Good Afternoon!

We had an action packed morning at Wee Wee Friends!

To start off the day, Daniel migrated toward the kitchen where he whipped up some fabulous food! He took it to his friends for them to try.

P.K. got his gross motor in for the day by climbing, sliding, and running up the jungle gym.

Friends took part in a leaf activity where they got the chance to glue leaves to black paper.

Glue, push, stick.

After our artwork was finished, children investigated the leaves. P.K. found out early that the leaves can be easily tore apart. Daniel pointed at the different colors that he saw.

We cleaned up the leaves and brought out the scary and creepy bugs! P.K. said “Ooohhh!”

Before we headed outside, children took a quick look at the pictures in the kitchen. They pointed to their friends and gave them nice kisses.

We decided to venture out further to look at more leaves!

We geared up, buckled up, and headed out!

Zoey and Emma loved riding together! Here we go, friends!

Zoey pumped her feet throughout the whole walk. She was pretty excited to be outside! Emma pointed to a couple of dogs she heard.

We saw beautiful trees! We pointed out to our friends that the leaves are changing colors. They start off green and turn to pretty colors such as red, orange, and yellow.

We headed home where we continued our fun outside! We had a blast on our walk.

For breakfast, children had cheerios and apples. Lunch consisted of ham sandwiches, watermelon, and sliced green beans. PM snack was rice cakes with soy butter and string cheese.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Just a reminder that this Thursday, Tami will be taking the older friends to the farm. The following week, October 11th, she will take the younger group.

Today at swimming, Miss Leslie remarked at how well Wee Friends were progressing in their lessons. It was another fun day at the pool!

While the swimmers were away, we explored nursery rhymes. We have two books: one is a traditional book with bright colored illustrations and the other was created by setting the rhymes in an urban setting, New York City. We read/sang and compared the pictures in both books.

Afterwards, we acted out “Jack Be Nimble” (using each friend’s name) and “Little Miss Muppet”.

We introduced our felt nursery rhymes.

After lunch, just before sleeping, our younger friends join a small group with Lisa. She reads a story and follows up with a discussion and, often times, a message board to explore a story or idea more in depth. Every circle ends with a kiss as friends make their way to the potty and/or their cots.

The older friends work with Laurie on the front porch. Mon/Wed/Fri is focused on literacy and Bob Books and Tues/Thurs is math. Sometimes the group gets started before Laurie gets there. This week we are discussing favorite books, hard/soft back, front/back/spine and who and what a character is. (Literacy FAB: K.3.3 Identify characters, settings and events. K.3.4: Identify favorite books). In math, we are working on number recognition and counting.

Here is what naptime looks like, as friends settle themselves in.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Whole wheat toast with peanut butter, and oranges. Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with ham and hummus, watermelon and string beans. Snack: PB Yogurt dip and apple slices.

Have a great day.

Happy Monday!

On the first day of October, we started our day off with block play. Emma and friends sat with one another as they built trains using different blocks. It’s a great fine motor activity as children work hard to get the blocks on the train.

Stories always help our friends settle into the day.

We walked outside and it had turned to Fall! Leaves were on the ground which a few of our friends pointed out. P.K. enjoyed working with a big purple ball. He used his arms to throw the ball across the fence.

Children sat in different places of the backyard. Zoey enjoyed her blanket as she played with different toys. Emma loves the soft feel of the grass.

The slide is always a popular place outside. Today, friends tried to slide down the slide as fast as they could!

Our newest little friend enjoyed some floor time where she showed curiosity by looking around the room. One of her favorite focal points of the room are the fans.

Zoey is continuing to be very adventurous and mobile. She likes standing when a teacher holds her hands. Her leg muscles are very strong and she loves to pull herself up.

In the afternoon, P.K. and Daniel headed to the kitchen where they cooked together. They shared different toys throughout their extended play experience.

For breakfast, children had cheerios and pears. AM snack was pears. Lunch consisted of noodles and black beans, watermelon, and green peas. PM snack was graham crackers and watermelon.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and oranges. Lunch: Whole wheat penne pasta with black beans, watermelon and peas. Snack: Jada’s paleo cookies and raisins.

Have a great day.

Happy Friday!!

With lower numbers today, our friends really bonded and played great with one another.

The first activity that children took part of was building trains. P.K. initiated this by pulling the trains out and saying, “Choo-choo!”. Zoey loved joining in and working with the blocks.

P.K. drove the train around the classroom. Zoey stacked the blocks on top of the train.

Wee Wee Friends train coming through!

P.K. and Emma headed toward the abacus where they pointed to different animals. Working with a teacher, P.K. pointed to each animal. He even made the noises that went along with the animal! For instance, his favorite sound was the dog which said, “Ruff!”

Children settled in by reading some of their favorite books. A favorite lately has been ‘The Wheels on the Bus’. P.K. took the book to Miss Melinda and said, “Round and round.”

Emma and P.K. headed to the puzzles next. They worked with their fine motor skills as they tried to put the puzzle pieces back into the slot. When Emma was done, she put both hands together and clapped for herself.

Finally, time for some gross motor! We headed to the jungle gym where P.K. crawled through holes and said, “Boo!” Emma jumped up and down with P.K. as they laughed together.

Group activities throughout the day allow children to build relationships and start bonds with one another.

For breakfast, children had corn flakes and banana. Lunch consisted of chicken and noodles, hummus on tortilla, broccoli, and applesauce. PM snack was graham crackers and apples.

Have a terrific weekend!

-Mindy

It took us a while to find our Zip today. The morning was a little rough. Several friends were sad to say goodbye to Mom and Dad. Other friends used their bodies to express themselves, instead of words. There was general discontent all around. We checked our environment to see if there were any adjustments we could make, and we set out to the playground….determined to find our Zip again.

A mini-society took shape. A hearty negotiation took place on where the door should be in the house that Arleigh, Nate and Ada created. Next, are friends invited to enter the door? Yes, Jada, Lea and Marta were invited to enter the house and the role playing work. Words were used and physical space was shared. Zip.

Max and Elliott teamed up to take a trike and rickshaw to the gas station for a fill up. What’s Gonna Work? Teamwork. Zip.

More mini-society negotiations. (Still zipping, though.)

Finn found Zip in the sandbox by moving a heavy log to take it to his house, for the crane.

Max offered to help. Mega Zip. The kids are talking and playing and the teachers are breathing easier.

A second mini-society took place that was filled with Zip and sparkly, strawberry ice cream. Who scoops the ice cream? Who sits down? Who drives the rickshaw and who rides? All points negotiated with Zip.

Zippy compromises: “Can you help me? I’ll put it on.” And I’ll help you zip it up.

“I can’t get these apart!”. I can’t either! But that’s ok, now you have two to enjoy! Questionable Zip, but Zip nonetheless.

A Zip Rush when you clean up after spilling rocks or getting to yell as loud as we can! “I can yell this loud outside!”

“I want to play with Macy and Jane!” You talk to your friends about it first, and I will help you next.

“I’d like to play with you.” Ok! Zip! No….ZAP!!!!

We came inside at our usual time full of Zip. It continued during Morning Part II.

We started in the reading area talking about our feelings, our actions and our friendships.

Lisa gathered a small group of friends together to play a memory game with WF garden veggies.

 

Next, she put on the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack and friends, played independently with self regulation, calm and plenty of individual Zip.

Laurie set out Styrofoam, golf tees and hammers for friends to express themselves by pounding, pressing, poking, pushing and pulling. Loud Zip.

Looking back over the morning, it didn’t take long to find our Zip. Together we turned the frown upside down, we flipped the script. We took turns listening and speaking. We helped each other figure out what we need to be Zippy again. “Is it ok to be sad?” a friend asked this morning. Of course, was the reply. We will help each other, when we are sad, not to hurt others.  We will help each other figure out what we need to get happy again. So on we go in to our Friday afternoon with a good supply of Zip. Just the way we like it.

Wee Sprouts: Watermelon. Breakfast: Cheerios and watermelon. Lunch: Chicken and noodles, broccoli and whole wheat bread with hummus. Snack: POPCORN!

ZIP! ZAP! ZOP!!!

Happy Thursday!

We started the day off working with insects of different shapes and sizes. P.K. and Clara emptied the bug bin and put all of the insects on the table. They played pretend with them and lined them up in a circle and a line as well.

Emma enjoys swaying on the swing while she’s outside. She likes to sit with her friends and teachers.

P.K. gravitated towards the green tractor this morning. He used his leg muscles while he pushed it along the pavement.

Since Fall is approaching quite fast, our friends walked through the garden picking what they choose. They enjoyed pulling the flowers as well as any left over tomatoes. Friends helped one another as they looked for certain items.

Friends sat and studied their findings.

P.K. found a tomato that an animal must have gotten to!

Children used their touch to feel different vegetables and leaves.

Emma was determined to walk up the hill by herself. She took her time and used her balancing skills as she climbed the hill.

Zoey enjoyed getting pig tails today! She is getting a new tooth and loves to put different things in her mouth. While on all fours, she spreads her legs out and bounces. Her strength is getting greater day by day!

For breakfast, children had raisin bran and pears. Lunch consisted of ham and bean soup, bread with butter, and apple. Afternoon snack was animal crackers and banana.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

“We’re goin’ on a seed hunt, we’re gonna catch a bunch, it’s such a beautiful day, we’re not scared.”

Farmer Charlotte spent the whole morning with us, as our Trail Leader, pointing out every kind of seed she spotted as we walked through the woods. Here’s the list of seeds Wee Friends explored today: red bud tree seeds, asparagus red seeds, Morning Glories, raspberries, sunflower seeds, two kinds of tall grass seeds, grasshopper seeds, milkweed, Purple Aster, moss, wild leeks and acorns.

We chased/fed the chickens and found a fresh egg. We ate raspberries and comforted the weaning calf. We watched milkweed seeds fly and hid under the root system of an uprooted tree. We cracked and ate seeds from the harvested sunflowers. Beautiful earth. Beautiful day.

Before the farm …….A friend said something akin to “here’s a ticket for the airplane.” Joe Cocker popped into the environment via “The Letter” and our envelope/letter art work became an airplane ticket making project, amongst other things. We practiced cutting and identifying favorite colors. We had a long conversation about Halloween and friends shared their costume plans. Lisa guided a small group of housekeepers and even got her hair cut.

 

“Give me a ticket for an airplane. I ain’t got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone, I’m a comin’ home, Jane wrote me a letter.”

Other friends read with Lisa and independently.

Math work in disguise with Magna Tiles and matching.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kashi and bananas. Lunch: Ham and bean soup, buttered whole wheat bread and pear slices. Snack: Pretzels and bananas.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

Welcome our two newest friends to the Wee Wee classroom! We’re thrilled to have new friends with us!

P.K. and Clara enjoyed playing hide and seek in the cubbies with one another this morning .

The sensory filled morning started with play-dough! We played with red play-dough using golf tees. Friends stuck the tees into the play-dough to make different designs.

Children love showing off their work.

Next, we dipped our hands into oobleck. When the mixture is being rolled or played with it is in a somewhat solid state but once you let it go, it turns into a liquid! Our friends weren’t sure about it at first but most of our friends tried it which is great!

Our gross motor portion of the morning started with jungle gym madness! Friends crawled through different holes and crevices.

Then, we worked on the gross motor tool with the stairs and steps. Clara ran around the room moving her arms all around.

Zoey rocked it out on the piano making all sorts of wonderful music.

While outside, Zoey was ecstatic to have alone time on a big blanket. She played with different toys while listening to the sounds of nature.

For breakfast, children had cinnamon toast and apples. Lunch consisted of brown rice with beef, watermelon, and broccoli. PM snack was rice cakes with cream cheese and raisins.

Have a wonderful evening.

-Mindy

 

Wee Sprouts: WF garden green beans and kale. Breakfast: Oatmeal and bananas. Lunch: Whole grain rice with beef, watermelon and salad. Snack: Goldfish and cheddar cheese slices.

Have a great day.