. Ben shared that he was painting an “orange bug.”

We then enjoyed some more time outside. We played with trucks under the shade in the circle area, engaged with the sand in the sandbox, and explored the sea animals at the table with our friends.

Breakfast: Whole grain Kix cereal with fresh apple slices.

Lunch: Whole wheat flatbread with refried beans and shredded Colby-Jack cheese, pea/corn mixture, and fresh berry medley (blueberries and strawberries).

Afternoon Snack: Whole grain wheat bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprout: Cucumber.

Have a beautiful evening!

Tina and Rebekah

Link to pictures: 2024-05-21

Hello!

Yesterday, we talked about the days of the week in group and sign in so today, we focused on the months! Children signed in under the month that comes after May! We read ‘A Child’s Calendar’ during PREK1 group which highlights each month and what it may look like with weather or holidays. Children always acknowledge the month that their birthday is in!

Social Studies: K.1.5 Explain that calendars are used to represent days of the week and months of the year.

A few of our older friends used scissors in the sensory bin to cut leaves. We’ve been interested in cutting with scissors lately at the art table so they cut leaves to use for their salad! Bowls and tongs were supplied so that salads could be created. They talked about the different sizes of leaves as well as the parts of the leaf.

Trays were made available on the circle table this morning with kinetic sand and various loose parts. White tiles, wooden circles, and small animals were placed in the middle of the lazy susan that children could use in their play. This type of open ended play allows children to use their imagination since there is no right or wrong or following of directions! For example, Nesta took her kinetic sand and built a home for her animals. She used the wooden circles for a few animals to hide in.

A few friends helped Miss Linsey plant green beans and cucumbers in our garden. We can’t wait to see the vegetables flourish this year because vegetables are our absolute favorite!

Breakfast– Kix and fresh cantaloupe.

Lunch– Peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread/flatbread, fresh strawberries/banana, and fresh cucumber/pepper/carrot.

PM snack– Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprout– Fresh pepper/cucumber/carrot.

Have a wonderful night!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-05-21

Good Afternoon!

To kick off our week, we dove into calendars: what’s in a calendar, why do we use it, and the intricate things that make up a calendar. For PREK1 sign in, children had to determine how many days are in a week. A few kiddos went into the science area to look at the calendar we use for group. They counted the number of days in a given week and figured out that the answer was 7!

Later on in PREK1 group, we read ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. Throughout the story, children helped me complete each page by saying aloud the day of the week that the caterpillar was on.

Everyday before we go journal, we complete our calendar activity which consists of the mat guard (helper for the week) crossing off the current day and saying the date aloud as a group. For example, today children said, “Today is Monday, May 29th 2024.”.

Social Studies: K.1.5 Explain that calendars are used to represent days of the week and months of the year.

Katherine has been creating little ephemeral works of art using natural objects when outside recently.  It seemed like everyone might enjoy expanding on the idea of nature based artwork with found objects if we added some paper and glue.  Quite a few friends worked on making artwork with objects they could find.  The kids found a wide range of materials from sticks, to leaves to seeds and flowers.  Nesta had an interesting idea to use a clover leaf to make a heart and surround the heart with tiny butter cups!

Everyone enjoyed some water play in the shade during the heat of the day!  As the kids explored all of the outdoor activities I was reminded of something I read about early childhood and sensory over the weekend,  “When children explore through thier senses, their brains create new connections as well as strengthen existing ones”.  It is especially rewarding to provide these experiences for children knowing what is going on inside their developing brains.

In PREK2 we read “All The World” We talked about what we saw in the book that reminded us of things we can do in the summer.  We talked about the “hot” summer months, June, July and August.  We talked about events or activities that happen during those months and then picked what we thought would be our favorite summer month.

Breakfast– Whole wheat english muffins with butter and fresh clementines.

Lunch– Whole wheat pasta with black beans/shredded cheese, fresh cantaloupe/pears, and fresh carrots/snap peas/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: 2024-05-20

Reminder:  Wee Friends will be closed next Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day.  Thank you.

Good Afternoon!

This morning we engaged in our bird seed/rice mixture sensory table in the kitchen.  The friends were using spoons and cups to scoop up the mixture and pour it back into the table or into a bowl.  There are also some plastic salamanders in the mixture that they enjoyed hiding and then finding.

We then went on a bear hunt with our stuffed animal bears while listening to the song.

Today was our first water play outside for the season.  We engaged with water at the table with the sea animals and in the rock area under the tree.  We had a great time!

Breakfast:  Whole grain wheat bread toasted with peanut butter and fresh mandarin oranges.

Lunch:  Whole grain wheat penne pasta with red beans,  fresh cucumbers and pears.

Afternoon Snack:  Whole milk yogurt with fresh blueberries.

Wee Sprouts:  Red bell peppers.

Have a wonderful evening!

Rebekah and Tina

Link to pictures: 2024-05-20

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

This morning we engaged with our drums.  We used our hands to make beats as we all played together.

We then headed into the kitchen with Miss Bekah to paint with Puffy Paint.  Puffy paint is a mixture of shaving cream, glue and liquid water color paint.  The friends enjoyed using a paint brush to dab or spread the mixture onto their papers.  Once it is dry, it will be a puffy painting.

During outside play, we engaged in the sandbox with our hands; feeling the texture between them as we rubbed our hands together and dug with scoops and containers.  Eliza and several other friends observed worms they found in the dirt around the rock circle by the little house.

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

Lunch:  Avocado chicken, whole grain wheat bread, butternut squash and pineapple.

Afternoon Snack: Goldfish crackers with Colby-Monterey Jack block cheese slices and banana.

Wee Sprout: Red bell peppers.

Have a great weekend!

Rebekah and Tina

Link to pictures: 2024-05-17

Happy Friday!

**Wee Friends will be closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day.

Enjoy some pictures from today!

In PREK2, we read ‘Will You Be My Friend’, which follows several animals helping out their friends! Afterwards, we got to share with the group which of the animals from the story was their favorite. Bunny and Bird were the clear favorites!

Breakfast- Brown rice cakes with cream cheese and fresh orange slices.

Lunch- Homemade chicken avocado on whole wheat flatbread, fresh pineapple/oranges, and fresh red bell pepper/cucumbers/carrots.

PM Snack- Block cheddar cheese with goldfish.

Wee Sprout- Fresh red bell pepper/cucumbers/carrots.

Have a great weekend!

-Wee Friends Teachers

Link to pictures: 2024-05-17