Swimming Tuesday!

While Tami took the swimmers to the Y, Melinda led a Still Life art exploration. Propping a red flower on a high surface, Melinda encouraged the children to draw (using markers) what they saw. She discussed the meaning of Still Life and Abstract art. The artists have displayed their work on the puppet theatre. Enjoy!F.3.13 Use objects in nature to create a collage or art piece. F.3.6 Display interest in the artwork of others.

In small groups, we spent time with our doctor study testing our eyesight. Using a homemade pictorial eye chart, friends stood at a distance and named pictures large to small. F.2.7 Participate in games and follow the rules.

We sang “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” and listened to several Jim Gill tunes. We explored (tickled!) body parts when listening to Jim Gill’s “Tickle Toes” F.3.1 Exhibit self-confidence while participating in movement activities. F.3.1 Name body parts and point to the location of each. F.3.3 Move in directions on command (e.g., forward, backward, sideways).

For lunch we served whole wheat pasta and beef, green beans and mandarin oranges.

Have a great day!

This morning Amanda from Paths to Quality came to Wee Friends for the annual rating visit. We are currently categorized Level Four (the highest rating) and after this mornings visit, Amanda recommended that Wee Friends remain Level Four. We are pleased!

Today Tami introduced nurse/doctor robes, ace bandages, 2 used thermometers, a doctor’s kit and a variety of band aids into housekeeping. There was a small (shifting) group of friends exploring and playing with the new materials for most of the morning. Using masking tape and a bathroom scale, we measured and weighed everyone recording our findings on the tape.

We also examined and charted eye color today.

Our friends are really enjoying the basketball hoop and new outside additions, not to mention THE SUN!!!!!!!!!

We are making headway with our potty and hand washing procedures. Gentle reminders are helping friends remember the steps. We will continue working on this Beginning the Basics activity next week.

As we end the week, Wee Friends and teachers are excited that the new lunch time routine is settling in naturally. It has created a more peaceful meal time environment and older friends are experiencing a sense of empowerment when helping their younger friends along.

Today’s lunch was whole wheat pizza with ham and cheese, bananas and fresh snap peas/carrots.

Have a fantastic, restful weekend!

 Tumbling Thursday!

 Tumbling is a weekly highlight at Wee Friends. From the car ride over to the one hour experience at the Y, the kids love it. Not only does Miss Patty instruct the children in tumbling techniques, she also infuses other curriculum areas as she goes along. Today on the high beam, she asked four toddlers “How old are you?”  one child’s answer: “3!” response: “can you clap 3 times for me?” The kids are then forced to muster up lots of courage (and balance!) and release their firm grip on the beam, clapping 3x. Today, as they walked across the beam, she placed 4 colored rings in front of them. When they encountered a ring, they had to pick it up, identify the color and place it on her neck! The courses she sets (stand on the white line, roll hula hoop in front of you, chase hoop, return to original spot following white line) encourage geometrical patterning. She often plays classical music that creates a calm energy throughout the gym. As she rolls the children back and forth on the circular ‘donut’, she invites recognition of family relationships by expressing “Say hello to Mom! Say hello to Dad!”. Our Wee Friends are getting a multi-curricular experience and having the time of their life!

Back at school, Melinda led a watercolor exploration and Laurie helped more friends apply medicine (lotion) to new ouchies. We also created a “What color is your hair?” chart. Friends studied themselves in the mirror and reported back blond, brown, red or black.

Have a terrific day.

Count down to Mother’s Day!

The older Wee Friends had a chance, this morning, to create three dimensional art with salt, chalk and a jelly jar! At the risk of giving the surprise away-here are a few pictures of their work! F.5.2 Follow steps in a simple routine. F.6.19 See a task through to completion. F.4.2 Identify attributes or characteristics for comparison (e.g., color, size, gender, shape).

“Look at my Ouchie!!!!

Our exploration of ouchies continued today with our toddlers! We started with the question: “Does anyone have a new ouchie to share?” We examined cotton balls and Q-Tips and talked about where friends have seen them and what they are used for. Using pretend medicine (kid friendly lotion) we used the cotton balls and Q-Tips to apply medicine to our ouchies. Some friends were very eager to help others, others wanted to tend to themselves only and, ok….some friends just wanted a pedicure/manicure using the Q-Tip. It led to a conversation about the ways in which we take care of one another. We then moved to the art table and used the cotton balls and Q-Tips to create art with tempera paints. F.4.2 Role play different types of occupations. F.5.9 Use interpersonal skills of sharing and taking turns in interactions with others.

We sang and acted out “Five Little Monkeys” and friends loved falling down and getting pretend hurt!

The second day of our new mealtime routine went very well with a few older kids reminding teachers “Hey-Addi is my buddy!”, reminding us that he/she was supposed to serve the food. We ate chicken and rice, green peas and apple slices.

Tami has moved our plastic basketball hoop outdoors to support our goal of making our playground a rich environment for play and exercise. She also added medium sized plastic balls which have generated lots of excitement! F.1.3 Manipulate objects by throwing, catching large balls with two hands, striking, swinging, and pulling at a basic level. (e.g., throws an object at a target with an overhand motion and trunk rotation, throws something upward and catches it, and jumps over a stationary object).

Have a great day!

Swimming Tuesday!

While the older kids were swimming a small group of toddlers began talking about and sharing their ouchies. We quickly got our doctor’s kit and began listening to each other’s hearts and further discussing ouchies and how friends got them. To the tune of “Are You Sleeping” we sang “Ouchie, ouchie, ouchie, ouchie….wah! wah! wah!…” The toddlers thought pretend crying was super fun! We moved to the art table and friends drew their ouchies on a stick figure sketch, placing a masking tape band aid over the sore spot. We jumped into math by counting the number of band aids! We worked in another math lesson when a friend counted 5 squares out as she used the potty!

We have started a new lunch time routine. In the past, we’ve had a big kid table and a toddler table. Today, Tami assigned lunch buddies (an older and younger child) and sat them next to one another. The older friend helped his/her buddy wash hands and then, after sitting down, with serving food and drink. They also began putting their plate/utensil/glass into the dishwasher. The kids were excited about their new roles and it went very smoothly.

For lunch, we served farm fresh scrambled eggs (on sale at WF for $3.50 a dozen!), whole wheat toast, carrots and bananas/mandarin oranges.

Yesterday, Tami added two baskets filled with plates and cups to the cottage climber. She moved a table and two chairs inside it. Our outside time has been filled with imaginative play using only plastic/aluminum dishes and pea gravel!

Have a great day!