Happy Friday! See you on Monday. –Laurie

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Malt-O-Meal and raisins. Lunch: Brown rice with chicken, bananas and cauliflower. Snack: Grapes/pears and cheddar cheese.

 

Hello!

Friends worked on their fine motor skills this morning as they manipulated waffle blocks. Maya rebuilt a castle that she had built earlier in the day at home. We’re pretty good at vocalizing when we need help but it’s also important for friends to try to work it out on their own.

At this age, we learn a lot of problem solving ideas and skills from other friends as well as family and teachers. Our toddlers are quite independent lately .

Anna and Annabelle, aka the pony tail girls, played in the kitchen this afternoon as their older friends took their nap. Annabelle took her bowl and banged it with her utensil making a loud sound. Anna soon imitated this!

BIG cheeses to end the day.

For breakfast, children had Kashi and kiwi. Lunch consisted of whole wheat english muffin pizzas, strawberries, and peas. PM snack was kiwi and graham crackers.

Have a terrific evening!

The language of a play-based curriculum: “I watched Elizabeth while she was creationing.” “I’m still working!” ”Can you save my work?” “Hey watch out! You’re stepping on my creation!” “Look at the book! There are some more destructions!” (instructions) “I just don’t know who to be today, or what to do.”“He said I can have that after him.”

 

Today’s big creationing was robots. Jessica first read (well, a stack of library books that ended with) Clink by Kelly DiPucchio and Matthew Myers.  First Wee Friends studied Clink’s blue print on the interior of the cover. Next, they brainstormed about what sort of robot they could make. They got to work with paper, markers and scissors. Using yarn and straws, Wee Friends made their paper robots fly. Great Wee work. Great Wee play. Great Wee creationing.

Great Day. –Laurie

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Corn Chex and pear slices. Lunch: Whole wheat English muffin pizza, broccoli, and oranges. Snack: Kiwi/oranges with nuts.

 

Good Afternoon!

Nahla, Tate, Maya, and Lucy had a fantastic painting experience this morning. We worked with many colors and friends were vocal about what color they wanted to paint with!

Maya used a certain pattern for one of her painting. She took the paintbrush tip and pushed it down all around her paper.

Lucy had some colorful hands at the end of her sensory experience!

For breakfast, children had toast with butter and cinnamon along with banana. Lunch consisted of egg salad on flat bread, pears, and cucumber. PM snack was string cheese and kiwi.

Have a great night!

 

Here is how we create emergent curriculum and an illustration of how the process unfolds in Wee World.

The day began with some friends interested in researching different types of holes: black holes, dirt holes, sinkholes, and water holes. We looked at pictures of natural watering holes and man-made water holes in dams. This conversation led to questions about dams! We compared man-made dams (Hoover Dam, Three Gorges Dam) and dams made by animals (beaver dams).

We capitalized on this interest by creating a hands-on sensory activity: let’s build our own dam!

 

We started with Magna tiles and friends tested their first dam design. After adding water there were some leaks, so friends decided to change it up. We added blue watercolor, shells, and sand to simulate a real river and introduced popsicle sticks as a new dam-building material.

                    

 

Friends came and went as they pleased, feeling the water and sand. Younger friends poured the water in shells and in their hands while older friends focused on building the dam.

The finished result!

We didn’t begin the morning planning to build a dam; this sensory science experiment flowed from our friends’ interests. Emergent curriculum naturally engages friends and leads to fulfilling learning experiences. 

Happy Hump Day! –Jessica

Wee Sprouts: Grape tomatoes. Breakfast: Rice cakes with peanut butter and strawberries. Lunch: Egg salad sandwiches on whole wheat flatbread, fresh cucumbers and honeydew melon.  Snack: Refried beans and whole wheat crackers.

Good Afternoon!

Here are a few pictures from throughout the day.

For breakfast, children had cheerios and kiwi. Lunch consisted of english muffins with hummus, green beans, and oranges. PM snack was string cheese and strawberries.

Have a terrific evening!

When you listen carefully, friends use measurement language all the time: “Mine tower is taller!” “I have more pea pods than you!” “A billion is more than 7,000.” When we hear language of value being used we jump in and keep the conversation flowing toward measurement facts but not necessarily measurement judgment. A sometimes tricky social life skill!  Attached article has great ideas for implementing measurement words and work! Have a great day. –Laurie

http://www.raising-readers.org/documents/filelibrary/familyprograms/exploringmeasurementpreschool_cca406d1bcd67.pdf

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Kix and grapes. Lunch: Hummus sandwiches on whole wheat bread, fresh tomatoes/snap peas, and fresh strawberries/apple slices. Snack: Monterey jack cheese slices and whole wheat goldfish.

Happy Monday!

Here are a few pictures that were taken throughout the day.

For breakfast, children had english muffins with cream cheese and oranges. Lunch consisted of whole grain noodles with black beans, oranges, and peas. PM snack was string cheese and raisins.

Have a terrific night!

Today friends discovered that materials we usually work without outside can ALSO be played with INSIDE! Some friends thought that the sensory table contained Moon Sand. Other friends pointed out that this wasn’t moon sand because it doesn’t stick together! It was also a different color. Moon sand is grey! 

Friends poured and scooped and sifted the regular sand, making everything from “a sand castle” to “vanilla ice cream”.

 

Back in the habitrail some friends jumped from the blocks. Tape was put on the ground so we could count how far we jumped!

                                            

Have a great Monday! –Jessica

Wee Sprouts: Cauliflower/broccoli. Breakfast: Toasted whole wheat bagels with peanut butter and oranges. Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with black beans and butter, fresh tri-colored carrots and orange slices. Snack: Whole milk yogurt and a fruit delivered from the Purple Porch this afternoon!

Happy Friday!

**How time has flown! Just as a reminder, WWF will be closed Friday, April 3 in observance of Good Friday. Thanks!

We want to wish Nahla a happy early 2nd birthday! Nahla turns two years old tomorrow! Hope you have a great birthday weekend! We love you!

We started our Friday with a little dancing. Friends moved their bodies to music. Maya swung her arms back and forth while stomping around. Annabelle joined in by waving her hands and bouncing up and down.

Children were given the option to go into the kitchen and paint. It quickly turned into a great sensory experience. Some of us chose to paint the paper while a few of us took this opportunity to indulge in our sense of touch!

When prompted as to what friends were painting, Nahla replied, “A lion! It says roarrr!”

Lucy used pink and purple paint and replied, “Dolphin! I swim with dolphins!” She’s been on somewhat of a dolphin kick lately .

This afternoon, Maya let teachers know that she would like to play with the waffle blocks. She lined them up and said, “I’m building a tower! It’s so funny!” Friends soon joined in on the waffle block fun.

It was a loving day.

For breakfast, children had english muffins with cream cheese and banana. Lunch consisted of golden pea butter on tortilla, peas, and apples. PM snack was string cheese and goldfish.

Have a lovely weekend.