Good afternoon Wee Friends Families!

This morning we were encouraged to try making a pattern with stamps in the art center.  We talked about what a pattern is and remembered some different types of patterns we could make.  We could try to replicate the example of an AB pattern provided, or create our own unique pattern depending on our age and understanding.  There were several interesting takes on this idea.  Some friends came up with an AAABBB pattern or patterns that snaked back and forth across the paper.  One friend made alternating lines of stamps rather than alternating them back and forth in a row.  Some started out with patterns and then chose to go in a different aesthetic direction.  Some friends just wanted to practice stamping.  Everyone took from the activity what fit their individual developmental needs and interests. 

This mornings welcome activity encouraged pattern making in creative ways.  Trays were set up with loose parts that invited pattern possibilities, but could be used in any way a child’s imagination lead them. 

PREK2: At group we focused on showing kindness to friends.  We talked about two ways we could be kind to a friend in our classroom and then picked which we would like to do.

Breakfast: Oatmeal with cinnamon and fresh peaches

Lunch: Farm fresh boiled eggs with whole wheat tortillas, fresh watermelon, fresh carrots and tomatoes

PM Snack: Popped corn with raisins

Wee Sprouts: Fresh green beans and carrots

Link to Photos: 2023-10-18

Enjoy your Wednesday afternoon!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Good Afternoon!

PREK1 friends started their morning by coming to the sign in message where they had to determine what shape came next in the given shape pattern.

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

In PREK1 group, not only did we have to figure out what shape came next in the pattern but we also had to take color into account! Each friend got one piece of white paper with a shape on it. We identified each pattern and when friends had the missing shape, they’d raise their hand and tape the shape into the blank space at the end.

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

We continued working on reproducing and extending patterns at our welcome activity this morning.  We were given the challenge of creating an AABB and an ABC pattern using the pattern cards as a starting pint.  Several older friends extended their cubes into long color patterns of both types.  Younger friends tended to lay the individual cubes on top of the pattern cards matching them up.  Some friends were most interested in simply making a very long rocket ship :).

In the sensory bin we used measuring cups of green and purple water to make a pretend witches’ brew.  Everyone was able to mix up a brew and then use tweezers to add spiders, ants, snakes and lizards to their spooky concoction! 

Breakfast: Cheerios with fresh watermelon.

Lunch: Peanut butter on whole wheat bread, fresh pears/banana, and fresh carrots/cucumber.

PM Snack: Whole wheat cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese.

Wee Sprouts: Fresh green beans and tomatoes.

Link to photos: 2023-10-17

Have a lovely afternoon!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Good afternoon!

This morning, our friends used different instruments to make music. Some of our friends used the xylophones while others played the piano. Even Eleanor got to join in and explore some of the instruments with her friends.

We then made our way to the kitchen to paint with Ms.Tina. We were given different shape sponges and we dipped them in paint. Some friends used their sponge as a stamp while others pushed it back and forth across their papers. Our artwork all turned out beautiful.

We then went outside to engage in some of our favorite activities. We chased friends around the log house, pushed trucks in the rock area, went down the slide, or used our imaginative skills in the play kitchen.

Breakfast: Whole grain Kix cereal with fresh oranges.

Lunch: Refried beans and cheese on whole grain wheat flatbread, cantaloupe slices, and yellow bell pepper.

Afternoon Snack: Whole grain wheat bagel with peanut butter and fresh peach slices.

Wee Sprouts:  Cucumbers.

Have a wonderful evening!

Tina and Rebekah

Link to pictures: 2023-10-17

Happy Monday!

This morning we worked on our colors and matching skills with an activity with Miss Jena using the colored rings and bean bags.  We placed the colored bean bags into the color rings that matched the bean bag we had.

We then headed into the kitchen to engaged with loose parts and engaging our fine motor skills as we used tongs and spoons to pick up our pom-poms and lined up our dominos.

Miss Bekah then brought out our big pumpkin and we played a few games with her and the pumpkin.  First, Miss Bekah sang a song with the friends name she was going to roll the pumpkin to and then we rolled it back to her.  We then played Ring Around The Rosie, but replaced the word Rosie with Pumpkin.

Eleanor worked on her fine motor skills to place a color bead onto the peg on her board.

We then headed outside to engage in our favorite activities.

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

Lunch:  Whole grain wheat penne pasta with red beans, fresh green beans and cantaloupe

Afternoon Snack:  Whole milk yogurt and graham crackers.

Wee Sprouts:  Green bell peppers/yellow bell peppers.

Have a great evening!

Rebekah and Jena

Link to pictures:  2023-10-16

Happy Monday!

During our welcome activity today we practiced making patterns.  We got to try out three different trays with three different types of patterns.  We started with a simple AB pattern and then tried more difficult ones based on our ability.  Several friends enjoyed placing the pieces on the pattern card to start and then extending the pattern either around the perimeter, or snaking pack and forth across the tray.

PREK2:  Today we read the story “The Invisible Boy” and talked about the way the boy might feel in various parts of the story.  At the end we reviewed the pattern recognition we started to learn at our morning activity.  Each one of us came up to choose which one we thought was a pattern.  We talked about the back and forth rhythm that patterns have. 

Breakfast: Whole wheat toast with fresh pears

Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with black beans and fresh watermelon, carrots and cucumber

PM Snack: whole milk yogurt with granola

Wee Sprouts: Fresh tomatoes and carrots

Link to photos:2023-10-16

enjoy the rest of your day!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Happy Friday!  Enjoy some of the pictures from our day.

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

Lunch:  Ham lunch meat on whole grain wheat bread, fresh green bell pepper slices and bananas.

Afternoon Snack:  Mozzarella cheese stick and pretzels.

Wee Sprouts:  Cucumbers.

Have a great weekend!

Rebekah and Tina

Link to pictures:  2023-10-13

Happy Friday the 13th!  Hope everyone kissed their lucky rabbit’s foot  this morning:)

We experimented with the wet watercolor technique on water color paper this today.  After we observed the blooming effect made by the water color dots on the wet paper, we added salt for another interesting effect.  We used brown water color as we are making a background for printing white fall leaves on top of our painting.

 

Effects after adding salt…

Breakfast: Brown rice cakes with peanut butter and fresh pears

Lunch: Hummus on whole wheat bread with our home made applesauce and fresh green beans

PM Snack: Fresh strawberries with Colby jack cheese

Wee Sprouts: Fresh tomatoes

Link to Photos:2023-10-13

Enjoy the weekend!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Good afternoon!

Today we celebrate Eleanor’s first birthday! It’s been such a joy to see her grow this past year.

This morning our friends used wooden blocks and ramps in a variety of ways. Dax pushed his ramp at an angle, which he likes to say is a “hammer.” Other friends looked through the blocks or used the ramps to push plastic people down. Hannah stepped into the block’s side opening and lifted it up to her waist and said “I pulled my pants up.”

Our babies worked on crawling and trying to pull themselves up to standing position.

Our loose parts activity for this morning helped our friends work on stacking. We were given wooden rings, wooden people, and wooden circles for us to assemble the people on. Friends placed the rings on their people and watched as the figure disappeared the higher they stacked the rings. 

Breakfast: Whole grain Chex cereal with fresh bananas.

Lunch: Whole grain brown rice with shredded beef, green beans, and apple slices.

Afternoon Snack: Peanut butter on whole grain Wheat Thins crackers.

Wee Sprout: Red bell pepper.

Have a wonderful evening!

Tina and Rebekah

Link to pictures: 2023-10-12

Good Afternoon!

In PREK1 group, we read, ‘A Tale of Two Beasts’ from our MACK curriculum. The story revolves around two characters and they each get to narrate their version of the story, which end up being vastly different. Throughout the story, we talked about the narrator and how they were feeling at that time while predicting what may come next.

K.RL.2.4: Make predictions about what will happen in a story.

PREK2:  At group we read the non fiction book “Apples” which goes through the process of how apples are grown, picked and shipped to grocery stores.  We talked about where we get apples.  Some friends get them from grocery stores.  Others have gone directly to an apple farm to pick the apples.  After the story we were asked what happens first.  Do we pick the apples first or eat the apples first?  This helps us to begin to list events in order.

Today we made apple sauce with freshly picked organic apples!  Our older friends helped cut apple slices into smaller pieces using a butter knife.  It was a surprise to see how many they cut up.  They diced the whole pot!  Some younger friends who were interested in trying were able to help slice a few pieces as well.   In the afternoon we used the “sauce master” to sauce the apples.  Everyone was very interested in how the machine worked and how it was put together, so everyone watched it assembled piece by piece.  Everyone got a chance to  ask questions about how it worked.  Then  everyone got a chance to help turn the crank and watch the apple sauce come through the screen.

Breakfast: Toasted oatmeal squares with fresh strawberries.

Lunch: Brown rice with butter and chicken, fresh cantaloupe/ bananas, and fresh bell peppers/green beans.

PM Snack:  Peanut butter on whole crackers with sunflower and pepita seeds.

Wee Sprouts:  Fresh cucumbers and green beans.

Link to Photos:2023-10-12

Enjoy the rest of your day!

~Wee Friends Teachers

Good Afternoon!

This morning we engaged in feeding a baby doll a bottle or relaxing in the cube, looking at books, climbing the Habi-trail steps and building with Lego Duplos.

We made our way to the kitchen to engage in a different loose parts activity that consisted of pom poms, dominoes, wooden bowls/cups, and soft tweezers.

Our friends headed outside to explore the leaves and play with trucks.

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

Lunch: Farm fresh scrambled eggs with shredded Colby-Jack cheese, fresh cucumbers, apple slices and whole grain wheat tortillas.

Afternoon Snack:  White corn tortilla chips and refried beans.

Wee Sprouts:  Cherry tomatoes and fresh green beans.

Have a wonderful evening!

Rebekah and Tina

Link to pictures:  2023-10-11