Visits & Volcanoes

Theme:  Letter "V"
Vegetables, Vines, Van, Vet, Vacuum, Violet, Vulture, Violin, Vase, Very...

Choosing Time:  Dinosaurs, Letter "V" Memory, Balloons, Magnets,...

Game:  Eat Your Vegetables!  I had a box of vegetable pictures.  I threw a pea to one child.  He would throw it back saying, "I love my vegetables!  In my garden I'll plant..."  The child then chose one vegetable out of the box.  The next child would add his vegetable after repeating what the first child had said....It was a great game for memory and sequencing.  It was also fun to learn about some unique vegetables such as artichokes, Swiss chard, turnips, and beets.

Snacks:

• Veggie Sticks, Ice Cream, & Granola Bars
• Cheese Sticks
• Crackers & Cheese
• Grapes (that grow on a Vine)
• Grapes, Cookies, & Cheese

Science:

• Volcanoes:  We learned a little bit about volcanoes and how living things have been preserved in lava.  We were able to see how baking soda and vinegar produce bubbles that causes the liquid to rise and flow.  Although our volcano was harmless and not hot, the reaction is similar to what happens in a real volcano.
• Vultures:  Vultures are Nature's Garbage Collectors.  We watched a brief video to learn a bit about them.  

Birthday:  Happy Birthday Guy!  Thanks for bringing in some yummy treats to share with us!

Music & Movement:

• I am learning Letter "V"
• Make "V" with body
• "V" Jacks
• Tiny Turtle
• Birthday Dance

Art: 
Carrot "V" growing in garden

Writing:  We practiced "V" and made a volcano out of a "V" which several children made a connection between "M" & "V"  :)

Special Visits:

• BYU Museum of Paleontology--We loved seeing the dinosaur bones and touching fossils.  We also saw some beautiful crystals that are formed inside of a volcano.
• Day's Market--We had a lovely tour of the store.  We shivered inside the enormous fridge and freezer.  We stood remarkably still as we watched the box crusher.  We politely thanked them when they gave us each a delicious cookie :)

Cute Saying:  While we were playing our Vegetable Game, one child said, "I really love tomatillos, they're my favorite vegetables!"  I was impressed that a 3 yr. old knows what they are and likes them.