We tried a new sensory activity today: foam dough! It’s made with corn starch and shaving cream. Our friends first gave it a few curious pokes before testing out how it felt in their hands. It was soft and silky and also very moldable. They enjoyed flattening it with their hands and spreading it on the table. Ruby liked how it felt on her toes!

The pegs were very popular this afternoon. They were stuck into the foam boards and stacked on top of each other and made into tall towers. While playing with these, our friends are building their fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, visual motor coordination, and developing and strengthening visual perception skills!

Breakfast was whole wheat toast with butter and cinnamon and pears. Lunch consisted of whole wheat bread with hummus, strawberries, and corn. Afternoon snack was crackers with cream cheese.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!86591&authkey=!ABl7bVxV-yQ5rts&ithint=folder%2cJPG

Hello!

In Kindergarten today:

We continued on the theme of weather and how it affects people and the environment. After reading ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’, we discussed different weather patterns and terms by brainstorming words that are associated with the general term, ‘weather’. Our most popular word was ‘tornado’ so we dove a little more into this topic.

“When there’s a tornado, you have to go to the basement!”

I questioned the group by saying, “I don’t have a basement at my home. What would I do?”

This sparked different suggestions like going into a bathroom or a closet!

During our journal time, children used their kid spelling to complete their journals!

This morning, Addi and Elliott worked on a rainbow themed pattern using the unifix cubes. They started adding different colors together. For example, “If we took the red and green cubes together, how many do we have?”

Once Addi started on the second unifix pattern, Elliott made a comment that went a little something like this: “This looks like the Eiffel Tower!”

Cue emergent literacy opportunity.

Once we started talking about the Eiffel Tower, friends gathered around so we could look up some information about this structure. Daniel let us know that he gets to go to Paris over the summer! A few things we found out:

-It was completed in 1889. (we discussed how far back that was!)

-It’s as tall as an 81 story building.

-The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second floors.

We looked up pictures and found an informational video that showed us different views of the tower. We saw pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night and during the day. Friends especially liked how it lit up at night!

The computer was used to find a picture of the Eiffel Tower so that friends could come to the table and sketch it if they so chose.

We used great detail and asked questions pertaining to the tower such as what shapes we saw within the tower.

Someone asked, “How do we spell it?!”

An example of how we spell ‘Eiffel Tower’ was made available. We were quite curious about this building which got the group discussing where they’ve traveled. We have QUITE the traveling crew .

Our outside time allowed us to fulfill what each one of us needed: quiet time at the art table or area to run around on this beautiful day.

Wee Sprouts– Carrots.

Breakfast– Kix and oranges.

Lunch– Cheese quesadillas, oranges/bananas, green peppers/carrots.

PM snack– Homemade banana and applesauce muffins with block cheese.

Hope everyone has a terrific night.

Reminder: Group A goes to the farm tomorrow!

Link to pictures: WF 4/19

Today we were developing large muscle control outside…

Stacking and stirring in housekeeping…

And reading books on our own and with friends in the story area!

Breakfast was Whole Grain Cheerios and bananas. Wee sprouts was mixed vegetables. Lunch consisted of whole wheat tortilla with cheese, peaches, and mixed vegetables. Afternoon snack was homemade banana muffins and string cheese.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!86415&authkey=!AHZMCb10-1hSjHQ&ithint=folder%2cJPG

Please note: Please bring in a couple sets of spare clothes for the spring and summer. We’re sending home all but one fall/winter outfit.

Franklin and David wore hats to school today. They liked them so much that they didn’t want to take them off! They thought they both looked pretty cool!

We put the new art table to use! It was a very popular spot outside today. Ruby and Emma joined our older friends and drew some beautiful pictures with makers.

Breakfast was whole wheat toast with butter and cinnamon. Wee sprouts was peas. Lunch consisted of whole wheat pasta with red beans, bananas, and peas. Afternoon snack was organic whole milk yogurt and crackers.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!86335&authkey=!ALQSgLvgwlL0lr4&ithint=folder%2cJPG

Good Afternoon!

**Farm Trip Notice: We have two groups this spring who will go to the farm. Group A will be going (weather permitting) to the farm this Wednesday, April 20th. Please have your child here by 9:30 in the morning.

Group A: Jackson, Elizabeth, Addi, Riley, Clara, Eren, Emerson, Elliott, Daniel

Group B: Maddie, Lulu, Max, Lucy, Tate, Rosemary, and Anna.

_________________________________________________________________

In Kindergarten today..

K.3.5 Describe and give examples of weather changes and illustrates how weather affects people and the environment.

In large group, we read a Robert Munsch book entitled, “50 below Zero.” We discussed different weather patterns, especially in the winter time. There was an ice cube scenario in the story which prompted a conversation about what would happen if we put an ice cube outside on a day like today. Here were a few answers that were given:

“If we put an ice cube outside today, the sun would melt it!”

“If we did it in the winter time, the ice cube would expand! I’ve tried it in my freezer before.”

“Could we do that here?!”

Lucy sat at the table at 9:00 this morning and said, “Can we do those pickles now?!” Last week, Miss Melinda had shared some of her pickles which sparked conversations about how pickles are made. A friend reiterated today, “We use cucumbers to make pickles!”

Before we tried them, we used our sense of smell!

Many friends tried different pickles, including Bread & Butter and Sweet pickles. The reactions were mixed .

While friends were taste testing them, a conversation was started about the similarities and differences between the two kinds we had. Elliott commented, “This one right here is 2d and flat while the other one is 3d!”

We took a vote: “Raise your hand if you liked the sweet pickle.”

“Raise your hand if you did not like the sweet pickle.”

Friends looked around the table and we counted the number of hands that were raised.

Our group is often very interested in trying new and interesting foods!

There were many different story time opportunities this morning! Our friends have been interested in Robert Munsch lately!

Holy moly was it a gorgeous day. Friends admired the new art table that Miss Tami made over the weekend!

Friends took a moment out of their day to smell this wonderful tree!

*We want to send a HUGE thank you to the families who came out Saturday to help with the garden and backyard. Michelle (Cassie’s mom), Bill and Amy with the help of Elliott and Lucy, and Andrei with the help of Daniel: we are SO grateful for all of your help! You rock!

Wee Sprouts: Broccoli/cauliflower.

Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter and apples.

Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with red kidney beans, oranges, and carrots.

PM snack: Organic whole milk yogurt with fresh PPC peaches.

Have a great night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 4/18

Happy Friday! We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Breakfast was Cheerios and bananas. Wee sprouts was peas. Lunch consisted of whole wheat bread with hummus, bananas, and peas. Afternoon snack was string cheese and pears.

See you Monday!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!86125&authkey=!AF4UOp6NQhw_ebE&ithint=folder%2cJPG

This morning, a large poster of the solar system that a friend found in a book captured the attention of many children! The colorful poster sparked discussion about which planets were which and other spaced related questions.

Speaking of space, another friend realized it had been awhile since we had worked with moon sand! This being true, we promptly set out to make a fresh batch. First, friends gathered on the music rug to answer the question, “What color should we make the moon sand?” Green was the winning color with 6 votes. Clara was especially pleased with this outcome as she argued, “It should be green like grass in the summer!”

Next, we gathered around the art table to measure and pour our ingredients: flour, baby oil, and tempera paint powder.

“What colors do we use to make green?”—“Blue and yellow!!”

And voilà! Moon sand green like summer grass.

We were also super active in the habitrail today. Luckily the beautiful sunshine today meant lots of outside time.

Before heading outdoors this morning, I passed out a special goodbye gift to each friend: a homemade heart-shaped crayon. Thank you so much for letting me be part of your lives—I will miss each and every one of you! I’ll still be in South Bend so please keep in touch.

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Brown rice cakes with cream cheese and bananas. Lunch: Whole wheat bread with hummus, fresh broccoli/cauliflower, and bananas/oranges. Snack: Special homemade chocolate cake in honor of my last day and kiwi/mango.

Link to the photos: WF 4/15/2016

Have a wonderful weekend! Love, Miss Jessica

I hope you all had a great day! Enjoy the photos!

Breakfast was toast with sweet pea butter and bananas. Wee sprouts was mixed vegetables. Lunch consisted of whole grain brown rice with cream cheese, bananas, and mixed vegetables. Afternoon snack was crackers with cream cheese.

Have a good night!

Amanda

Link to photos:  https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!85966&authkey=!AJZKjArd2BTQYro&ithint=folder%2cJPG

*Reminder: This upcoming Saturday (4/16) is the WF Garden Work Day. We will be working on tilling the garden and preparing it for planting. All families are welcome to join! We will be starting around 10 am. Please enter/exit through the side gate so as not to track dirt through the house. Thank you and hope to see you Saturday!

This morning started off with a seed sort exploration. Friends were given a tray with four different types of seeds: pea, sunflower, cucumber and pepper. Their job? Sort out all the seeds! Besides working fine motor skills, this activity invited children to ask lots of questions about the seeds and encouraged them to look at the similarities and differences between them. Many friends recognized the sunflower seeds as seeds we sometimes eat!

The easel was also open for painting!

Outside we had a blast writing with chalk all over the sidewalks. Many friends practiced writing their names while others drew pictures. We’re absolutely loving this sunshine and warmer weather.

Kindergarten: Today Elliott discovered the flip books we have where the ending of the word stays the same (-ill, –ox, etc.) while the beginning of the word changes (p-, b-, dr-, etc.) He did a great job sounding out the words by blending the two parts of the word. It was a little extra challenging because all the letters were lowercase!

Wee Sprouts: Tomatoes. Breakfast: Kix and fresh pears. Lunch: Whole grain brown rice with quinoa and mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, and apples. Snack: Whole wheat Triscuits and no-nut butter.

Link to the photos: WF 4/14/2016

Have a great day! –Jessica

Today’s kitchen activity was sensory paint bags! Each bag was filled with two different paint colors. Our friends loved squeezing and smooshing the bags and watching the colors move around and blend together! They also enjoyed the cool, smooth texture of the bag. Friends rubbed their hands over it’s surface and some picked the bag up to feel against their cheek.

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Breakfast was whole grain oatmeal and bananas. Wee sprouts was mixed vegetables. Lunch consisted of chicken avocado on tortilla, pears, and mixed vegetables. Afternoon snack was crackers with hummus.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos:  https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!85807&authkey=!AEKCP7vm55uMq6Q&ithint=folder%2cJPG