Today,the WWF’s worked with Lisa coloring boiled eggs. The children assisted Lisa on the preparation of the project materials and they selected the colors to for their egg dipping. They also stirred the eggs with a spoon to ensure each egg would be totally covered with the coloring mixture.

This morning we also had a very productive music session. Children sang “Aram Sam Sam” creating their own movement using the colored scarves. We also talked about the colors they chose to have as we took the scarves out. With the scarves too, we sung “The wheels on the bus” WF’s style (When Maite is on the buss, go “m, m, m. When Finn is on the bus, go f, f, f..).

For reading aloud today we read “Bunny Tale” and “You and Me, Little Bear”

What a great start to the week!  We enjoyed some simple collaging of many different things today: tissue paper, shapes in all different sizes & colors, letters, cotton balls, and straws just to name a few.

When we engage in art activities, we always make your child aware of what they are doing and help them to reflect on their work. We use art for a time of vocabulary development, concept development (learning shapes, colors, big versus small) and problem solving (what goes first, what will we need).  Conversations also help children appreciate art.   We try to convey the following messages:  I am aware of what you are doing, I am interested in your efforts and in you, I will help you look closely at your own work, and I appreciate your growing confidence!

We had fun dancing today!  Due to winter weather this morning, we needed to burn off some energy inside.   Finn and Jonathon loved the fire truck song!  Our WWF can sure use their bodies to express their ideas, to respond to music,  and to convey their feelings.  Encouraging them to vary their responses to different musical phrases, helps them to learn about the body’s ability to move and they use time and space in many different ways!
Looking for different textures to explore for the infants in our house, we taped a big piece of bubble wrap to the floor. Olivia, Sloane and Pnei’el were very interested in the sounds it made and the feeling in their fingers and knees when they experimented with it.

For story time WWF’s read Bunny Days byao Nyeu.

We also spent  some time outside this afternoon.  We are loving our “circle” for our wheeled toys!  They are really getting the hang of peddling!  These toys are great for building muscle strength while promoting balance and coordination!

Hats off to Tami, her husband, and children for working on our “WWF” gated area this weekend.  Check it our for yourselves, you will be amazed!  They also installed an outdoor art easel for us on the back of our house!

 

Have a great week, and we will have another update soon!

 

Today WWFs worked on sorting buttons by attributes (colors and shapes). Using their individual rugs to define their space and to help them work without being interrupted, children lined up their buttons in rows according to the attribute they chose. They also counted them.

Some children chose to work with playdough and practice making candles (work that we started departing from our reading aloud “Birthday Zoo”) and singing happy birthday. We have also linked our playdough time to “Patty Cake” making little buns and patting and pricking as we chant this rhyme. Finn has specially enjoyed making the playdough look like mud and getting animals and trains stuck in it.

This week we have added bubbles and color to our water play. Children have especially enjoyed this, feeling excited and curious. We have also added opportunities for them to learn to squeeze water off of cloth rugs. This a sophisticated skill to learn for 2 year olds and they specially enjoy it. We have broken this activity into the following steps:

Our WWFs finally seem to be old enough for larger group story times to become part of our daily routine. Before this, reading had been done mostly to 1-3 children with a teachuer. We are using individual rugs to help them with identifying their own sitting space and learning to listen to the story without interrupting or distracting their friends.

We can also officially say that for most of our WWF sippy cups are a thing from the past. And they are VERY proud! (all that pouring work is paying off :)).

Melinda began our day with a musical lesson using kazoos! The kids were excited to play the kazoos as Melinda created different rhythms and played a medley of songs with various tempos. At one point, one of the older kids began marching while playing his kazoo-all the children followed suit! F.3.1 Follow along and imitate patterns of sounds and movement. F.3.2 Reproduce patterns of sounds and movement.

A small groups of friends spent time at the art table studying the plastic milk jugs Jane brought in (thank you Matt!) and discussing what to make with them. They decided they would make pirate milk mugs and used markers to individualize them. From there, they cheered each other taking big gulps! They also painted the salt dough creations from last week. Some of our toddlers created paper plate art.  F.2.7 Show individuality by actions such as drawing a pumpkin that differs in color and design from the traditional.

A few friends spent time in the Science Center experimenting with the magnetic ball and rods making discoveries: How tall can I build it? How many pieces do I have? Which pieces will stick together? Will it stand up by itself? What can I use it for?  F.2.1 Participate in activities related to number sequencing and counting.

Take a look at our sensory table when you come in! Tami switched out the rice ocean for a treasure chest, gold coins and sand. We moved the wooden pirate ship to the truck room where it will live with our other trio pirate ships! She also added a fish net to our ship environment in Hopscotch. Don’t forget to find your child’s pirate symbol that they sewed on the WF flag now mounted in Hopscotch! F.2.15 Enjoy repetition of materials and activities to further explore, manipulate, and exercise the imagination.

 Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day!

This week WF and WWF have began working on phase one of our garden work. On Tuesday “wee wees” and “wees” planted their first two trays of cherry tomatoes.

WWFs worked on transferring potting soil to the flats, leaving them ready

for WFs to put seeds in. Yesterday, three children worked on preparing pellets for seed planting pouring warm water on them and observing how they puffed up (to their surprise!).

All the seedlings we get started are being kept at the Greenhouses on Mishawaka Ave. They have kindly allowed us to keep our trays in their facilities ensuring proper light and temperature for our seedlings.

Special thanks to Amy for all of her help with this project!!! And to allparents who have donated materials!

We will continue to plant throughout the

following weeks, stay tuned for more gardening news!

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