Happy May!

**We’re asking parents if they could please bring in sunscreen for their child. Our collection is running out and we want to make sure that our friends are lathered in sunscreen! The sun was sure bright and beaming today so we made sure to have it on.

**Along with sunscreen, each child needs two or three outfits for the warmer weather (shorts/tshirt). Since the weather is getting nicer, we want our friends to be dressed appropriately. Please check you child’s bin in the bathroom to make sure they are set to go or ask a teacher. If you have any questions, please ask! Thanks .

For breakfast, children had whole wheat bagel with cinnamon and banana. Lunch was rice with peas along with watermelon and garbanzo beans. PM snack was hard boiled eggs and pretzels.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Miraculous flower power. Over the last couple days friends have discovered that most fruits begin with a flower blossom. We got our plastic fruit counters out and started our day counting, sorting and creating fruit plates (and forks).

We created a creative drama/visual art experience that first explored the center of a flower. We created petals with our bodies. We listened to the Laurie Berkner Band sing “Bumblebee” and changed our bodies into bees with wings and tooshie stingers. We gathered nectar (art materials) and buzzed over to the art table to continue creating.

After we were buzzed out, the flower morphed into a railroad track, on the sea. Then a bridge.

A few of our friends are processing their new life experience (becoming a sibling!) by practicing getting their diaper changed.

The independent works today involved creating fairy wings, pencil sharpening, dish washing, working with fabrics, sequencing with Magna Tiles and a dinosaur card game. After lunch, Lisa’s small group read “The Noisy Summer Book” and Laurie’s, “Bug Safari”.

We’ve weeded our garden and are preparing the soil for more miraculous flower power.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Peanut butter on whole grain flatbread and bananas. Lunch: Brown rice with cheddar cheese and peas, and watermelon. Snack: Oranges and cheese slices.

Enjoy your day.

Happy last day of April!

Wee can’t believe how fast April has gone! Everyone spent most of the day outside. The weather was excellent and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come .

The weather even had Daniel making sand angels!

For breakfast, children had raisin bran and oranges. Lunch consisted of cheese tortillas, pears, and cucumbers. PM snack was goldfish and string cheese.

Have a terrific sunny evening.

-Mindy

Happy Monday!

Have we finally seen the beginnings of actual spring/summer weather?! We sure hope so . Hope everyone had a terrific weekend.

With the gorgeous sun shining, Wee Wee friends jumped into an art experience provided by Miss Laurie! The crayons were brought out so that friends could color outdoors! Between the two sites, we made a fabulous drawing!

Daniel practiced writing his name while Emma drew vertical lines from the top of the paper to the bottom.

For breakfast, children had eggs with cheese and craisins. Lunch consisted of turkey on whole wheat bread, pineapple, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was cheddar cheese slices and banana.

Have a terrific evening.

-Mindy

Ben brought in some foodie stickers that got us thinking about the Five Food Groups. While we created art (and rotated Blue Bus groups), we talked about foods that are in each group. We got our shopping carts out and first, shopped around, and then matched the food to the group on the poster.

Lisa quizzed friends about what food goes in what group.

Mel invited friends to a Still Life art exploration with carrots and a watermelon.

We got outside as quick as we could to enjoy this beautiful day. We examined our garden and noticed the rhubarb has come up. Finn reminded us who the parent boss of the garden is, and who the kid bosses are.

We created crayon art at our outdoor easel.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Whole wheat bagels and pineapple. Lunch: Turkey slices on whole wheat bread, mixed veggies and pineapple. Snack: Yogurt and raisins.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

Our morning started with two important aspects of our day: reading and music! Lately, friends have been enjoying our ‘teacher books’ which include a story as well as a CD to go along with it. When children put words/music to pictures, understanding happens; friends remember what they read and how it made them feel. We love singing along with the storybooks!

For breakfast, children had whole wheat toast with cinnamon and bananas. Lunch consisted of turkey and cheese tortillas, banana/oranges, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was yogurt with graham crackers.

I will be out of town tomorrow so there will be no blog. Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

-Mindy

We didn’t make it to the farm today, but we did find other works that helped us stick together for a day of new adventures.

First, Lisa brought friends magnetic fishing poles.

We added stickers and superhero newspaper clippings to our custom made newspapers.

What started as a “Puff the Magic Dragon” on pointe shoes, morphed into a study of static electricity…

…..created with balloons. 

We introduced and explained the word “atom” and the part atoms play in creating static electricity or simply put….party hair. We played “My Hair Had a Party Last Night” and friends either made crazy static party hair, or chose to comb their hair out.

When we gathered our balloons into a bouquet, we realized we had created what might look like an atom! Our conversation continued. The balloon atom returned to its bouquet and petals were placed upon it.

The rest of the morning was spent exploring dinosaur bones and species, sharing birthday cake, finding peace in the swinging hammock and reading good books. Just sticking together.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Malt-O-Meal and bananas. Lunch: Turkey and cheddar on whole grain flatbread, corn and clementines. Snack: Goldfish and cheese sticks.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

There are times when we ask the children what they would like for snack or the fruit for breakfast. Giving choices throughout the day including play allow children to feel in control of their environment and their learning. I came across an interesting article today that depicts children in this age category (1-3). While this article is of good length, there are some interesting facts and suggestions given.

“The child is seeking independence, and the frequently heard, “I want to do it myself!” is evidence of the child’s growing need to define himself as a separate and unique person.”

The rest of the article is found at: http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=691

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Mother nature is taking one step forward and then three steps back! Our friends love to venture outside and play with their Wee friends while exploring the outdoors. Thankfully, the rain held off this afternoon and we were able to get some valuable time outside. Between searching for worms and packing the wet sand into sand buckets to make castles, our outside time was used to the max!

While inside this morning, a few children practiced with baby dolls while others played with magnatiles in the kitchen. As we looked outside, we saw snowflakes coming down from the sky! As P.K. would say, “Are you serious?!”

For breakfast, children had chex and banana. AM snack was peas. Lunch consisted of egg salad, bread, cheese slices, banana, and cucumbers. PM snack was rice cakes with soy butter and raisins.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Two days ago we read The Paperboy by Day Pilkey. It tells the story of a young boy who has a paper route in the wee hours of the morning, before dawn.  Interested friends created their own papers and chose a name for it. They studied shapes in the paper and different information the paper offers readers.

It was a mellow morning with lots of observation and independent play. Dinosaur fossils were unearthed and measured.

Princesses were born and meals were prepared. Books were read.

Collaborations were exercised, reaping great creativity!

Gears were shifted.

And shifted again.

And again as we studied Skippyjon’s Spanish accent. We counted to ten in Spanish and introduced several new Spanish words.

Tenga un bueno dia y adios!

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and bananas. Lunch: Egg salad, romaine salad, cheddar cheese, and bananas. Snack: Rice cakes and cream cheese.