Thursday, August 27, 2009
Beeswax Rhyme
We recite this rhyme during community time on Tuesdays in the PreK. The children are first given a piece of beeswax to hold in their hands, covering it like a baby they are putting to sleep. They hold the beeswax until it becomes pliable as they listen to the day's story. Not only does this develop patience, as the wax is not pliable with out human warmth for a period of time, but it also develops fine motor skills as the children shape it.
Author Unknown
Bees give us their gift of gold,
For you my dears to warm and hold,
Story time is here to tell,
Come listen to the fairy's spell.
Author Unknown
Bees give us their gift of gold,
For you my dears to warm and hold,
Story time is here to tell,
Come listen to the fairy's spell.
Bread Baking Rhyme
We recite this each Wednesday at school as we bake bread. We teach the children to knead the dough by flouring the dough and their hands, pressing the dough with the heal of their hands into a "pancake", then folding the dough over and pressing into a "pancake" again.
Author Unknown
Fresh baked bread is a yummy treat,
Filled with love and warmth and wheat,
Knead the dough and let it rise,
And soon you'll have a big surprise,
From the water, flour, and yeast,
Grows a golden, delicious feast.
Author Unknown
Fresh baked bread is a yummy treat,
Filled with love and warmth and wheat,
Knead the dough and let it rise,
And soon you'll have a big surprise,
From the water, flour, and yeast,
Grows a golden, delicious feast.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
AM Snack: watermelon, water
Lunch: natural turkey, string cheese, broccoli (Toddlers/Twos), tossed salad with homemade vinaigrette (PreK), organic milk
PM Snack: Zbars, water
Infants: Janie read several nursery rhymes to the children from Mother Goose, including: "There Was an Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe", "Baa, Baa Black Sheep", and "Hey Diddle Diddle". Addie and Porter enjoyed tummy time, rolling from tummy to back. Gage practiced walking, and Emma practiced crawling.
Toddlers: The class enjoyed morning time in the sand box. They took turns petting Queso and watch the school bus load up. They sand "The Wheels on the Bus" and read and I Spy book. The children like to point to their eyes, then Ellen says "I Spy".
Twos: The class enjoyed playing in the sand box, playing in their new classroom, and playing soccer with the "big kids" in the afternoon. Kai and Waylon kicked a small soccer ball to one another. Jack liked playing "choo-choo" with his sister, holding onto her and moving around the playground. Ethan had a great day, and was very excited for lunch. Kira is such a big girl, and had fun talking about Halloween and her soon-to-be baby sister! Gavin loves the big dump truck outside!
PreK: We began our day at the tree and watching Ella board the bus, then we did farm chores. Everyone loves to mix Queso's food, and some friends fed the goats by hand, much to their delight. Inside, we split into the half-day and full-day classes.
In Kari's full-day class, the class talked about their names and then each child decorated their written name with star stamps. Hudson, Asa, and Isaac played with cars. Leilani enjoyed dressing up like a princess and playing puppets, Catherine built a cool entrance to the play kitchen with sheets, Colton enjoyed playing in the kitchen area, Noah played "Underdog" and cars, and Soleil cooked in the kitchen area.
In Leslie's half-day class, the group made the tossed salad for lunch and the "magical" salad dressing. The children enjoyed building a race track with some fine motor manipulatives, and connected our wooden alphabet train together. At Community Time, we guessed the spelling of each friend's name when it was written on the wipe-off board, and reviewed shapes, counting their sides. We read If You Give a Pig a Pancake and Llama, Llama, Mad at Mama. The children had fun playing off the subject matter of the books, and pretended to cook "fresh bacon and pancakes". They also built structures with sheets, wooden clips, and play stands.
In the afternoon outside, the entire PreK enjoyed soccer with Wacy's mom, Sarah. They liked her whistle!
Lunch: natural turkey, string cheese, broccoli (Toddlers/Twos), tossed salad with homemade vinaigrette (PreK), organic milk
PM Snack: Zbars, water
Infants: Janie read several nursery rhymes to the children from Mother Goose, including: "There Was an Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe", "Baa, Baa Black Sheep", and "Hey Diddle Diddle". Addie and Porter enjoyed tummy time, rolling from tummy to back. Gage practiced walking, and Emma practiced crawling.
Toddlers: The class enjoyed morning time in the sand box. They took turns petting Queso and watch the school bus load up. They sand "The Wheels on the Bus" and read and I Spy book. The children like to point to their eyes, then Ellen says "I Spy".
Twos: The class enjoyed playing in the sand box, playing in their new classroom, and playing soccer with the "big kids" in the afternoon. Kai and Waylon kicked a small soccer ball to one another. Jack liked playing "choo-choo" with his sister, holding onto her and moving around the playground. Ethan had a great day, and was very excited for lunch. Kira is such a big girl, and had fun talking about Halloween and her soon-to-be baby sister! Gavin loves the big dump truck outside!
PreK: We began our day at the tree and watching Ella board the bus, then we did farm chores. Everyone loves to mix Queso's food, and some friends fed the goats by hand, much to their delight. Inside, we split into the half-day and full-day classes.
In Kari's full-day class, the class talked about their names and then each child decorated their written name with star stamps. Hudson, Asa, and Isaac played with cars. Leilani enjoyed dressing up like a princess and playing puppets, Catherine built a cool entrance to the play kitchen with sheets, Colton enjoyed playing in the kitchen area, Noah played "Underdog" and cars, and Soleil cooked in the kitchen area.
In Leslie's half-day class, the group made the tossed salad for lunch and the "magical" salad dressing. The children enjoyed building a race track with some fine motor manipulatives, and connected our wooden alphabet train together. At Community Time, we guessed the spelling of each friend's name when it was written on the wipe-off board, and reviewed shapes, counting their sides. We read If You Give a Pig a Pancake and Llama, Llama, Mad at Mama. The children had fun playing off the subject matter of the books, and pretended to cook "fresh bacon and pancakes". They also built structures with sheets, wooden clips, and play stands.
In the afternoon outside, the entire PreK enjoyed soccer with Wacy's mom, Sarah. They liked her whistle!
Our Mealtime Blessing
I am a big believer in the power of family dinner--I remember waiting for my dad to get home and sitting down as a family to dinner most nights growing up. It's a time to come together after a busy day apart. Let the children help chop, stir, and set the table. Try making it special by adding candles or flowers. It may seem painful when they are little and want to run around or when it is "easier" to just do it yourself. Nonetheless, your efforts will stick with them, I promise.
As dinner winds down, talk about something special or funny from each family member's day. Maybe let the kids show some artwork from school. It's just about pausing in this busy world to really hear what the people you love most have to say. My girls are 5 1/2 and 9, and my son is 3 1/2 and we have started enjoying a chapter from a book each night at dinner, though brother often wanders off. The girls are having fun with it, though.
My daughter Olivia came home from Waldorf school when she was 3 1/2 and wanted to recite an unintelligible rhyme that sounded quite mysterious. I asked her teacher for the words, and we used the blessing as a family off and on for several years. We've used it at lunch time at school for the last 3 years!
~Leslie
(While matching up fingers on each hand)
(Thumbs) Oaka
(Index) Poaka
(Middle) Ribbika
(Ring) Soaka
(Pinkies) Oaka
(All Fingers) Poaka, Cloak
(Sing, with hands in lap)
Earth who gives to us this food
Sun who makes it ripe and good
Dearest Earth and dearest sun
We will remember what you have done.
Hmmm, Hmmm, Hmmm.
As dinner winds down, talk about something special or funny from each family member's day. Maybe let the kids show some artwork from school. It's just about pausing in this busy world to really hear what the people you love most have to say. My girls are 5 1/2 and 9, and my son is 3 1/2 and we have started enjoying a chapter from a book each night at dinner, though brother often wanders off. The girls are having fun with it, though.
My daughter Olivia came home from Waldorf school when she was 3 1/2 and wanted to recite an unintelligible rhyme that sounded quite mysterious. I asked her teacher for the words, and we used the blessing as a family off and on for several years. We've used it at lunch time at school for the last 3 years!
~Leslie
(While matching up fingers on each hand)
(Thumbs) Oaka
(Index) Poaka
(Middle) Ribbika
(Ring) Soaka
(Pinkies) Oaka
(All Fingers) Poaka, Cloak
(Sing, with hands in lap)
Earth who gives to us this food
Sun who makes it ripe and good
Dearest Earth and dearest sun
We will remember what you have done.
Hmmm, Hmmm, Hmmm.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
AM Snack: apple slices and grapes, water
Lunch: homemade organic vegetable beef soup (grass fed beef), homemade bread and organic butter, organic milk
PM Snack: banana smoothies (organic yogurt, bananas, organic milk), water
Infants: Janie sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and read the nursery rhyme "Hey, Diddle, Diddle". Addison and Porter both enjoyed time sitting up in the Bumbo seats exploring the wooden activity cube. Emma continues to gain strength crawling, and Gage entertains everyone with his "Gage speak".
Toddlers: The class enjoyed outdoor free play in the sand box and the play yard. They worked on pouring sand and identified sights and sounds outdoors. The class sang "If You're Happy and You Know It".
Twos: The sand box continues to be a hit outside! Inside, the group did a sensory activity with rocks and water, worked and alphabet puzzle, and picked out the letters in our names. Christin read The Foot Book and everyone loved making bread and eating it later for lunch.
PreK: The entire preK did explored the downed tree, watched our friend Ella board the school bus, and then did farm chores. After a nice morning snack, we split into two groups (the half day class and the full day class).
Kari's full-day class read the book Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?, then played the game by the same name. Each child had a chance to be the "thief"! The group made bread and worked on folding kitchen clothes. In the afternoon, everyone had fun in Stacy's yoga class.
Leslie's half-day class read the book The Happy Day and had fun singing songs including "Morning Has Come". We mixed bread dough and did fine motor work with KidKnex and other materials. Inside, the class had fun building a covered entrance to our play eave, and building towers with the pink blocks. We played in the sand box and put Queso away before enjoying our lunch! Our last slice of bread was a treat with honey!
Lunch: homemade organic vegetable beef soup (grass fed beef), homemade bread and organic butter, organic milk
PM Snack: banana smoothies (organic yogurt, bananas, organic milk), water
Infants: Janie sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and read the nursery rhyme "Hey, Diddle, Diddle". Addison and Porter both enjoyed time sitting up in the Bumbo seats exploring the wooden activity cube. Emma continues to gain strength crawling, and Gage entertains everyone with his "Gage speak".
Toddlers: The class enjoyed outdoor free play in the sand box and the play yard. They worked on pouring sand and identified sights and sounds outdoors. The class sang "If You're Happy and You Know It".
Twos: The sand box continues to be a hit outside! Inside, the group did a sensory activity with rocks and water, worked and alphabet puzzle, and picked out the letters in our names. Christin read The Foot Book and everyone loved making bread and eating it later for lunch.
PreK: The entire preK did explored the downed tree, watched our friend Ella board the school bus, and then did farm chores. After a nice morning snack, we split into two groups (the half day class and the full day class).
Kari's full-day class read the book Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?, then played the game by the same name. Each child had a chance to be the "thief"! The group made bread and worked on folding kitchen clothes. In the afternoon, everyone had fun in Stacy's yoga class.
Leslie's half-day class read the book The Happy Day and had fun singing songs including "Morning Has Come". We mixed bread dough and did fine motor work with KidKnex and other materials. Inside, the class had fun building a covered entrance to our play eave, and building towers with the pink blocks. We played in the sand box and put Queso away before enjoying our lunch! Our last slice of bread was a treat with honey!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, 8/25/09
School Announcements: Thank you to the Justice family, the Gaston/Ikard family, and the Merrill family for donating sand today! Thanks Justice family for the great buckets, too! The kids love the sand box so much!
AM Snack: Kashi Sunshine cereal, water
Lunch: natural turkey sandwiches on organic sunflower bread, organic apple wedges, organic milk
PM Snack: organic animal crackers, dried fruit, water
Infant Room: Porter enjoyed tummy time, worked on reaching for and grasping toys. Gage built with the large wooden blocks and Emma Grace is enjoying her new mobility. She is discovering new toys in the classroom!
Toddler Room: The children love the new sand box. They took a long walk around the farm to visit the animals. Everyone was exhausted and ready for nap after lunch! Welcome to our new friend Vaughn!
Twos Room: The children love the sand box. They colored with beeswax crayons, glued squares onto paper, glue feathers onto their monster rocks from yesterday, sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and reviewed letters during Community Time.
PreK (full-day): In addition to farm chores, the class enjoyed reading Mouse's First Day of School. It was great to see Soleil return to school. The class drew farm pictures with beeswax crayons, and love their sandwiches at lunch. Kari drew a beautiful farm picture on the chalkboard that the children loved!
PreK (half-day): Welcome to our new friend Sophia! We started the day by doing farm chores, then visiting the downed tree. Inside, we read Dinner Time by Beatrix Potter, and Going to Sleep on the Farm. We wrote each friend's name on the wipe off board, and realized that Will and Wacy and Sophia and Siler start with the same first letter! We sang some favorite songs. The children took turns drawing with beeswax crayons. Some children worked with Leslie to begin tracing their name, and several friends were already very good at writing their names. We proudly displayed our work in our classroom. Violet and Lucy enjoyed building with the train set, Wacy pretended to paint the walls or our "house", Will liked drawing shapes, Gabrielle loved doing silly gross motor moves, Siler liked building tents with our new tie dyed sheet, Isa wrote on the wipe-off board, and Cole pretended to be "Underdog", and Sophia liked cooking and drawing.
AM Snack: Kashi Sunshine cereal, water
Lunch: natural turkey sandwiches on organic sunflower bread, organic apple wedges, organic milk
PM Snack: organic animal crackers, dried fruit, water
Infant Room: Porter enjoyed tummy time, worked on reaching for and grasping toys. Gage built with the large wooden blocks and Emma Grace is enjoying her new mobility. She is discovering new toys in the classroom!
Toddler Room: The children love the new sand box. They took a long walk around the farm to visit the animals. Everyone was exhausted and ready for nap after lunch! Welcome to our new friend Vaughn!
Twos Room: The children love the sand box. They colored with beeswax crayons, glued squares onto paper, glue feathers onto their monster rocks from yesterday, sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and reviewed letters during Community Time.
PreK (full-day): In addition to farm chores, the class enjoyed reading Mouse's First Day of School. It was great to see Soleil return to school. The class drew farm pictures with beeswax crayons, and love their sandwiches at lunch. Kari drew a beautiful farm picture on the chalkboard that the children loved!
PreK (half-day): Welcome to our new friend Sophia! We started the day by doing farm chores, then visiting the downed tree. Inside, we read Dinner Time by Beatrix Potter, and Going to Sleep on the Farm. We wrote each friend's name on the wipe off board, and realized that Will and Wacy and Sophia and Siler start with the same first letter! We sang some favorite songs. The children took turns drawing with beeswax crayons. Some children worked with Leslie to begin tracing their name, and several friends were already very good at writing their names. We proudly displayed our work in our classroom. Violet and Lucy enjoyed building with the train set, Wacy pretended to paint the walls or our "house", Will liked drawing shapes, Gabrielle loved doing silly gross motor moves, Siler liked building tents with our new tie dyed sheet, Isa wrote on the wipe-off board, and Cole pretended to be "Underdog", and Sophia liked cooking and drawing.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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