Sneaky Like a Fox

Theme:  Letter "X"
X is sneaky like a fox.  It usually comes in the middle or at the end of a word.  Some of the X words we focused on include:  ox, box, six, ax, & x-ray. We learned that sometimes people write OXOX to send hugs and kisses.  We had fun making the X sound.  We listened to some words and then determined where the X sound was (the beginning, middle, or end)

Choosing Time:  Letter "X" Memory, Zoob, Build Boxes, Xerox Copy Paper Drawings, ...

Snacks:

• Popcorn, Cuties, Red Pepper Slices
• Cheeze-Its
• Carrot Slices, Gold Coins, & Pretzels
• Pretzels & Marshmallow Twists
• Bananna Bread, Grapes, & Cuties
• Orange Slices & Goldfish
• Fruit Snacks

Writing:  We practiced our names a lot.  We also practiced writing OXOX to send many hugs and kisses to our mothers :)

Music & Movement:

• X Marks the Spot
• Here Comes the Ox Cart 
• Six Little Ducks
• X Jacks 
• Mother, I Love You
• Six Big Donuts In the Bakery Shop
• Skidamarinkydinkydink
• Oh, A Hunting We Will Go

Art: 

• Mother's Day Heart Flowers & Card--By the way, the flower seeds may be planted.  Place them in a pot or in the ground in a partial sun place.  They will either be red or yellow.
• Xerox Paper Drawings
• "X-ray" Crayon Painting

Books:
 

Wow!

Theme:  Letter W
We met Wilma Whale.  We noticed that "W" looks like upside down "M", and that "MOM" upside down is "WOW".  We also realized that "W" looks like two "V's" put together.  We had fun signing "W" and think it's funny that it looks like the #3. 

Choosing Time:  Water Animals, Wheels, Letter W Memory, ...

Music & Movement:

• Wheels on the Bus
• Down by the Bay
• Wiggle, Wiggle
• Wiggle in my Toe
• Wiggle My Torso
• Little Red Wagon

Reading:  We spent some time reading some common endings such as -on, -in, -ig, -ow, and -at.  We then put a "W" or "Wh" in front of the endings and read the words. We really had fun doing this!  And, we felt so proud of ourselves.

Art:  Watercolors & Watercolored Wild Things

Snacks:

• Watermelon
• Cupcakes
• Walnuts & Fruit Snacks
• Goldfish
• Fruit Snacks

Birthdays:  Happy Birthday to Joshua and Raymond!  Thank you for sharing treats with us :)

Books:

We enjoyed acting out the parts of the Wild Things while I read the story

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.

Who is Under the Umbrella?

Theme:  Letter U

Choosing Time:  Elevator Up Game, Letter "U" Matching Game

Art:

• "U" and Upside Down
• Un-Birthday Balloon Painting
• What does your Universe look like?

Games:  

• Who is Hiding Under the Umbrella?
• Pin the Horn on the Unicorn
• What letter is this?  What sound does it make?  (Then rewarded with a Universe rubber band)
• Hit the Balloon with your Birthday Blower Relay

Reading:  We focused on the endings -ug, -un, and -ut.  We practiced these endings on their own and then put consonants in front of the endings to make words.  Some kiddos were really good at this!

Snacks:

• Ugly Brownie Bites Under Umbrellas
• Under the Sea fish crackers & "Un-Popped" that I popped Popcorn

Music & Movement:

• "I am Learning Letter "U"
• A Very Merry Un-Birthday
• Make "U" with our bodies

Funny Moments:

• I asked a child if she wanted "more on" her paper (referring to paint).  Another child reprimanded me saying, "Miss Jodi, You said 'moron!'" 

Books:
The Umbrella 
&

Turtles, Trucks, Trains, & Teddy

Theme:  Letter "T"
I brought in a Tool Box.  We took turns choosing a "T" item from it.  Some of the items had corresponding activities.  We practiced the "T" sound and how to write it. When "T" is placed with "H" it makes a special sound.

Special Guest:
My son, Noah, visited each class to demonstrate a Trumpet.  We had fun guessing the tunes he played.  We learned about the different parts of a trumpet.

Choosing Time:  Trains, Tinker Toys, Trucks, Floor Puzzles...

Music & Movement:

• "T" Jacks
• Ten Exercises
• Tick Tock
• Tiny Turtle
• Drivin' In My Truck
• Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck

Books:

 

Science:
We looked at a book about animals with amazing Tongues & Teeth

Snack:

• Tasty Tortilla Triangle Crisps
• Tangerines & Teddy Grahams
• Taffy, Tree Top Apple Juice, & Fish Crackers
• Pretzels, Fruit Snacks, & Graham Crackers
• Popcorn, Carrots, & Watermelon
• Pretzels & Fruit Snacks
• Crackers, Cheese, & Fruit Snacks

 Art:

• Triangle Turtle Shells (Thank you to Sarah for all the fabric!!!!)
• "Two-lips"
• Turtle, Teddy, or Train Tracings

Reading:  the, this, to, that, so, & she

Spring Fun

Choosing Time:  Bunny & Egg Pop-ups, Bunny Rockets, Bunny Bowling, Bunny Jumpers, Alphabet Egg Uppercase/Lowercase Matching Game, Easter Stamping/Sticker Cards, Bunny Builders, Easter Puzzles

Music & Movement:

• House in the Middle of the Woods
• Bunny Hop
• See Me Run
• Hi, My Name is O
• Primary Colors

Games:

• E/e Egg Matching Game
• Choose an egg to tell the Real Easter Story
• What hatches from eggs?  (also a good Science discussion)
• Easter Egg Hunt

Kitchen Fun:  We made "Bird Nest"  Rice Krispy Treats with Jelly Bean Eggs

Art:

• Paint Pots
• Easter Chicks

Gardening:  We enjoyed planting some Rye Grass in our pots.  We are so excited to watch the grass grow in about seven days.  We learned that if our plant gets too dry it will die and if it gets too wet it will drown.  We also learned that plants need sun, good soil, and water to grow.  Once the grass becomes unruly, feel free to give it a "hair-cut".  It will grow for awhile longer :)

Snacks:

• Strawberry appleSauce
• Popcorn with Easter Marshmallows
• Goldfish, Craisins, Fruit Snacks, & Popcorn
• Cheese Slices, Pretzels, & Raisins
• Clementines & Goldfish Crackers
• Hugs Drinks, Oreos,

T/TH PM Class Field Trip: We had a wonderful visit to Petco.  We saw dogs being groomed.  We pet a rat.  We learned about ferrets and chinchillas.  We saw scorpions, taranchalas, lizards, turtles, frogs, tortoise, fish, snakes, mice, hamsters, birds, & rats.


Books:
 

Rocks & Rainbows

Theme:  Letter "R"
 We met Ricky Raccoon. We had fun practicing writing "R/r".  Sometimes it is hard to remember the "R" sound.  We tend to want to say, "ruh," instead or "urr". 

Cutest Saying:  As we were discussing "R", one little girl piped up, "R, is for Romance!"


Choosing Time:  Radish "R" Game, Peel Crayons for Art project, Little People Village...

Books:


Art: 

• Rainbow Rocks
• Rainbow Necklaces

Music & Movement:  

• Ring Around the Roses
• Rain, Rain, Go Away
• Rain is Falling All Around
• There was a Little House in the Middle of the Woods
• Chubby Little Snowman
• I Can Make a Rainbow
• Row, Row, Row, your Boat
• See Me Run
• Do your Ears Hang Low?
• Making "R" with our bodies
• Rocking on our tummies
• Rolling/Doing Somersaults
  

Game:  Raindrops Falling (with the help of a spray bottle)

Science:

1. We made a rainbow by using water, light, and a mirror
2. We learned about the Primary colors and how when combined, they make new colors called the Secondary colors

Snacks:

• Yogurt Covered Raisins
• "Round" things:  Cookies & Grapes
• "Really" yummy Cheese with Ritz Crackers & Raisins & Raspberries
• Cheeze-its & Fruit Snacks
• Cheese Sticks, Raisins, & Clementines

Field Trip:
The M/W PM class had a fun time walking up to a field near my house to gather the rocks we used for our Rainbow Rocks.  This was a fun little outing to get outside, choose some special rocks, and look for signs of Spring.

Q: A Quail with a Tail

Theme:  Letter Q

Choosing Time:  Search for the "Queen's Jewels", Letter "Q" Memory, ....

Snacks:

• "Quackers" & "Quookies"
• Quesidillas
• Rainbow Cupcakes
• Bananas, Oranges, Cheese Sticks, & Crackers
• Popcorn & Apples
• Popcorn Shrimp & Fries

Books: Quacker's Crackers & The Queen Couldn't Sleep

Music & Movement:

• 3 Little Ducks
• "Q" Movement--Move Quickly, Quietly, Quack Like a duck, Throw like a Quarterback, Wave like a Queen...

Science:  We observed a short clip of a real quail.  We learned a little bit about these birds.

Art: 

• "Q" Quail painted with Q-tips
• Painting Shamrocks with eyedroppers.  We discovered what happens when you mix yellow & blue.

Games:

•  "Quilt, quilt, who's under the quilt?"
• Quarter toss on Q/q

Field Trips:
Thank you to Scott & Sarah Wiley for a wonderful music experience!  The T/TH PM class was so fortunate to visit Scott's recording studio.  We loved playing the pianos, hand bells, & drums.  We saw some instruments that we've never seen before.  And, all the children loved hearing their voices over the microphone.  It was so fun, educational, and exciting!  

The AM class was able to go to Red Lobster for a fabulous tour and yummy snack.  We loved touching the lobsters and watching them hold crayons.  We enjoyed watching the fish in the aquarium eat.  We learned that the puffer fish can only puff up 7 times and then it will die.

Pirates & Princesses!

Theme:  Letter "P"

Choosing Time:  Search for "P" things in a bucket of sunflower seeds, Pop-up Pirate Game, Letter "P" Matching Game, Pirate Puppets, Puzzles, Potato Heads, Pigs, Penguins....

Snacks:

• Pretzels and Cheese Sticks
• CaPri Sun & Cookies
• Pretzels, Cheese, & Pears
•  Popcorn & Panda Fruit Snacks
• Popcorn & Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
• Pizza

Music & Movement:

• Peanut Butter
• P-O-P-C-O-R-N
• Popcorn Popping
• Move like a Penguin (Waddle, tiptoe, slide, swim...)

Science:  We learned about penguins.  We learned that there are penguins that live where it is very cold and others live where it is warm.  We talked about some of the penguin's predators and some of the food that the penguin likes to eat.  We learned that an Emperor Penguin is 45 inches tall.  I showed the kiddos how tall that is and then we took turns seeing how tall we were in comparison.

Special Activity:  Peanut Butter Play-Dough

Art:

• Penguin Finger Puppets
• Pirate & Princess Hats
• Letter "P" with Pistachio Shells & Popcorn 

Books:
 

Oh!

Theme:  Letter O
Letter "O" makes two sounds.  We practiced making the sign for "O".  We had a very fun time searching for "O" shapes in our classroom.  I couldn't sway the enthusiasm!  "O" is everywhere!  I enjoyed the "O" shaped objects that several of the children brought in to show.  Some of these included: a Bracelet,  a box of Ritz, a Juicer, Eyes on stuffed animals, wheels on a Rescue Bot,  a Hula Hoop, a book with an "O" in the title, a doll with a large "O" head.....If your child didn't bring something, never fear, I asked them to share something they saw in their homes that had circle shapes and the funnest one was, "a knob that I'm not suppose to use, but I do when my mom isn't looking."  :)

Choosing Time:  Ocean Shells & Animals:  Water Fun, "O" builders, Tinker Toys, Cars, Octopus "O" Game, "O" Memory

Math:  Ocean Animal Race Dice Game (I told the kiddos they could play it again at home, just use a different color to mark the animals as you roll the dice.)

Music & Movement: 

• Hi, My Name Is "O"
• Ring-Around-the Roses
• Octopus Swim in the Ocean
• "Sally" Goes 'Round the Sun

Books: The Five Octopuses,
 


Reading:  Our new words are "on, off, no, & not"


Science: We learned about Octopi.  They have 8 arms called tentacles.  The arms have suckers.  They can change colors (brown, grey, white, red, & orange).  They squirt ink to frighten predators.  If an Octopus looses a leg, he can grow a new one. Mother Octopus lay 1000 eggs.  After the eggs hatch the mothers die.

Art:

• Octopus
• Fish with Scales
• "O" Print Painting
• "O" Creations--What picture can you make with  circle shapes?
  

Snacks:

• Crackers & Cheese Sticks
• Healthy Oatmeal No Bake Cookie Drops
• Chocolate Pretzel O's & Fruit Snacks
• Fruit Snacks & Oranges
• Granola Bars
• Big "O" Crackers & Apple Slices

Nighty-Night

Theme:  Letter N
Letter N is fun to write.  You start at the "ground", climb the "Ladder", slide down, and hurry back up. "Nurse Nina" introduced "N" to us.  We practiced some "N" words such as "nut, nurse, net, no, nothing, night, now, nice, never,.."  Letter "N" sounds similar to "M".  We practiced both the names and sounds of both letters. 

Cute Sayings:

• I thought it was really cute because after we'd finished singing a song, one little girl looked up and said, "Naughty says 'N'."  I replied, "Yes, and so does 'Nice.'"  :) 
• "Oh, do that again!  'N' on its side makes a 'Z'!"

Choosing Time:  Number Games, Number Puzzles, Number Magnets, A Squirrel Math Game, Letter "N" Memory, Letter "N" Nest Game....

Science:  What does nocturnal mean? What are some nocturnal animals? 

Art:

•  Little "n" going Nighty-Night in the Night Sky

Writing:  

• Name Necklaces
• Practiced "N/n"
  

Math:  Numbers begin with "N".  We practiced number sequencing, and the values associated with the Numbers 1-9

Music & Movement:

• 10 Happy Children
• 10 Exercises
• I'm a Nut 
• "N" in the Nest
• Dancing Numbers

Books:
Who is in the Nest?



Snacks:

• Orange slices, Pretzels, Cheese Sticks
• Noodles
• Nilla Wafers & "Night Crawlers"
• Nilla Wafers, Apple Slices, & Fruit Snacks

Lots of Love

Theme:  Valentines
Our reoccurring discussion this week revolved around the concept that one can never have too many friends.  Love expands and invites.  We are all friends.

Choosing Time:  Valentine Chain Game, Valentine Memory, and some of our favorites:  ponies, bionicles,...

Art:

• "My Art Belongs to You" Valentines
• Heart Stamping
• Heart & Initial Necklaces (this was a great pattern activity)
• Heart Art (What can you make with Hearts?)

Snacks:

• Heart Jigglers, Strawberries, Crackers
• Valentine Cupcakes
• Popcorn & Craisins
• Valentine Cookies
• Go-gurts & Heart-shaped Marshmallows

Birthday:  Happy birthday Elizabeth!  We had a fun time hearing our friends say what they love about Lizzie.  Some of those comments included:  "I love it when she plays with me."  "I love her hair."  "She is pretty." We all love you!


Party Fun:  Everyone had the opportunity to decorate a party bag.  Some of us had a heart painted on our face.  For our carpet time I had 10 numbered colored hearts in a special Valentine Box.   Each child took a turn choosing a heart and then we did a corresponding activity....When we were all done we arranged the numbers in order to practice counting and number recognition.

1. Sang "Skidamarinky-dinky-dink"
2. Read a story
3. Played "Heart, Heart, Who's Got My Heart?"
4. Ate Snack
5. Played Valentine Bingo
6. Sang & Played a Game Called "You're A Special Friend of Mine."
7. Played a game called "Don't Eat Val!"
8. Played a color recognition game called "Dancing Hearts"
9. Sang "Love isn't Love 'till You Give it Away"
10. Exchanged Valentines--Of course this was a highlight and all were excited to go home and look them over :)  Thank you for sharing so much love with me!

Books:
  This is a fun one for us to read together, since they can "read" the pictures :)
Who can resist puppy love?  and flying dogs?
 

More Monsters!

Theme:  More "M"

Choosing Time:  Magnets, Mitten Game, "M" Memory, Monkeys...


Snacks:

• Mother's Frosted Animal Cookies & Cheese Sticks
• Chocolate Heart Cakes
• Marshmallows & Frozen Go-Gurts
• Mangoes  
• Mini Muffins & Orange Slices
• Fruit Snacks, Cheese Sticks, & Ritz Crackers

Science:  Mira-scope Fun

Art:

• We finished our Messy Monsters!
• Heart Doily Dauber Painting--two masterpieces in one!  The Doilies are hanging in the classroom
• Marble Painting Hearts
• Musical Monster Maracas

Music & Movement:  We took turns pulling out "Letters" out of the "Mailman's Carrier" and then did the activity it suggested...

• Mother, May I?
• Monsters Jumping Up & Down
• Itsy Bitsy Monkey
• Once There Was a Snowman
• Oh, How I Love to Stand
• Skidamarinky Dinky Dink
• Monkeys Swinging In a Tree
• Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Popcorn Popping
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• The Three Little Kittens
•  

Books:
 

Games:

1. Mother, May I?
2. Who Has My Heart? 
3. M & M Monster Bingo

Cute Phrase Exchanges:

•  "I'm so hungry I could eat this table." -- "Oh, no, that would be too hard on the digestion."

Mittens & Monsters?

Theme:  Letter M
To make an "M" you start at the "ground" and go "mountain up, mountain down, mountain up, mountain down."  It is fun to turn "M" upside down to make a "W".

Choosing time:  Marbles, Upper/Lower Case Matching Puzzles, Mitten Game, Letter "M" Memory, Magnets, Monster Elevator, Monster Fishing, Monster Eyeballs, Monkeys in Barrels

Snack:

• Pretzels & Scrabble Cheez-its
• Fruit Snacks
• Fruit Snacks, Ritz Crackers, Granola Bars
• M & M's & Popcorn
• Pirate Booty & Fruit Snack
• String Cheese & Graham Crackers
• Mini Muffins, Mandarin Oranges, & Marshmallows

Memorable Moments:

• "I get it, Miracle, M, M, M"
• I said, "This is a Marvelous snack."  A Cutie responded, "I know a Marvelous drink...Shirley Temples."

 Books:


We engaged in a lovely discussion about  what colors & designs we would want on our mittens.  Would we want them to be white and be hard to find in the snow?  Or, would we like them to be unique so that anyone seeing them would know who they belonged to. Then I asked them what they would put into a giant mitten and here are some of their responses:

• "Candy"
• "Myself"
• "A Kitty"
• "A Squirrel"
• "A Bear"
• Legos

 
 


Math:  We played a Graphing Game with a spinner and a graph with the animals from The Mitten.

Reading:  New word wall words include:  Me & My

Music & Movement:

• The Three Little Kittens (We love this one and that it includes "K, L, & M"
• Oh, What A Miracle
• Dancing Monsters
• Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
• Three Blind Mice

Art:

• Painted Mittens
• Messy Monsters 
• Create Your Own Monster

Games:

1.  Musical Mitten Alphabet
2. Alphabet Search & Find
3. Monster Bingo with M & M's

Lions, Legos, & Ladybugs

Theme:  Letter "L"
Leo the Lion came to school to teach us some things about letter "L/l".  We love "L" because it always makes the same sound.  Some of our "L" words we focused on were Lemon, Leaf, Ladybug, Lion, Love, & Lobster.  We practiced writing it.  We enjoyed listening to some words and then telling if the letter "L" was at the beginning, middle, or end of the word.

Choosing Time:  Legos, Little People, Lacing Cards, Ladybug Letter Game, ABC Letter Puzzles...

Game:  The Ladybug Board Game

Music & Movement:

• Making "L" shapes with our bodies
• Here We Go Loopy-Loo
• This Little Light of Mine
• Three Little Kittens

Science:

1. We learned some cool things about Light with the help from a Laser pointer pen. We saw that paper would stop the light from going to the designated spot on the wall.  The light did go through the plastic and we could see that it traveled in a line as some of the light showed up on the bag.  We saw the light travel through a glass of water and noticed that the water bent the light.  We also saw the laser light hit a mirror and then travel to a different place.
2. We learned about ladybugs:  what they eat & how they are helpful in gardens. 

Art:

• Plaster of Paris Lego Mini Figures
• Ladybug Hats

Cooking:  We made Letter "L" sugar cookies with lemon flavoring

Snacks:

• Cheese Sticks & Cupcakes
• Lemon Bars & Leche
• Fruit Snacks, Fish Crackers, & Cheese Sticks
• Popcorn, Apples, & Chocolate chips (We made ladybugs with the apples and choco chips)
• Letter "L" Sugar Cookies with Lemon Flavoring & Lemonade
• Apple Slices, Cheese Slices, Carrot Slices (We used them to make Letter "L"), & Veggie chips

Books:
 
I enjoyed some delightful discussions about what kind of ladybug you'd be...a friendly or a grouchy one.  I also enjoyed the kiddos responses when I asked, "What makes you grouchy?"

• "When my sister breaks my toys."
• "When my mom spanks me."
• "When no one will play with me."
• "When someone won't share the toys."
• "I'm never grouchy." :)
• "When I have to go to bed."
• "When someone says mean words to me."

We then had a wonderful discussion about how we feel when someone is friendly to us.
 

Birthdays:  Happy Birthday to Rocco & Julian!  Thank you for bringing yummy treats to share!

Writing:  We practiced writing our names the "school" way with the help from a Light box.

K is for Key

Theme:  Letter K
We met Kangaroo Kippy.  She showed us how to write upper and lower case "K/k".  We discussed how "C" & "K" like to try and trick us because they both use the same sound.  We also learned that they like to stick together in words such as "trick, stick, duck, luck..."  We had fun making "K" with our bodies and learning the "K" sign.

Choosing Time:  Kangaroo Coloring by the Number, Kangaroo Pouch Table Game, Letter K Stamping, Kangaroo Puzzle

Reading:  Kangaroo, King, Koala, Kite, Kiss, Key

Music & Movement:

• Kangaroo Hopping
• Karate Chopping
• Kicks:  Big, quick, ...
• Playing our Kazoos and marching around

Game:

•  I hid "K's" throughout the classroom.  The children put their "pouches" on and hopped around looking for "K's".  We loved this game!  And, all of them wanted to play it again.  I suggested that their parents could help them to make more "K's" and then could hide them for a fun activity to do together at home.
• Alphabet Find.  The children all found a space to stand next to a wall.  I threw out a bunch of ABC's and then called out One letter for the kids to find.  This was super fun!

Science:  We had several different keys hidden inside of our mystery can.  We learned by sight & touch some differences between them.  We talked about how every key has one purpose.  For example:  My house key won't start my car...

Imagination Creation:  After talking about real keys, I asked the children, "If you had a magic key, what would it open?"  Some of the amazing responses included:

• "I would open books.  Then, I could go see fairies or mermaids."
• "I would open a treasure chest.  It would have money, jewels, and lots of necklaces."
• "I would open a way to get to Disneyland."
• "My key wouldn't work." 

Art:

• Magic Keys (We are working on our cutting skills)
• Kisses' Notes
• Kangaroo Pouches

Snack:

• Blueberry & Poppy seed Muffins
• Granola Bars
• Orange Slices and Pretzel Sticks (We enjoyed making "K" with them)
• Popcorn, Clementines, Apples, Raisins
• Apples & Pretzel Sticks
• Gingerbread Cookies (that we decorated first)
• Go-Gurts & Special K crackers

Books:   Kangaroo, Kangaroo What is in your Pouch?, &
 

What is Winter?

Theme:  Winter
We had a wonderful discussion about what Winter is.  Some of the descriptive words the children used include, "ice, snow, sleigh, sledding, snowflakes, snowballs, snow angels, white, jacket, boots, coats, scarves, trees, Christmas,..."

Game:  As we sang a song we passed a mitten around the circle.  Each child took a turn to pull a letter out of the mitten and tell us its name and sound.

Choosing Time:  Play-dough, Trains, Dollhouse, Cars

Music & Movement:  We built an indoor snowman and did the activities that were on the back of his pieces.

• Once there was a Snowman
• Snow is Falling
• If All the Snowflakes Were Hamburgers & Milkshakes
• Pet Snowball
• 10 Jumping Snowmen
• A Chubby Little Snowman

Art:

• Q-tip Snowflakes
• Salt Dough Snowmen
• Paper Snowflakes (great scissor practice!) 

Science:  I had two clear plastic containers that I filled to the top with snow.  I asked the children which container would melt the fastest, the big or small one?  And, I asked them if they thought the melted water would fill the containers the same as the snow?


Snack:

• Marshmallow Snowmen
• Penguin Crackers & Bananas
• Ice Cream & Cookies
• Cupcakes
• Cookies, Raisins, Gummy Treats
• Apples, Oranges, & Fish Crackers
• Crackers & Fruit Snacks

Birthdays:  Happy Birthday to Kennedy, Seth, & Teo!!!
Thank you for sharing some yummy treats with us!

Books: