Parent Reminders:

• Please remember, next week, to bring in two full changes of clothes for your Wee Friend! In the summer months, we water play almost everyday and we want to make sure everyone has a change of dry clothes. Thank you so much!
• We are closed this Monday, Memorial Day, May 28th.
• The Garden Growing Committee is looking for more tomato plants. If you are interested in donating a starter, please bring it to Wee Friends and we will get it planted!
• Each morning, we lather up all of our friends with a thick layer of sunscreen. Please feel free to bring in sunscreen for your child as we will go through our remaining stock pretty quickly.

As we’ve studied the earth this week, volcanoes have been the sustained area of interest! Lisa and Mel had the great idea to take our Paper Mache globes, insert a plastic cup in the top and create our own volcanoes! By combining baking soda and vinegar, friends explored eruption after eruption!

We decided to spend the rest of the morning outside! We set out several tubs: some filled with cool sudsy water and Little People, and the others with blocks of ice.

One ice block would not come out of the plastic container. Kai, Nate, Alexandra and Finn had a lengthy discussion about how to help it along. Kai and Marat made the observation that when it melted it would become water and fill up the plastic container it was stuck in.

When Lisa added rags, friends flocked to the tubs and began cleaning madly! Then came the dust mops and friends, literally, cleaned backyard surfaces for an hour.

We read books under the shade of Wee Wee’s tree and found a cool spot under the bush near the WF plastic playhouse. We rode bikes and Cassie listened to her MP3 player!

We enjoyed Wee Sprouts (cucumbers) on the porch and played house in the sandbox.

Parent/Child Communication Starters:

1. What happens when you pour vinegar on the baking soda (white powder)?
2. What are the four layers of the earth?
3. When you choose to share a bicycle or book or marker with a friend, how does it make you feel? Happy? How does it make your friend feel?

Breakfast was oatmeal and banana slices and lunch was farm fresh egg casserole, fruit salad and corn.

Have a terrific long weekend! See you Tuesday, May 29th!

 

Good Afternoon!

We started our Thursday morning off with plastic ring time! Our friends used the plastic rings to spin in their hands, put over their heads, and gather in a bunch. Children used the rings to look through to see their friends.

Miss Paulina got out her guitar and Ellie and Ozzie started dancing to the music. They moved their arms from side to side and stomped their feet.

P.K. was being extremely nurturing to Chloe. He first gently laid his head on her back when we were having quiet music time. He then sat up and patted her back softly.

Our friends went on a horsey ride. Teachers offered up their legs for children to ride on. We went through bumpy and gentle periods. Children laughed in excitement as they went riding through the forest!

During our outside time, we buried our feet and hands. Even though feet and hands were buried, our friends still knew they were there. They would say, “Where’s your feet?”

Since it was warm outside this morning, we turned on the water fountain so our friends could get a drink. We talked about sharing and letting our friends have a drink while everyone else waited their turn.

Our Wee Friends were so kind as to let us use the water table this morning! Children loved using different tools to fill the water and dump it. Splashing was happening often and our friends loved getting wet! It was a great opportunity for children to practice the skill of filling and pouring.

While others were sleeping, a ribbon was hung from the door way. Clara loved looking at the colors and spinning the ribbon around.

Aiden also enjoyed touching the ribbon with their fingers. They were very soft and he loved pulling on them.

For breakfast, our friends had eggs and banana. AM snack was cucumbers. Lunch consisted of hummus on whole wheat tortilla, cucumbers, oranges and bananas, and turkey. PM snack was homemade strawberry ice cream (made by Breania!) and animal crackers.

Have a great evening!

-Mindy

 

Parent Communication:

We have started spending a lot of time outside and today, we pulled out the water table and let the hose trickle for sand play. Please check your child’s bathroom cubby to make sure they have at least two changes of clothes for after these water play experiences. Thank you so much!

The Earth’s Core

“The inner core, the outer core, the mantle and the crust.

The inner core, the outer core, the mantle and the crust.

The four layers of the earth…….TRUST US!”

Today we began with a study of the earth’s core. First we studied a photograph of the four layers of the earth. As we discussed it, Arleigh exclaimed “Look! Here’s the earth’s core!” as she placed a rock onto her headband. Then we learned a song. Lastly, friends gathered around the art table to assemble the four parts of the earth, layer by layer, cupful by cupful.

Many friends chose to experiment with motion. They placed several items first, in the center of the Lazy Susan, and next, toward the out rim. They spun it around and studied which items fell off first and why.

Burning hot lava was a part of our discussion and Lisa played a video that examined an erupting volcano. They learned and discussed what a volcanic vent is.

We choreographed our new song…..

…..and spent a lot of time building, improvising, stretching, climbing and sharing in the hopscotch/habitrail area.

 

Our creative music making began with a hunt for the number 3. We played “Rainbow Connection” and listened for 3 to make an appearance (3/4 time). She did and we tapped our rhythm sticks to 3/4 time. Mostly we enjoyed listening to Kermit the Frog.

We also learned dance steps to “Why Should I Share?”, focusing mostly on the twirling of our partners!

We rocked out to “Le Freak” and “Dynamite”. This free form dancing is not only a great gross motor exercise, but it gives our friends a creative opportunity to experience how their bodies fill the space all around them. Especially in relationship to their friends bodies! 

As always, we end this wild dance time with music meditation and a chance to take deep breaths, and slow the energy down. Now, when friends hear “Puppy Love”, they automatically find a lovie (stuffed or human) and cuddle on the oval rug to rest.

We ended the morning with water play!

Breakfast was Oatmeal Cinnamon Squares and bananas. For lunch, Lisa prepares whole wheat tortillas stuffed with hummus. Fresh cucumbers and mandarin oranges.

Have a terrific day!

Hello!

Well…we’re ready!

Our older Wee Wee Friends had such a great time at Miss Charlottes Farm today! It was a gorgeous day outside! We started out by talking about the different animals that live on the farm such as dogs, chickens, cows, and horses.

 

We headed over to the baby chicks! Ellie, Ozzie, and Jada loved using soft strokes to pet the baby chicks. Some of us were hesitant but came out of our shells rather quickly!

There were some delicious strawberries that we were able to pick and enjoy!

We got a chance to look at a chicken and learn a few interesting facts about them! For example, the teachers got to feel (while children watched) where the chicken stores it food that its eaten before it’s digested.

We walked over to where the goats and sheep live. Our friends were given the opportunity to feed these animals! Children loved when the animal took food out of their hand. Again, we came out of our shells rather quickly!

We headed over to the horse stables where children used their hands to pet the horses softly. Miss Charlotte told our friends to only pet the horses at the top of their nose right below their eyes because they do have sharp teeth! Our friends did a great job at listening to what Miss Charlotte told them.

To the joy and excitement of our friends, children were offered a chance to take a pony ride! Most of our friends jumped at the chance while others enjoyed watching and petting the ponies.

Thanks to the parents who helped out this morning!

While our older friends were off at the farm this morning, Clara, P.K., Chloe, and Aiden spent the morning with Miss Marty! They sang songs, read books, and had a little outside time! It was a great bonding experience for our younger Wee Wee Friends!

For breakfast, we had cheerios and apples. AM snack was snap peas. Lunch consisted of tuna salad on whole wheat bread, corn, and applesauce. PM snack was snap peas and crackers.

Have a great evening!

-Mindy

With the summer schedule nearly upon us, we will begin our WF day outside! There will always be one teacher inside serving breakfast and greeting our friends as they arrive.

Ada’s first catch of the day was a big black stag beetle.

 

When we came inside, we split into three small groups and headed to different areas of the classroom to begin our work!

Melinda took her group to the science center and located Ada’s beetle in                  Children’s Guide to Insects and Spiders. They studied other beetles and bugs and Simon added plastic bugs to learn more about.

She guided our younger friends in a number study, counting aloud as they identified numbers.

To prepare her group to paint Paper Mache globes, Melinda first showed them a picture of the earth. Simon added information about how the earth rotates around the sun.

Lisa and her group of friends studied the US map and friends identified places they’ve traveled to and places they’ve lived. There has also been lots of discussion about where grandmas and grandpas live. Lisa message boarded their information.  

Later, they moved to the reading area for an observation exercise while reading the book What’s Different?. Friends studied a page of pairs and had to find the one singular object.

Laurie’s group started by painting their globes.

Afterwards, we moved to the oval rug to read Robert Munsch’s We Share Everything. We acted out the story with friends practicing the art of sharing! Then we worked in pairs and sang “Why Should I Share?” to each other.

Happiness! There was lots of improvised play in the habitrail involving cats, moms, sisters, fairies and princesses while soothing flute music played. Many friends spent time making music with “It’s a Small World After All” and then meditating to “Puppy Love”, and “Sunshine On My Shoulders”.

 

Wee Sprouts: Snap peas, Breakfast: Lisa’s Malt-O-Meal, Lunch: Tuna fish sandwiched on whole wheat bread, applesauce and corn.

Have a terrific day!

 

Good Afternoon!

***Just a reminder about tomorrows farm trip! We are leaving around 9:45 am so please make sure our friends arrive on time. Children who are two years or older are allowed to go. Those of us who are under two need a parent to attend. Please make sure that your children are dressed appropriately for the weather (its supposed to be warm). Also, children should be wearing shoes that can get dirty since we will be walking around a farm.

Our friends started off their morning with painting in the kitchen! Sloane sat at the table and painted with silver and red paint. She said she was painting doggies. Marina and Olivia stood at the painting board. Olivia painted with a variety of colors. When asked what she was painting, she said, “Mommy and Daddy!” Marina made sure to have nice strokes and made multiple circles.

  

Aiden enjoyed all of the toys that his friends brought him! He sure had a lot to choose from. He picked out his favorite though!

Our friends got out the plastic rings to use while music was playing. Children put two rings on the floor and stepped into the rings with their feet. They then bounced up and down!

 

P.K put his two feet into the plastic ring and bounced with his legs. He laughed at this! Ellie used a blue ring to spin around in her hand. Chloe found it interesting to put the rings around her neck and use their as necklaces!

Children gathered as they listened to Miss Paulina talk about different animals such as farm animals that some of us will see tomorrow at the farm!

Ozzie and Marina used a green ball to roll back and forth to each other. First, they used their hands but then they decided to use their feet to push the ball to each other.

  

We sang, “We’re gonna stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp…” and we stomped our little feet on the floor!

Once outside, Sloane and Olivia gravitated towards the bikes where they got on tricycles and rode around the bike circle.

 

Sloane and Ellie went into the log house where they made pretend food using rocks and pebbles!

 

For breakfast, our friends enjoyed toast and craisins. AM snack was carrots. Lunch consisted of ham and melted cheese whole wheat tortillas, mixed fruit (watermelon and cantaloupe), and mixed vegetables. PM snack was cheese, watermelon, and cantaloupe.

Have a great evening!

-Mindy

Parent Communication:

• Tomorrow Tami and a WeeWee teacher will be taking a group of  WeeWees to the farm. There will be no WFs going to the farm tomorrow.
• WF/WWF will be closed Friday, June 29-Friday July 6 for a summer break, re-opening Monday, July 9th.

Our writers have been so proud to share their original works with parents and families. Please be sure to take a look at the books, located on the shelf above the cubbies as you enter Wee Friends!

This morning, at the Y, our swimmers practiced jumping into the pool, first with a life preserver, then a hand held foam barbell and lastly, a waist strapped floaty. They swam the length of the pool and worked on the backstroke.

As the school year comes to a close, please enjoy these WF Yearbook shots !!

Our original intention was to use them in the Spring Joy! program but time and those little black bugs that inhabited the neighboring tree prevented it! I hesitated to share them because of this but our Wee Friends are so beautiful!!

Wee Sprouts today are carrots and cucumber slices. Breakfast was whole wheat toast with peanut butter and apple slices. For lunch, we served melted cheddar and ham sandwiches on whole wheat tortillas, watermelon/cantaloupe and cucumber slices.

Have a terrific day.

Good Afternoon!

Our friends started off their morning coloring with markers in their journals. They worked on drawing circles and smiley faces. Children made two dots for the eyes and then a line for the face.

  

Sloane enjoyed making circle after circle.

  

Marina made a smiley face. There are two dots for the eyes and several dots for the mouth and nose.

Chloe enjoyed riding the lion. She kept saying, “Wee!”

While outside, our friends worked on their balancing skills by putting their arms out to the side so they wouldn’t fall. Olivia started to fall off but she caught herself using her arms and legs.

P.K. and Ellie were playing peek-a-boo with the window in the house. P.K. later tripped outside and Marina went over to him to see if he was alright. She bent over to give him a hug.

 

Olivia and Marina found watering cans that surprisingly made interesting sounds!

 

Ozzie was interested in the basketball hoop. He took a bouncy ball and tried to throw it up towards the net. Ellie enjoyed throwing and kicking the ball. Her gross motor skills were in high gear as she ran with the ball in her hands and then kicking it when she was done.

 

Aiden had floor time today that involved getting on all fours. It looked like he was doing a baby push-up! He is becoming very detailed and looking at toys for an extended period of time. He definitely has his favorite toys here at Wee Wee Friends!

Clara played pretend as her older friends slept. She poured herself some tea into a cup. She also enjoyed touching the different toys on the bouncy seat. She especially liked the ones that made noise!

 

For breakfast, our friends enjoyed eggs and banana. Our morning snack was cucumbers. Lunch consisted of whole wheat penne pasta with red and black beans, watermelon, and mixed veggies. PM snack was blueberry yogurt and pears.

Have a great evening!

-Mindy

Happy Monday!

Parent Communication:

• Farmer Charlotte is collecting egg cartons for her farm eggs. Please feel free to donate any cartons that you might otherwise recycle. Drop them off at WF and we will take them to the farm for you.
• On Wednesday, Tami and a WWF teacher will be taking the Wee Wee’s to the farm. There will be no friends from WF going this week.
• For our summer study “Around the World in 55 Days”, many of you have offered to come to WF and share information about a country of your choosing. Please communicate with a WF teacher which summer morning you’d like to come. Paulina will present Chile on June 4th and we are closed the week of July 2nd. Otherwise, we are wide open! Our vision is that you would come for one ‘session’ at the beginning of the week and we would spent the remainder of the week further exploring the country you’ve introduced to WF. Thank you so much!!! And….no pressure….
• Swimming, as usual, tomorrow. 9:30 departure.

The Blue Bus came this morning, as usual, and while groups took turns working out, friends gathered around the art table to begin the first step of creating Paper Mache globes. We started with a balloon and friends dipped strips of newspaper into a water/flour mixture. They covered their balloon with the paper and set it aside to dry overnight.

After this project, we set out two math materials: cards with Lisa and wooden numbers, markers and paper with Laurie.

Lisa explored numeric values with “Crazy Eights” and at the table we discussed addition and equal signs.

I mentioned Friday that our friends finished their original books. They are on the shelf above the cubbies for you to enjoy!

Today, in preparation for our trip around the world, we examined and discussed skin color. Using multi-cultural markers, friends chose a color they felt best represented their skin color and then drew a self portrait in the first page of their passport.  We began the day singing a WWF favorite “We All Sing With the Same Voice” to study different children around the world and the color of their skin.

Wee Sprouts: snap peas and carrots, Breakfast: Corn Chex and apple slices, Lunch: Whole wheat penne pasta with red and black beans, mixed veggies and watermelon.

Have a great Monday.

Happy Friday!

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

 

 

  

 

Breakfast was toast with cinnamon and bananas. AM snack was snap peas. Lunch was hummus, pita bread, green peas, and banana. For our afternoon snack we had fresh cantaloupe and string cheese.

Have a great weekend!

-Mindy