Group Meeting:   The children have been enjoying the camping and fishing items that we have put to the play areas.  Today, we added flashlights and talked about using them when camping. During playtime, I saw a few children holding them under their chins to tell ghost stories.  They think of everything!

Story:  In the morning, I read The Selfish Crocodile.  Selfish was a new vocabulary word.  We talked about what it meant.  In this story, the crocodile would not let the other animals in the jungle drink or bathe in the river.  When they were thirsty, the animals had to walk a long way to another river.  One day, the crocodile had a terrible tooth ache.   The animals were afraid to help him because he was so mean, except for a little mouse.  The mouse scrambled up the crocodile's tummy and pulled the tooth out of his mouth.  Because the mouse was so kind, the crocodile was friendly to the other animals and allowed them to drink and bathe in the river.

In the afternoon, Evelyn brought a book with the title The Watermelon Seed.  Yesterday, we read One Watermelon Seed.  Evelyn's book was about a crocodile that accidentally ate a watermelon seed.  He became worried thinking that the seed would grow vines out of his ears and a watermelon in his tummy.  Then he burped.  Out came the watermelon and all was well, until he took another bite! The book was funny.  Thanks, Evelyn!

Small Group: I told the children that numbers could be odd or even.  Then, I showed them a way to figure out which numbers were odd and which were even.  I gave the children a two column grid.   We selected a number and counted out that many Cheerios.  We put the Cheerios into the grid.  If every Cheerio had a "buddy", that number was an even number.  If there was a left over Cheerio, that number was odd.  They caught on pretty quickly.

Large Group:  We went to the Outdoor Classroom.  In the afternoon, we were worried that it was going to rain, so they went out first thing and we did our routine backwards.  Very interesting!

Snacks:  The morning class had blueberry muffins and juice brought by Dawson.  The afternoon class had Cheez-its and juice brought by Noah.  Thank you!

What are our seeds doing?

Group Meeting:  Last week, we planted bean seeds in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel.  The bags are taped on the windows to receive the most light. In a weeks time, they have begun to grow.  The children and I took a few minutes today to look at the seeds.  They are beginning to grow roots.

Story:  I read the book One Watermelon Seed.  In this counting book (first by ones and then by tens), children plant one watermelon seed, two pumpkin seeds, three eggplant seeds, etc.  They water and weed the garden.  When the fruit and vegetables are ripe they pick ten watermelons, twenty pumpkins, thirty eggplants. etc.    At the end, they have picked one hundred ears of corn which pops into thousands of pieces of popcorn.

Small Group:  After we looked at our seeds, each child started a book to document what has happened.  The children drew the plastic bag with the seeds and the seeds growing roots.  We will add pictures to this book as the seeds continue to grow.

Large Group:  Our plan for the morning was to go to the Outdoor Classroom.  However, just as we stepped out of the door, it began to rain.  So the children voted to play Musical Chairs instead.  In the afternoon, it rained during snack time.  We thought that we might have to stay in as well, but it stopped just in time.

Snacks:  The morning class had vanilla wafers and strawberry milk brought by Grace.  The afternoon class had cheese popcorn and juice brought by Wyatt.  Thank you!

What is a conductor?

Group Meeting:  Our camping and fishing continued today.  During group meeting, we went over our rules a little bit.  Sometimes new things can get so exciting that we forget them, but they are having a great time.  Thanks to the parents who sent sleeping bags.  They are being well used, but no sleeping!

Story:  We revisited the story Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo.  This time, we looked for the conductor in the story.  Then, we talked about what the conductor's role is in the band or orchestra.  The children listened to the music from the book to hear when it got faster/slower and louder/softer.  

Small Group:  I rolled a dice to determine a number and  asked the children to build a cube tower with that number of cubes.  Then I asked them to add some or take some away.  Then we determined how many we had remaining.   This is something that you can do at home with items that you have available.  

Large Group:  After hearing the story, we got out our kazoos to see if we could follow a conductor.  I played the role of conductor and had the children follow my lead.  We played loudly and softly, quickly and slowly.

Snacks:  The morning class had apples, strawberries, and juice brought by Riley.  The afternoon class had Rice Krispie treats and milk brought by Leigha.  Thank you!

Camping and Fishing

Group Meeting:  Last week, the children helped me create a list of camping items that we could add to the Housekeeping area.  Today, Mrs. Hoogheem brought a HUGE tent, and we were able to add a picnic basket with dishes, toy roasting sticks, toy marshmallows and hot dogs, and a lantern.    The children would like to have sleeping bags.  This is something that I do not have.  If anyone would like to share a few child sized sleeping bags, we would appreciate it.

Story:  Today's story was  Whistle for Willie.  Peter would like to learn how to whistle so that he could call his dog, Willie.  He tries, but is unsuccessful.  After playing for a while, Peter sees Willie coming down the sidewalk.  He hides in a cardboard box and tries to whistle.  This time, it works.  Willie hears Peter whistle, but cannot find him.  Peter jumps out of the box.  Willie follows Peter as he runs an errand for his mother and whistles the whole way.

Small Group:  The children used a fishing pole with a clothes pin on the end to fish for numerals.  They took turns fishing and hiding behind a divider to put the fish on the line.  Even after group time was over, they continued to play this game.

Large Group:  We went to the Outdoor Classroom.  We took the art supplies for the easels, two new bouncing balls, and the ramps.  

Snacks:  The morning class had Go-gurts and juice brought by Aidan.  The afternoon class had crackers, strawberries, and juice brought by Kadence.  Thank you!

Let's go camping?!

Group Meeting:  The children have been playing with pets and veterinarian items in the Housekeeping Area for quite a while.  While they still enjoy it, we thought that we might try to suggest something new.  I asked the children if any of them liked to go on picnics or go camping during the summer.  There was a lot of interest in this!  The children and I made a list of items that we would need to pretend that we were going on a picnic or camping trip.  I will put these items in the Housekeeping Area on Monday.

Story:  Today, I read A Song for My Sister.    Mira makes a wish.  She wishes that she had a baby sister.  Four years later, her wish comes true.  However, the baby sister likes to cry, a lot!  Mira and her parents are preparing for the naming ceremony which will take place eight days after the baby is born.   Mira thinks "siren" and "thunder" would be good names.  During the naming ceremony, Mira's gift to her baby sister is a song.  While she sings, the baby calms down and coos at her.  Mira's parents decide to name the baby Shira which means song or melody.

Small Group:  The children participated in an tallying activity.  I had a number of questions for them to answer by making a mark under a programmed answer card.  After everyone had marked their answer, we counted the answers.

Large Group:  The children took turns on the tumbling mat and played with the balls.  Hopefully, we will return to the Outdoor Classroom next week.

Snacks:  The morning class had Go-gurt and juice brought by Payton.  The afternoon class had Goldfish grahams and juice brought by Lily.  Thank you!

Surprise Garden

Group Meeting:  This time of year is typically garden planting time.  During group meeting time, we talked about vegetable gardens and flower gardens.  Hopefully, the weather will shape up soon so that we can get some planting done.

Story:  The story I selected for today was The Surprise Garden.  In this story, children are given a mixture of unidentified seeds to plant.  As the plants grow and mature, they are able to tell what kind of seeds that they had planted.  After the story, we talked about what seeds need in order to grow.  We are going to try to grow a plant from a seed.

Small Group:  The children played a game called, "What's Missing?"  I placed 7 toys on the table.  I asked the children to close their eyes and then removed one item.  The children had to figure out which item was missing.  The children took turns taking toys away.  Then we tried taking two items, three items, etc.

Large Group:  The children planted seeds in plastic bags so that we can watch them grow.  Each child was given a Ziploc bag, a paper towel to get wet, and two seeds.  We will tape the bags onto the window so that they will get sunlight.  In about a week, we should be able to see the roots seeking water.  Then a stem will grow up and out of the bag.  In a few weeks, they will be ready to take home.  What seeds are we planting?  We'll find out.

Snacks:  The morning class had Go-gurt and juice brought by Parker.  The afternoon class had trail mix and juice brought by Allison.  Thank you!

The shaving cream was so much fun yesterday that we decided put it at the art table.  Ask your child to tell you if they did anything with the shaving cream today.

Kazoo Time

Group Meeting:  Yesterday, we learned that the sound of our voices comes from the vibrations of our vocal chords.  Today, we learned about the kazoo that also uses vibrations to make a sound.  

Story:  To prepare us for our kazoo band, I selected The Pirate and the Kazoo.  In this story, a young pirate is left on a deserted island because his crew thought he wasn't mean enough.  One day, while he is fishing, he catches a pelican by mistake.  The pelican is wearing a kazoo around his neck.  The pirate blows into the kazoo, but it doesn't make a sound.  His parrot reminds him that to make the kazoo work, he needs to hum into it.  The other pirates hear his kazoo music and come back to the island.  He is now the musician on the ship.

Small Group:  The children spread shaving cream onto the table and used their fingers to make letters in the shaving cream.  A lot of the children really enjoyed this activity.  It's great for fine motor experiences as well as learning letters, numbers, shapes, etc.  It's especially fun if the grown-ups get involved.  Just an idea... 

Large Group:  Every child was given a kazoo and became a member of our kazoo band.  We played our favorite songs such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Twinkle, Twinkle".  After a few more practices, they will be bringing their kazoos home.

Snacks:  The morning class had cheese, crackers, and juice brought by Lucie.  The afternoon class had Teddy Grahams and juice brought by Campbell.  Thank you!