I was out on Monday, but Tuesday was awesome! During circle time, we were sure to read a book about animal facts! We talked about the color of giraffe tonguesand the diets of monkeys! We had a chance to color some of our favorite animals—tigers, lions, whales, and more! We even talked about dragons—though we were sure to distinguish them as “pretend” animals. We met Leo the Lion, and then had awesome yoga time with Ms. Vanessa! She brought Madam butterfly and we were each allowed a kiss! At the end, the breathing ball was a treat, and a real opportunity to work on our breathing! Learning how to breathe with awareness really comes in handy when we’re trying to work through difficult or exciting emotions! It helps us to calm our bodies and get re-focused.

Wednesday started out with some awesome outside time in the cloudy and beautiful weather. An onion from the garden was just screaming to be picked, and so we picked it. Dom cut small pieces for those who wanted a taste. We find that for some kids, seeing their food come straight from the garden makes it more interesting and appetizing. Show and Tell was super awesome. Miles and Tula really showcased their pigs as they put on a pig performance for us—squeeling and snorting in the toys own way—it was a funny site to see. We had a chance to color toads and salamanders while we free-played. We had a few requests for batman masks, and so in Reggio Emilia spirit, we embraced this super-hero exploration. We added spots to our toads using candle wax. We talked about fire safety and closely guided them as they witnessed wax turn from a solid to a liquid to create raised spots on our frogs! We talked about the bumpy skin of toads, looked at some different varieties, and compared our creations to our big toad at the door of our class. Spanish time was also super awesome! We played a game of matching body parts to a human silhouette. In the process, we also learned numbers in Spanish and vocabulary related to turn taking!

Thursday morning we learned about teamwork and ways to use balls. We learned how to kick a ball in a step by step process. First, ask your partner “are you ready?” then you put the ball down, get “set up” by taking a step back, and then you kick! We waited in line to show we were interested in playing this game with other players, and then practiced kicking and catching the ball. In the afternoon, we watched a “volcano” erupt several times using vinegar and baking soda. Daphne visited us for Spanish again, and taught us a great song about moving body parts. It’s a fast song, jam-packed with things to learn—a challenge, and one they are certainly excited about! We also flew a dragon kite at the end of the day! It flew away and got stuck on a telephone pole! We were able to watch it, far as it was, all afternoon.

Friday we had dance party all morning! We were surprised to find the dragon kite flying strong! We also had an awesome car wash using soap, water, and sponges. In the afternoon, we had a pizza-making cooking project. Toni modeled for every one how she assembled her pizza with her favorite ingredients. Then, we passed out the ingredients along with some spoons to practice spreading sauce on their tortillas. Every one tasted it! At the very end of the day, we got caught in the rain and had an impromptu rain party in the welcome center! At last, the kite came down and Nick was able to show it to us! Such a great week! 

 Love,
Jackie

Monday was excellent. We started outside, came in for snack, and then had a great Montessori work time. In the afternoon, Ms. Liz came for yoga and she taught us how to do some moves with partners. We had fun accidentally letting go and falling as we practiced together. We did some stamp art, got introduced to some little lady bugs, and even let some of them go at the end of the day outside!

Tuesday, we had great free-play—many of our friends became very interested in the life-size fold out book. We had Montessori work time, and set up a play dough station at this time for those who were interested. In the afternoon, Vanessa came to do yoga with us. We got to use the over-sized breathing ball, which was very exciting for most of our tots! In the afternoon, we investigated some more ladybugs and showed them and our garden care by releasing them.

Wednesday morning we used some foam blocks which were a hit for every one. We made castles, houses, bridges, roads, trains, and rocket ships. Then, we had Show and Tell followed by a short work time! When we awoke from nap, we used small black circles of construction paper, glue sticks, and markers to create ladybugs! Daphne came for Spanish and we learned about the parts of the body.  In the afternoon we found a beautiful black caterpillar—some of our tots let him crawl on them!

Thursday morning, Kai brought a beautiful snail to share with his friends. Tula, Malik, and Livio picked some fresh tomatoes from our organic garden. We came in and had work time, and in the afternoon, Daphne shared with us an awesome activity to help us learn the parts of the body. We learned about “la cabeza,” “brazos,””pies,” and more! Do check out Daphne’s newsletters to see all the vocabulary we’re learning! In the afternoon, we stuck our ladybugs on a plant using tape to make a 3D display!

Friday was super awesome. We let out all the ladybugs into a butterfly habitat net. Friends all over the playground had a chance to pick as many ladybugs as they wanted so long as the were gentle with them and set them free. We also made bird feeders and stalked them with bird seed to invite all our animal friends to the playground and give them some love. In the afternoon we put butterfly window stickers on our windows. While we were playing, our kiddos decided to make a chair-train, and so we did! 

Monday was excellent! We had our usual circle time and Montessori work time. I couldn’t find my phone for the first half of the day, so I didn’t get to take as many pictures as I wanted! In the afternoon, we decorated pictures of sombreros in honor of Cinco de Mayo! We pointed out Mexico on our map, and talked about how Mexico is our neighbor, how Mexicans speak Spanish, and how many people we know have Mexican heritage.  In the afternoon, Ms. Vanessa came to do Yoga with us! We learned bridge pose, where we put our hands behind us, our feet flat on the ground, and we lift our pelvis. After snack, we released the Orbeez! We had fun scooping them, putting them into containers, and pouring them.

Tuesday we great! We got started early, making our Mother’s day presents! We talked about how much we love our mothers, and all the wonderful things they do with us and for us. We talked about how we wanted to celebrate our mothers by making a gift for them! Every one got their focus face on, and really put their heart into their project. We had a short circle time and headed outside! We were learning about “caring for self” and we talked about taking baths! We brought babies in to show how mom and dad used to take us baths when we were babies. We also talked about caring for others, like baby sisters and brothers, and also pretended to be parents taking care of children! We scrubbed the heads and feet and butts of babies, and about how we need to be careful not to get soap in their eyes! We had a chance to string some of our noodles, and had yoga!

Wednesdsay, we cared for our crab friends by letting them explore the garden! We gathered around and watched where they might go. We talked about how hermies sometimes eat strawberries, and wondered if Mister would.  We had show and tell! Every one was super excited to show of their thing, and even Ms. Ashley and Ms. Jackie showed the smell of lavender and earphones! In the afternoon, we started painted pots for our Mother’s day gift! We got to use new paintbrushes, and even got to use our hands at the very end! Spanish was awesome with Ms. Daphne! We talked about body parts!

Thursday was great. Ms. Toni came for our morning snack to show us some hand signs that we haven’t talked about in a while! Some of it was review, and some was new. We learned sad, happy, please, and sorry, and talked about the different instances in which we could use them. At the end, we sang The More We get Together using our hand signs.  We took our plant pots outside and put soil in them to prepare them for our lavender seeds. In the afternoon, Daphne had us do a fun activity where we talked about our “manos” and “dedos” and got to make a hand print with a color that we identified in Spanish!

Friday, we had a morning filled with dance party and super hero fun! We made “spy scopes” by decorating them with markers, crayons, and stickers. In the afternoon, Chef Mike came and shared an awesome recipe for “watermelon salad” with us. We used balsamic reduction, feta cheese, mint, and watermelon! 

Monday started out with books on “hippy hill” in the big backyard. We watered the plants and headed inside. While we were having snack, Ashley showed us some small pearl shaped beads. She poured them in a bucket and we added water to help them grow. While we were outside, we did a mini egg-hunt. The primary hid confetti eggs all over the playground, and then we went on a hunt and had a chance to crack some on friends’ and teachers’ heads. In the afternoon we had Yoga with Ms. Liz. After yoga, we had a chance to use the “squishy balls” that grew with the water. We had a chance to pour and scoop them, and talked about their texture being slippery, slimy, squishy, and smooth.

Tuesday we had an awesome circle time and work time. During Montessori work time, small groups of friends had a chance to go on a “potty tour” where we went around the school and found all the potties. We identified the “flusher,” the toilet paper, and the hand-washing sink at each potty stop.  We read a book about the ocean with Vanessa. We finished decorating a picture collage and then built a train before heading outside!

Wednesday morning we found lots of rollie pollies under rocks around the garden. We had an excellent show and tell (the pictures will show you!). Jackson brought a cardboard box to school, so we took it outside with us in the morning. The box turned into an egg, and we took turns hatching from the egg as a baby dinosaur. In the afternoon, we went fishing with Ms. Daphne for Spanish time.

Thursday morning we watered the garden and found rollie pollies under the rocks. During circle time, we fed all our little birdies “worms,” which is something they love to pretend after we sing our “bird song.” Then, Ashley introduced a sweeping work, the pink tower, and scissors to every one. The whole class was extremely interested in watching Ashley model how to use the particular works. It is a Montessori rule with any work, that we should model first how it is to be used.  We like to say “for anything cool, there’s a rule!” This is how we show respect and care for our works so that we learn to value our efforts and materials. In the afternoon, we decorated underwear with stickers to help decorate our potty area. It’s important in the Reggio Emilia philosophy that children get to shape their environment—this way they see a part of themselves in their space, and can feel a sense of power and responsibility toward it.  For Spanish time, Daphne brought her Ipad, and we played games identifying opposites in Spanish. Check out Daphne’s news letter on the parent’s board at the entrance of the school to see the details of what we’ve been learning in Spanish!

Friday, we started out with dance party and balloons in honor of Cherokee, the pre-tot teacher that we love so much—it was her last day at Green Sprout. We found bugs and colored a giant banner for Cherokee. Then, Ms. Toni and friends introduced some new games to the playground. Then we made “nature dough”—playdough with natural objects in it. We had a chance to mix colors, mix in sand and dirt, and add leaves and mulch as we pleased. In the afternoon we had a hair-tie party and gave friends who wanted some fun pony-tails.