Spring is coming! Spring is coming
Birdies build your nest
Weave together
straw and feather
Doing each their best
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
Flowers are coming too.
Pansies, lilies, daffodils
All are coming through.
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
All around is fair
Shimmer glimmer on the river
Joy is everywhere!
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
Love is in the air
Parent, child, sibling, neighbor
Show them all you care!
Birdies build your nest
Weave together
straw and feather
Doing each their best
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
Flowers are coming too.
Pansies, lilies, daffodils
All are coming through.
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
All around is fair
Shimmer glimmer on the river
Joy is everywhere!
Spring is coming! Spring is coming!
Love is in the air
Parent, child, sibling, neighbor
Show them all you care!
Spring Equinox Celebration
Such a lovely time together welcoming back the returning sun with our songs and flowers!
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Learning Science Through Establishing a Food Forest
The kids have been planting trees and tree helpers around the property and learning about how magical legume (clovers, peas etc.) plants help regenerate soil fertility with nitrogen from the atmosphere! Last week the kids planted clover seeds and then covered them with a little compost. They are already spouting in our little heart shaped baby food forest!
The kids have been planting trees and tree helpers around the property and learning about how magical legume (clovers, peas etc.) plants help regenerate soil fertility with nitrogen from the atmosphere! Last week the kids planted clover seeds and then covered them with a little compost. They are already spouting in our little heart shaped baby food forest!
Art & Creative Invitations
Watercolor has been a regular go to this watery, rainy season. We have been exploring different mediums to use the watery paint on such as : paper, coffee filters and even faces!
We have also had quite a bit of messy fun with clay - it got a little too dry, no problem we will just add water!
Nature Plates and Art Plates have been a fun frame for them to contain their creative expression, allowing them to get up-close-and-personal with the new buds and blossoms of spring and creating symmetrical and asymmetrical designs.
We have also had quite a bit of messy fun with clay - it got a little too dry, no problem we will just add water!
Nature Plates and Art Plates have been a fun frame for them to contain their creative expression, allowing them to get up-close-and-personal with the new buds and blossoms of spring and creating symmetrical and asymmetrical designs.
CIRCLE TIME!
In are circle time we have been focusing on conflict resolution practices and celebrating spring! Bringing out our puppet friends, Man and Gillie, to help find empathy when we are scared or shy or sad and how to respond with our words when someone does something we do like. Rhythm sticks have been a hit! They are eager to have a turn to share their own rhythm with the group. Teacher Annalise has been dancing with silks to Celebrate that Spring is Coming and Mica shares many special songs and stories that immediately capture the children's attention.
Music with Katrina and Mateo!
How blessed we are to have songwriting and musical math classes with the fine folks of The Freedom Family Band!
The Virtues Project
This month we are focusing on the virtue of forgiveness using a variety of resources for conflict resolution and social-emotional learning. At circle we have been talking about different ways to practice forgiveness and remembering that everyone makes mistakes. We learned from Quoia that "forgiveness is giving love to someone who was being mean". We have been putting a lot of emphasis on treating all our friends kindly and having fun "because it's fun to have fun!"
Affirmation: I am forgiving of other's and myself. I am willing to give and receive amends. I learn from my mistakes. I have the power to keep changing for the better.
Affirmation: I am forgiving of other's and myself. I am willing to give and receive amends. I learn from my mistakes. I have the power to keep changing for the better.
Hammerhead the Slumberkin
Some messages from Hammerheads book:
1. It’s okay to be upset — it’s good to let it out.
2. I hear you — I’m here for you — I’ll stay with you.
3. It’s okay to feel how you feel. It is not okay to _________.”
1. It’s okay to be upset — it’s good to let it out.
2. I hear you — I’m here for you — I’ll stay with you.
3. It’s okay to feel how you feel. It is not okay to _________.”
We loved learning these Tools to Cool with this month's slumberkin!
Hammerhead Breaths: Lock your fingers together and place your hands behind
your head. Cross your feet and take a deep breath in and blow it out. Switch your feet, and breathe again. Put your feet together for your final breath.
Recycled Ocean Waves: Grab a piece of paper from the recycling bin. Rip the
paper into wavy strips. After each page, check to see if you’re feeling calm.
Starfish Breaths: Place your hand in front of you like a starfish. Trace the outline
of each of your fingers. When you trace up, breathe in. When you trace down,
breathe out.
Seaweed Squeeze: Wrap your arms around your shoulders and squeeze tight.
Then release. Count to five and release. Continue three times or until your body
starts to calm.
Shark Fin: Place your palms together in front of you with your elbow out to the sides, creating a “shark fin.” Push your palms together, then release. Continue three times or until your body starts to calm.
your head. Cross your feet and take a deep breath in and blow it out. Switch your feet, and breathe again. Put your feet together for your final breath.
Recycled Ocean Waves: Grab a piece of paper from the recycling bin. Rip the
paper into wavy strips. After each page, check to see if you’re feeling calm.
Starfish Breaths: Place your hand in front of you like a starfish. Trace the outline
of each of your fingers. When you trace up, breathe in. When you trace down,
breathe out.
Seaweed Squeeze: Wrap your arms around your shoulders and squeeze tight.
Then release. Count to five and release. Continue three times or until your body
starts to calm.
Shark Fin: Place your palms together in front of you with your elbow out to the sides, creating a “shark fin.” Push your palms together, then release. Continue three times or until your body starts to calm.
Yoga & Tea Time
It's amazing what some fresh cut flowers and a little background music can do to set the stage for a delightful morning of tea, animal cards and conversation. We drank the whole pot of warm tulsi-rose tea before on the chilly morning and then sat peacefully with some water color pencils for creative expression.
Yoga is part of most all of our circle time activities in some way, whether its a fun sing-song of 'Head-Shoulders-Knees-And-Toes' or some AcroYoga airplane, we like to laugh and have fun as much as possible - "because it's fun to have fun!" (This is our mantra)
Yoga is part of most all of our circle time activities in some way, whether its a fun sing-song of 'Head-Shoulders-Knees-And-Toes' or some AcroYoga airplane, we like to laugh and have fun as much as possible - "because it's fun to have fun!" (This is our mantra)
Garden & Kitchen
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?
We like to take the kids to the garden to cut herbs for lunch or scatter seeds or just to check to see how the strawberry's are doing. They have also been starting seeds in pots for the garden and to take home to care for. Perhaps this summer we will have a three-sister's tee-pee with sunflowers and cherry tomatoes to snack on during hot summer days!
And one day, if Mother Nature wills it, we will have a giant Mulberry tree in the Big Yard to paint our feet and stuff our faces with that we just planted together.
We like to take the kids to the garden to cut herbs for lunch or scatter seeds or just to check to see how the strawberry's are doing. They have also been starting seeds in pots for the garden and to take home to care for. Perhaps this summer we will have a three-sister's tee-pee with sunflowers and cherry tomatoes to snack on during hot summer days!
And one day, if Mother Nature wills it, we will have a giant Mulberry tree in the Big Yard to paint our feet and stuff our faces with that we just planted together.
Meet Viola Our Herb Fairy
Here are some of the yummy recipes we made with violets!
Cinnamon Coconut Apples
We love to make these for lunch. Simply add some cinnamon and shredded coconut to sliced apples and shake them up in a bag. Shaking them up can be a lot of fun and its a great way to pack sliced apples for a snack for later!
Math - Counting & Geometry
We've been counting by twos when we clean up our MagneTiles by playing MagneTile basketball, appreciating all those who help! "2, 4, 6, 8 - who do we appreciate? Ella, and Cedar, Junie and Gillie, Asa and Laurie! Yay!
MagneTiles are also a great place for them to learn geometry and architecture - they sure do create so amazing structures!
MagneTiles are also a great place for them to learn geometry and architecture - they sure do create so amazing structures!
Science
It may look like a messy poster board, but it became a collaborative art and science project that unfolded over days, helping them learn how layering can create art and using the theme of composting in the garden to provide a teaching moment.
First, we painted compost on our community art /science project and we talked about what goes in the compost. Then, when the Worm Moon arrived (March 11th) we painted the compost with worms (cooked pasta) and brown paint. We discussed how the worms turn the compost into soil. Finally, we added green plants and flowers to our garden and sang, "The Green Grass Grows All Around".
First, we painted compost on our community art /science project and we talked about what goes in the compost. Then, when the Worm Moon arrived (March 11th) we painted the compost with worms (cooked pasta) and brown paint. We discussed how the worms turn the compost into soil. Finally, we added green plants and flowers to our garden and sang, "The Green Grass Grows All Around".
Play Time!
There is no shortage of that here at the Children's Garden. This is perhaps the most important part of our day, where so much experimentation and learning happens. Learn how to run, climb, jump, catch and also how to make friends, negotiate, have patience, share, and come up with wild imaginative ideas that keep us all having fun, because, say it with me, "It's fun to have fun!" and the most learning happens when we are having fun!
See you next time!
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