Hello!
Hope everyone is having a great day! Here are a few pictures taken throughout the day that demonstrates the activities that were thoroughly enjoyed by our friends! 🙂
For AM snack, our friends enjoyed fresh brocolli and cucumbers. Lunch consisted of whole wheat pasta with beef, oranges, and pears.PM snack was fresh pears, oranges, and cheese. Our late afternoon snack was green peas.
Hope everyone has a great night!
-Mindy
This morning, in every corner of the classroom our FAB’s K.1.4 -Divide sets of ten or fewer objects into equal groups and K.1.5 – Divide shapes into equal parts were being explored in full force!
A small group of friends each chose one pattern block and took turns laying it down wherever they chose. We studied blocks that created whole shapes and used ‘artist eyes’ to see what shaped they created. On the next round, they chose another pattern block and set them down so that all the blocks were touching. Again, we looked for parts that made a whole shape and studied what shape we had created. Friends saw a head, a castle, a rocket ship and other shapes.
On the oval rug, Melinda worked with an ever shifting group of friends and pattern cubes. First, they divided sets of ten cubes into equal groups. Next, they created color and number patterns.
Later, Kai led a small group of buddies in a math exercise that involved guessing how many bugs were on the pattern template.
Lisa played a dice game in the reading area: friends rolled the dice and pulled out the corresponding number of pattern blocks. At the end of the game, they examined who had the largest/smallest pile.
Using a variety of square and triangular shapes cut out of construction paper, a small group of friends worked at the art table to created a collage, “Parts of the Whole”. We talked about “two halves make a whole” and studied how to glue the shape parts together to make a “whole” new shape. At the end, Jane created an elaborate castle and drew in characters who lived there.
Using several of our “how to” drawing books, a group of friends spent time creating marker drawings step by step.
At the light table, friends made cookies, counted candy and studied the translucent glass stones, dropping them one by one into a plastic tray.
Our Wee Sprouts today are cucumber slices and broccoli. For breakfast, we served Corn Chex and pear slices. Lunch is peanut butter sandwiches, carrot/lima beans and bananas. For snack, we will serve pretzels and cheese.
Parent/Child Communication starters:
Have a restful day.
Good Afternoon!
Hope that everyone had a great weekend! We started our day off at WWF with a sensory activity! Our friends were introduced to ‘clean mud’ which is a mixture of borax and toilet paper. They used their hands to feel the texture of the clean mud and also their noses to smell. They rolled the mixture into balls and different images.
While our friends worked with the clean mud, a few of the kids chose to do their own activity whether it was reading a book, building with legos, or playing with animals. While doing different activities, children had great conversations with their friends such as talking about the animals they were playing with. As a group, we also listened to a song about different animals and the noises that they make. This prompted children to go and retrieve a few animals that we have at WWF and talk about the noises they make.
After our inside time, we took the kids outside to play in the wonderful sunshine! Some kids chose to swing on the swing while others chose to play in the big sand box. Our friends loved running around in circles on the bike path! Their coordination while playing actively outside is amazing!
For AM snack, our friends enjoyed orange peppers. Lunch consisted of whole wheat pita bread sandwiches with turkey and melted cheese along with cucumbers and craisins. This afternoon we had animal crackers and cheese.
Have a great evening!
-Mindy
FAB (Framework for Academic Balance) Week of Monday, February 20th.
Literacy: K.1.20-Identify and sort common words in basic categories; K.7.3-Describe people, places, things (including their size, color and shape), locations and actions. Math: K.1.4-Describe sets of ten or fewer objects into equal groups; K.1.5-Divide shapes into equal parts.
As always, our friends were ecstatic to see Miss Jennifer and her Blue Bus! Today, they worked on the climbing ladder and incline mat. They used the rope to climb to the top of the bus and then they touched the ceiling. They learned glide and tuck swings and, on the incline mat, they did forward and backward rolls.
While the big kids were on the bus, a small group of four boys worked collaboratively in the block area, creating a tall structure. They listened to one another when discussing what they were doing and where they would place their block. They negotiated how to adjust the structure when it was getting too tall for their safety.
At the same time, Lisa worked with a small group at the art table tracing letters and gluing them to paper.
After the whole class came together again, friends split up into different areas to work. Kai and Annie described feelings about school and friends. (FAB K.7.3)
Lisa worked with friends at the message board and recorded other descriptions about what happened to them over the weekend. After finishing their message board moment, friends had the option to sit at the art table and record their descriptions in a story board format. Using three ‘windows’, friends chose their top three weekend activities and drew pictures of them, discussing them all the while. (FAB K.7.3)
Afterwards, as a large group, Lisa read aloud what friends had shared with her. We shared the story boards as well, but this time, friends (who were not the artist) described in detail what they were seeing. We heard about colors and shapes and a variety of perceptions. The artist then shared his/her intention with the group. (FAB K.7.3)
The High/Low card game is continuing to capture the attention of many friends. This work gives our older friends the opportunity to practice comparing numbers and their value (less than/more than). (FAB K. 1.2)
Back in the block area, another group of friends worked with the building blocks to explore math. We discussed the concept of “equal parts” and “the whole” and created and identified shapes accordingly. Questions were asked, such as “Are all the parts of your circle/square equal parts?” and “Which blocks, when fit together, make a square/diamond/rectangle?” Ultimately, all of Macy’s many parts equaled one whole house, with lots of detail! (FAB K.1.5)
Our Wee Sprouts today are organic carrots. For breakfast Melinda served whole wheat muffins with peanut butter bananas. Lunch was whole wheat pasta with pork, mandarin/banana fruit salad and French cut green beans. For snack, we will serve animal crackers and fruit.
Have a great day.
Good Afternoon!
Here are pictures taken throughout the day that demonstrates what activities were done! We really enjoyed the sunshine and we hope you and your family are able to enjoy the weather this weekend!
For AM snack, we enjoyed carrots and snap peas. Lunch was turkey on whole wheat bread, fruit salad (fresh pears, apples, and oranges), and corn. Afternoon snack consisted of rice cakes with cream cheese, craisins, and apple bread.
Hope everyone has a tremendous weekend! 🙂
-Mindy
Lisa generously shared her fading Valentine roses with us this morning. Here is an explanation of our Wee Friends multi-sensorial Rose Exploration!
SONNET 54
O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour which doth in it live.
The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses,
Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly
When summer’s breath their masked buds discloses:
But, for their virtue only is their show,
They live unwoo’d and unrespected fade,
Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth. -Shakespeare
Lisa continued working with Kai, Viv, and Annie on the high/low dice game introduced yesterday. Other friends gathered in our music center to play a stopping/starting game with the tambourine. We walked together as the tambourine shook and when we banged it like a drum, friends stopped and scurried into a hiding place. Using wooden building blocks as instruments, a small group of musicians sat together and beat out different rhythms. We practiced playing together and taking turns. After our rhythm work, we took turns laying the blocks down to create a structure. This cooperative group building activity encouraged friends to, again, take turns, and work side by side in a collaborative way. After the sculpture was completed friends expressed what they saw: “A smoke-stack!”, “a castle!”, “steps” were among the many observations.
We played outside this morning for nearly two hours! Our Wee Sprouts today are green pea pods. Breakfast was Corn Chex and raisins. For lunch we had whole wheat chicken salad sandwiches, corn and applesauce. For snack, Lisa made homemade muffins!
Have a terrific weekend.
Good Afternoon!
*Since it is starting to get a little warmer outside, we just wanted to inform parents that we intend to go outside whenever we get the chance. Please make sure that you child has the appropriate attire at WWF such as hat, snow pants, coat, boots, and gloves. Thanks!*
Here are some photos from yesterday afternoon. We had our afternoon snack that consisted of apples and Lea was our special helper. Lea used the apple peeler to prepare apples for all of her friends. Our friends loved how the apple got cut into small pieces to make it easier to eat! Lea sure did use a lot of force and strength! Who will be our next special helper?
We started off our morning at WWF by having music time. Our friends worked on their beat and rhythm by using shakers and drums to make musical sounds. A specific beat would be given and children were repeating the beat! Ms. Paulina played the “Quena” (an andean flute) while children added drums in the background to combine the two different sounds.
Once our music time was over, the children gathered in the kitchen for some painting and water play. While working with the blue paint and green/blue colored water, children were in high sensory mode. Children gathered around the sink to splash the water as well as dump and scoop the water into different containers.
After our sensory exploration in the kitchen was completed, we traveled outside for some fresh air. While the sun wasn’t out that much, it still felt good to be able to run around! Some friends chose to ride bikes and tricycles while others played inside the wooden house.
Once lunch was ready, we gathered all of our friends and headed inside. Of course we took off all of our snow pants, coats, and boots. Our friends are getting very independent in terms of being able to take their snow gear off!
For breakfast, we had chex cereal with milk. Our morning snack consisted of cucumbers. Our friends enjoyed hummus on whole wheat bread, fruit salad (pineapple, crasins, and apples), and cucumbers for lunch. Afternoon snack was yogurt and muffins.
Hope everyone has a terrific evening!
-Mindy
Today we explored our last sense: Touch.
Melinda invited friends to join her at the art table to make clean mud. First, they grated one bar of soap. Then they unrolled three rolls of toilet paper. They measured 1/3 cup of Borax and mixed it with the soap and TP. They added water until it was wet and gooey. As they combined ingredients, they discussed what real mud is. Simon first said “Oil!” and then changed his mind and said “No, it’s dirt!”. Pulling the TP off the roll, and measuring and mixing the ingredients were favorite moments. When the clean mud was finally mixed up, we noticed friends leaving the table one by one. The texture of today’s clean mud, while sweet smelling and clean, when touched, was a little too warm, a little too wet and most unpleasant to touch. Oh well.
Lisa played a dice game with a few of our older friends. Two players took turns rolling dice. They each recorded what they rolled on the message board. Whoever had the higher number, got the next turn.
Simon brought in City Blocks today. All of our friends enjoyed creating sculptures with them. Alexandra made her letter “A”!
Elliott requested “Puff, the Magic Dragon” this morning. After reading and singing the song several times, we created Puff out of felt and worked with the felt pieces on our felt board. Later, Simon created a Star Wars creature out of the same pieces. We talked about, how, when an artist creates a work of art, he knows what he created, but another friend may see something else when they look at it.
Before heading outside, we asked all of our friends to find something or someone they loved and bring it to the oval rug. We meditated to Donny Osmond’s “Puppy Love”, snuggling close to our favorite lovie. After a few moments, Arleigh (aka Mrs. Kelly) stood up and started walking to each friend, touching them lightly and lovingly on the forehead as they meditated. When Finn, Macy and Marta saw this, they helped her.
And then we played “Dynamite”.
Books were read, cards were played, nursery rhymes were spoken/sung, dances were danced and the Jumping Beans letter game explored. A good day.
Parent/Child Conversation Starters:
Our Wee Sprouts today are carrots, cucumbers and sweet peppers. For breakfast we served whole wheat bagels and green grapes. For lunch, Lisa prepared hummus on whole wheat bread, pineapple, Craisin fruit salad and mixed veggies.
Have a great day.
Good Afternoon!
We started off our day at WWF with activities that the children could choose from. A few children chose to work with babies and their ‘housekeeping’ skills while playing in the kitchen and cleaning the living room. Others came to the light table to manipulate the magnetic shapes.
When our friends were ready, we started getting read to go outside. Our friends worked on getting their snow pants, coats, hats, and gloves on all by themselves. Their self help skills were kicked into high gear when they were zipping and buttoning their outside attire. While outside, our friends got a bit dirty playing in the snow and dirt! A few of our friends made snow angels while others worked on their jumping skills from different platforms.
After getting inside from the cold, our friends played with the felt board. Felt letters and numbers were used to place on the felt board. They’re getting advanced in being able to distinguish between letters and numbers. Also, recognizing the letter ‘A’ and knowing that Aiden starts with an ‘A’. It was fantastic to hear the different words they came up with for each letter! 🙂
While our older friends were sleeping, P.K. and Clara went on a hunt together in the living room! Their interactions with each other were priceless!
This afternoon, our friends partook in a music session where they made their own music! They strummed the guitars and were amazed at the sounds they were making. They showed great team work while working with their friends to make fabulous sounds that rang througout the house.
For breakfast, our friends enjoyed toast with soy butter along with pears. Our morning snack was red tomatoes and fresh red peppers. Miss Tami prepared a fabulous lunch that was enjoyed by all! It consisted of whole wheat cous cous with black beans, mixed vegetables, and fruit salad (pears and grapes). This afternoon we had crackers with hummus and a fresh vegetable will be served later this afternoon around 4:30.
Hope that everyone has a fabulous evening!
-Mindy
Yesterday, we discussed three senses: what love looks like, tastes like and sounds like. Today, we gathered to explore another sense: smell. We wiggled our noses and went on a smell hunt. We talked about the different things we smell each day and how they smell. We talked about smelling muffins, markers, perfume and…poopy diapers! We set out a tray with three different items to smell: peanut butter, cherry chap stick and eucalyptus smelling beads. “Sweet”, “nutty”, “like candy”, “spicy” and “yucky” were a few adjectives friends used to explore what they were smelling. Friends smelled and sniffed and explored and finally voted on which smell they liked best.
Kai worked with Lisa on a card game that supports this week’s FAB, K.1.2. – identification of equal to/more than or less than. After one player lays a card down, the next player has to lay down a card with a higher number. The first one to lay down all his/her cards wins!
A small group of friends gathered with Lisa on the oval rug to explore a mystery rhyming basket. Objects were pulled out of the basket and friends had to offer up a word that rhymed with the chosen object. (FAB K.1.10 – Say rhyming words in response to an oral prompt)
Without knowing it, Elliott executed an early mathematical concept: sequencing. He chose the gear shift bin, lifted it off the shelf, placed it on the floor and opened it, and began his work. Simon’s puzzle work offered him the same sequencing opportunity, in a different way. These are ordinary moments that occur everyday and are rich developmental experiences.
Finn gathered several friends to join him with his train work. He taught Nate how to set up the gross motor blocks so that Nate could have his own train.
We filled four sensory bins up with soapy water. Two bins had liquid soap and two bins had solid soap bars. This activity morphed into many interesting moments as friends explored. We discussed how the soap felt and liquid/solid. We added solid spoons with spoons with slots. Friends studied how the spoons operated differently with liquid/solid. Elliott added the gingerbread men and they were scrubbed clean. Friends used words such as washing, scrubbing, stirring, soapy, pouring and Arleigh, Alexandra and Umi suggested we sing sang our Halloween favorite “Stirring Our Brew.” Two friends practiced negotiating when one friend badly wanted a spoon with no holes while the other friend wasn’t ready to share.
We love when our Wee Wee Friends come to visit us!
Today’s Wee Sprouts are cucumber slices and yellow bell pepper. Mel served grits and pears for breakfast. Lunch was whole wheat cous cous, mixed veggies and fruit salad. For snack we will serve pretzels and cheese.
Have a great day.
Laurie