Happy Birthday, Marty!!!!

The day began with paper hearts. Using scissors, stick glue, and markers, Wee Friends created hearts of all sizes. Hearts were created for each other, teachers and MARTY, on this her special day….

Several weeks ago, friends created stained glass window art with wax paper and tempera paint. This morning, they each found their creation and worked at turning it into a kite! We studied four shapes: hearts, diamonds, squares and circles. Friends chose the shape they wanted their kite to become and with pipe cleaners, and tape, set out to create it.

Other areas of the classroom were busy with train tracks, hammer and nails, dollies, apple pie, good friends and a dinosaur book!!

We pretended we were at a real theatre to watch a puppet show! First, a small group of friends made paper tickets. The ticket master collected tickets and friends gathered into an audience to watch the show. In pairs, friends chose puppets and a slow/fast/with words/without words song to accompany them as they told their original story.

Friends understood that they must listen and not talk as they watched each puppet actor tell the story. They learned how to applaud at the end of each scene. They understood that they must sit and watch the action taking place without getting up and down. And of course….they learned they must bow after each performance! The final musical request was “Dynamite”. The curtain came down on the puppet plays and friends moved their bodies, stretched their muscles, hopped, skipped and sang their hearts out.

We calmed our bodies by laying on our green mats and meditating to a new song: Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful.”.

And then we raced outside to soak up the sun!

Our Wee Sprouts today are diced pineapple. For breakfast we served Chex and Kix with fresh pineapple. Lunch was a farm fresh egg casserole, applesauce and steamed asparagus.

Parent/Child Conversation Starters:

• Let’s look around our house and count how many circles (any shape) we can find!
• When you are at the workbench, do you enjoy using the hammer or the saw the most? Why?
• How would a kitty cat puppet talk? What about a pirate puppet?
• Is that voice the same or different from your voice?
• During music meditation do you like to talk or do you like to close your eyes? Why?

Enjoy a restful weekend with your family.

We started our day with a kite tutorial! Melinda explained how to assemble the kites and then paired friends as kite flying buddies. We learned a few verses to “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and then off we went!

Each friend had the opportunity to pull the string, run and experience the excitement of their kite being airborn!

Kids ran across the field when Melinda’s kite flew high above! As we prepared to leave, Lisa started a game of “Duck, Duck Goose!” and friends took a long cold drink!

Breakfast this morning was Corn Chex and clementines. For lunch we are serving toasted chedder cheese sandwiches on whole grain tortillas, pear slices and green pea pods.

Have a terrific day!

FARM TOMORROW!

Because the forecast for tomorrow is clear, sunny and warm, Tami is scheduling a trip to the farm with our older Wee Friends. Here’s the group that will be going: Ada, Annie, Arleigh, Jane, Macy, Simon, Viv and Kai. Please make sure your child has layered clothing (Tshirt/sweatshirt) and if your child doesn’t have boots here at WF, a pair of old tennis shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy.

The swimmers boarded the Weehicle at 9:30, but there were many explorations happening prior to their departure! What are the benefits of block play?

1. Increases hand-eye coordination.
2. Cultivates logical thinking.
3. Cultivates spatial awareness.
4. Improves socialization by building ‘something’ with friends and siblings.
5. Enhances language skills by negotiating plans and talking about the end product.

Nate worked with teachers to help fold the daily towels.

Lisa invited a few friends to a message board to create patterns using letters, numbers and shapes.

A Princess Puzzle book was discovered and our princesses worked hard to assemble these 24 piece puzzles.

Simon came to school today excited about sharing his robot arm. Melinda created a lesson plan by setting out a variety of different objects and inviting friends to see which items the robot arm could pick up. Throughout this fine motor exploration, friends discussed the size and different attributes of the items as they went along.

Macy brought a favorite book to share with her friends: Mother Goose, illustrated by B.F. Wright. When they began reciting “Baa Baa Black Sheep” they were surprised to discover a verse new to them!

“Baa Baa Black Sheep, Have you any wool?

Yes, marry, have I, three bags full.

One for my master, one for my dame,

But none for the little boy who cries down the lane!”

Originally written in 1744, a brief research indicates the above version was published in 1916!

The swimmers went on their way and back in the classroom, we filled up the senses of our younger Wee Friends! First, painting with watercolors, and then chalk and drippy wet rags to squeeze and erase with.

Next we pulled out a bag of frozen veggies and with tubs of warm water, explored what happens to the cold frozen veggies when soaked in warm water. They squished, ate, spooned and popped green beans out of pods. Additional Wee Sprouts were mixed veggies.

FABS – Week of 3/12: Literacy: K.2.4-Identify types of everyday print materials. K.7.4-Recite short poems, rhymes and songs. Math: K.3.1-Identify, sort, and classify objects by size, number, and other attributes. Identify objects that do not belong to a particular group. K.3.2-Identify, copy, and make simple patterns with numbers and shapes.

Our Wee Sprouts today are carrots and cucumber slices. Breakfast was Kix and pear slices. For lunch, we served romaine salad, ham sandwiches on whole wheat rolls cantelope.

Enjoy this wonderful, WARM day!!!!

Happy Monday! The Blue Bus came and friends built tunnels, walked the balance beam and jumped on the trampoline. Miss Jennifer set up the swing and friends were able to swing from the ceiling of the bus!

While our older friends (first group) waited for Miss Jennifer to come get them, they sang a new Wee Friends life skills song called “Nosey Snacks” and recited “Rain, Rain Go Away.”

While our younger Wee friends waited for their group, Lisa played an object identification game. Using plastic gingerbread people and red counting rods, she created patterns. Friends identified which objects belonged and which didn’t, as well as the pattern they created.

Other friends worked on the oval rug creating the first letter of their name with wooden dowels.

While our younger friends were on the bus, a small group of children worked at the art table with paper, glue and two paper shapes: pink circles and blue triangles. Friends wrote the first letter of their name on the paper and glued the shapes, in a variety of patterns, to their letter and the paper.

While Lisa played cards with a small group of friends, Kai and Simon began studying our several Jack and the Beanstalk books to find a picture to use as inspiration for a 3D model. Once they got started, several friends joined in to create their own. Each friend completed the first step today: painting the floor/ground of their model.

A big thank you to the Guisinger-Nickerson family for the rock donation! Tami is still looking for logs of all shapes and sizes!

Our Wee Sprouts today are cherry tomatoes and carrots. Breakfast was whole wheat toast with peanut butter and clementines. For lunch, Tami served whole wheat pasta with black beams, fruit salad and carrots/peas.

“Nosey Snacks”

“Just Say No to Nosey Snacks, No! No! No!

Just Say No to Nosey Snacks, No! No! No!

Carrots are yummy in my tummy.

Cookies are yummy in my tummy.

Chicken is yummy in my tummy,

But Nosey Snacks? Pick, pick, pick, chew, chew, chew…

EEEEE-OOOOOO!!

“Just Say No to Nosey Snacks, No! No! No!

Just Say No to Nosey Snacks, No! No! No!”

Have a great day.

Using our three bean collection, we created art.

Kai led a round of The Ladybug Game.

Umi was thrilled that her buddy Max came to spend the day with us. Together, they sorted and patterned bugs (and hid them in the cubbies!)

There’s no better place for a story than on a WF teacher’s lap.

We wrapped a piece of paper inside a Mason jar, tossed in a few beans and a couple drops of watercolor, tightened the lid and sang “Shake, shake, shake…shake the beans..yah!”

We set out a long green sheet and asked “What should we do with this?” Annie got up, pointed to the hammock hook and smiled. With close teacher supervision, many Jacks climbed up this beanstalk.

Our Wee Sprouts today are carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. Breakfast was Chex/Kix and raisins. For lunch Lisa slow cooked a pot of pinto beans, adding shredded chicken and rice…….mmmmmmmm!!!! So good! We served peas and fruit salad with it.

Have a terrific, restful weekend.

Happy Birthday, Tami Barbour! Today Tami turns um..uh……..much more than three today!

We all worked together to mix, stir and bake delicious brownies!

With our friends already at the table, we introduced a three bean tasting experiment. We passed out kidney, garbanzo and northern beans and Melinda recorded “Which bean did you like best?”

Wee Friends ate the beans up, asking for second helpings. The favorite bean was the red kidney bean. Friends described it as creamy and soft.

A few friends brought in their favorite book. Melinda read Color Kittens and afterward, invited friends to the art table to experiment with color combinations. Using tempera paints and popsicle sticks, friends mixed colors and discovered new colors in doing so.

A small group of friends took turns sequencing Jack and the Beanstalk pictures into the order in which the action occurred.

We sang and danced…..

Read books…..

Studied and sorted money….

Played cards….

Meditated to “Puppy Love” with something/someone we love…..

Sang along with Melinda’s accordion, soaked pinto beans and made sure Tami felt very well loved on this, her Special Day!

Wee Sprouts today are green pea pods and cauliflower. Breakfast was whole wheat toast and apple slices. For lunch, Tami made her delicious farm fresh egg casserole, mixed veggies and whole wheat toast….her Bday brownie was served for an ever-rare dessert! For snack, we will serve homemade rice pudding.

Have a Happy Day.

Bridges and beans were the excitement of the morning! Using popsicle sticks, glue and scrap wood, Lisa guided Wee Friends in a bridge building exploration.

In another part of the classroom, a small group of friends gathered to sort black beans, red kidney beans and black eyed peas.

We looked at a picture of Jack’s beans in one of our several versions of the story. We studied how the beans were alike and different. We learned the names for each variety and studied the shapes and colors of the beans. Friends filled miniature pie tins with beans and when they fell to the floor, they imagined they were picking berries.

After this sensory exploration, Melinda led a science experiment. First, she examined the many different illustrations of beanstalks in our Jack books. They further studied the the shape, size, color and names of the beans. She asked “Do you think these beans will grow?” Each friend chose one of the three variety of beans and went outside to plant the bean in a small pot. Over the coming days, friends will watch to see if their beans will grow.

While friends were waiting for their turn to go outside, we created drama with our hula hoop/fabric tunnel and a tambourine. A WF became a seed hidden deep in the ground. As the tambourine shook, the WF Seed grew and grew….the tambourine stopped, and the WF Seed popped up and out of the earth! We sang our Jack song and practiced echoing:

“Jack and the Beanstalk, what a story, Jack and the Beanstalk, what a tale!

There’s a mom, (there’s a mom) and there’s Jack (and there’s Jack)!

There’s a cow (there’s a cow) and a duck (and a duck)!

(together) There’s a Giant and His Wife, Jack runs for his life in

Jack and the Beanstalk, what a story, Jack and the Beanstalk, what a tale!”

Our Wee Sprouts today are organic carrots. Breakfast was oatmeal and clementines. For lunch, Tami prepared chicken and brown rice, romaine and raisin salad with balsamic vinaigrette and bananas.

Tomorrow is “Bring Your Favorite Book to School “Day! Please encourage your child to bring a book!

Have a great day!

Today began with Chess. Kai has been promising his buddies that he would bring a set in and teach them the principles of the game. When he showed them the “Ponds”, Melinda got a piece of paper, drew a picture of a pond, spelled the words ‘pawn’ and ‘pond’ on a sheet of paper, and they discussed the differences.

Meanwhile, Fabrezio gave a small group of Wee Friends a dental floss tutorial. He showed them how to floss gently and expressed that it’s even more important than brushing teeth! He also gave the teachers information on the most effective brands to use.

While the swimmers were away, Lisa continued the Bridge Study by reading more books about bridges. They discussed who engineers were and where different bridges are located. They recorded their discoveries on a message board. In hopscotch, friends have been creating bridges with large carpet tubes. While Melinda read aloud, she also discussed the “Three W’s” of the story: Who, Where and What. Laurie read three different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk to a small group of friends and they compared/contrasted the Three W’s.

They played a math game using colored ice cubes. They started by asking the question “How does it feel?” Alexandra, Arleigh, Stephen and Elliott all agreed “It feels cold!”. Then, starting with two cubes, they created a group of cubes by adding two until they reached 12. They further explored the symbol for addition.

This morning ended with a Spring Concert rehearsal. We are still mapping out the details and will share them as soon as plans solidify!

And here are your swimmers…..

FABS – Week of 3/5 Literacy: K.3.3-Identify characters, settings and important events in a story. K.3.4-Identify favorite books or stories. Math: K.2.1- Model addition by joining sets of objects (for any two sets with fewer than 10 objects when joined). K.2.3-Describe addition situations (for numbers less than 10).

Parent/Child Conversation Starters:

• In the story Jack and the Beanstalk, what did the funny little man trade for Jack’s cow?
• What is your most favorite story?
• Are ice cubes hot or cold? What happens if you put an ice cube in the sun?
• What do your arms do when you are doing a ‘front crawl’ in the swimming pool?
• I noticed in the pictures, you are holding a friend’s hand. Why are you holding a friend’s hand when you are walking into the Y to go swimming?

Wee Sprouts today are cucumber slices and carrots. For breakfast, we had Cheerios and bananas. For lunch we served peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread, corn and applesauce.

Have a great day!

This morning got away from us without many photos!

As usual, the Blue Bus came and today, friends worked on an obstacle course. They ran circles around the octagon, crawled under the bridge and swung over the hot lava pit. They had a forward roll contest and practiced their jumps.

While groups took turns on the Blue Bus, the classroom was abuzz with counting, cars, coins and conversation! On the oval rug, friends gathered to count cars, two at a time. Lisa introduced the ‘+’ addition sign. Simon brought in a coin counting math game. Friends identified, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies and talked about which president’s face is on each coin. Kai and Vivian learned what a yardstick is. They chose five items, measured them and charted their findings. Books about bridges were read aloud and conversations followed about the details of the bridges being studied. Friends learned a new Jack and the Beanstalk song and talked about ideas for a J in the B Study. With droppers, spoons and basters, friends worked with warm sudsy water. While singing character variations on “This is the way I toss the beans, toss the beans, toss the beans…this is the way I toss the beans…right out the window!” we explored different voice registers and pitch: Giant/deep and low, cow/Moo!, mom/high and Jack/middle.

Wee Sprouts today are carrots. For breakfast we served whole wheat peanut butter toast, pears and bananas. Lunch was whole wheat penne pasta with marinara, mixed veggies and fruit salad. For snack, we will serve fruit with goldfish.

Have a great start to your week!