This morning we used the outdoor winter elements to do a study on melting. Miss Melinda and Breania (Marty’s daughter who is helping this week until Laurie returns from Hawaii) led the children on an exploration of how cold water and warm water effects the melting of icicles. They also experimented with how salt and paint effects the icicles. As the children observed and examined the icicles, there was great vocabulary development as they tried different words as we went along: squeeze, slippery, ccld/warm/hot, frozen/melted/solid, salty, colorful and experimenting. After the formal experiment concluded, we put towels on the floor and sensory bins full of snow, icicles, and different temperatures of water for the children to explore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning we are also excited that we have a new “reader” in our midst. Little Ada, at not quite 4 1/2 is able to read! She is now one of our Bob Book readers:) Yeah for Ada!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For breakfast we had whole grain oatmeal & clementines. For lunch we had whole wheat couscous and chicken, lima beans/carrots, and fresh pear slices.

Here are some other shots from our day:

Tami wrapped up two big boxes and Wee Friends spent a long while this morning, snuggling into, jumping out of, stacking and toppling over the boxes.

It was a happy morning with lots of smiles and collaborative play!

Kai and Macy helped Melinda put artwork into each WF’s cubby. They identified the names on the artwork and matched them to the names on the cubby. These are ready to take home today!

Using glittery winter stickers, friends exercised fine motor muscles and concentration as they decorated a paper christmas tree.

Our three youngest boys chose to leave the art table to help fold towels!!

Each friend successfully sequenced between one and four steps: 1) taking the towel out of the basket 2)folding it multiple times 3) stacking it 4) delivering the stack of towels to its basket. After each of his trips, Nate exclaimed:

“We did it!!”

When we have all said goodbye this evening, Tami will return tonight to begin renovating the Wee Friends classroom. She, Charles and a contractor will be working fast and furiously over these next two weeks to break down walls and reconfigure our space providing more visibility throughout the classroom. She has said that when we return in the new year, it will be quite transformed!

On behalf of Tami and the Wee Friends staff, we wish you all a happy holiday and restful vacation. As always, we are grateful for all the ways you support Wee Friends and we thank you for sharing your beautiful children with us!

See you in 2012!!

This morning, Melinda led Wee Friends in the exploration of three different nutcrackers: Simon’s ornamental nutcracker, a hand held nutcracker and a table top nutcracker. First, they examined each nutcracker closely by passing them around for each friend to hold. Using a potato, orange and a hazelnut, they studied which size object fit into which nutcracker. They discovered Simon’s soldier nutcracker had a very smooth surface where the nut is cracked, but the hand held cracker had a rough, almost sharp place to crack open a nut. On the table top cracker, they figured out how to spin a cylinder that would adjust to the size of the nut you placed in it. They discussed what the outer shell is and what the meat of the nut is.

They created a message board asking the question, “Which nut cracker do you like best?”. Each friend used their favorite nutcracker to crack open a hazelnut.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been this week’s favorite book. After this morning’s reading of it, a couple friends chose to create a portrait of the Grinch, using the book and our Grinch lovie as models.

There was lots of singing and music making this morning: “Jingle Bells”, “Sunshine on My Shoulders”, and “Puff the Magic Dragon” were among the requests.

We added jingle bells to the light table and friends enjoyed both the reflection of light and the jingling! They have spent many hours this week sorting a variety of translucent materials into plastic mini quiche trays!

For breakfast we served peanut butter and toast with clementines. Lunch was cream cheese sandwiches on whole grain flat bread, mixed veggies and grapes. For snack we will serve animal crackers and apples.

Have a great day!

Our morning was spent creating the most beautiful Christmas tree ornaments! I saw the idea on the blog, playathomemom.com and couldn’t wait to try it with both classrooms!

The children made these “I Spy” ornaments by filling them with assorted items like letters, trees, snowflakes, beads, tinsel, fuzzy balls, ribbon, and sparkly snow. It was neat to watch the different personalities come out as some children quickly filled their ornaments, while others spent up to 45 minutes carefully selecting which items they wanted to use. This activity demanded some real problem solving as many of the objects were larger than the size of the opening in the ornament. It also required patience as the glittery snow went in very slowly. 7.10 Use new vocabulary learned from experiences.F.7.12 Follow two-step spoken directions with prompts.F.7.13 Use trial and error to solve a simple problem.F.1.18 Apply one-to-one correspondence with objectsF.1.22 Name groups of objects.F.3.6 Identify attributes of objects.F.3.7 Give reason of placement of objects.F.5.4 Use any descriptive word or gesture to express amount or size.F.6.15 Use trial and error to solve problems.

THE ORNAMENTS ARE GLASS AND WILL BREAK IF DROPPED OR SQEEZED! So please be careful with them in transport.

We will be sending home a variety of Christmas projects today. Enjoy!

Other pictures from today and yesterday afternoon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some stories…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday afternoon, wrapping our blocks for our Christmas tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had grits and bananas/apples for breakfast. For lunch we had brown rice with roast beef, whole wheat bread, mixed vegetables and pear slices.

Have a great afternoon!