No Pets here

The plan was so start a unit on pets today but after the snowfall last night I felt it best to continue our winter unit atleast another day. We played in the snow and went on a winter walk.

We saw tracks in the snow.

Mrs. Glorias's mail was in her box at the side walk so we decided to be good neighbors and take her to her to keep her from getting out in the cold.

We found ice.

We tried a snowball fight but alas.. there was not enough snow.

We came home to a warm lunch and hot chocolate.

A perfect snowy day.

Snowball Fight

Here's your Friday Flick. The kids are calling them marshmellows, but they are cotton balls. Whats learning about winter without a good old fashioned snow ball fight.

Today we did a science experiment making faux snow from a mix.

The kids played in shaving cream on the table . Randy made a game of it. He would write or draw something on the chalk board and the kids would try to make it in the shaving cream. They loved it !

The practiced writing their names !

Snowmen, sorting and sequencing - OH MY !

We have had so much fun getting back into routine. For me, putting new exciting things on the table is better than opening Christmas presents!

Some new things we worked on today. Below you see a worksheet alternative. Three year and Four year olds are not always ready to write so why insist that they sit down and do a worksheet when you can turn it into a game. The game below we sorted picture cards that started with the letter S from all the others. So much easier for a child to be successful.

Why draw lines from one object to another that matches ? Modge Podge them on juice lids or use stickers and turning it into a game. Many turn this into a memory game but I think just matching the kids ( especially on this snowflake game) is challenging enough.

Counting ? SURE! Roll the dice and cover the correct number of snowmen with showflakes until the card is filled.

Sequencing - from left to right and largest to smallest .

Here Rosanna and G work together to sort clothing. Since they can't read yet and the chart doesn't have a picture on it ( ideally it would ) we talked about the yellow looks like sun and it is hot so we will call it summer and the blue looks like a cloudy cold sky so we will call it winter. Then they let loose and did it all alone. The difference in both of these activities with three and four year olds is how you present it. With the four year olds, I explained and they took it and ran. With the three year olds I had to play it WITH them... and pick up a piece at a time and talk about it.

It's always nice to look around the room and see friends helping each other and having compassion.

We made winter trees today in small groups too !

I know... and you thought we played all day.

More Winter Fun

Our sensory tub was a hit today. The carpet looked like it really did snow.

Using tongs to transfer snowflakes.

Playing with the arctic animals set.

The kids usually love to help clean.

I added snowmen to the block center .

Matching snowflakes game.

In circle time we danced like snowflakes and learned new songs. One of them was good bye in different languages. We also clapped the syllables in words like snowman, gloves, hat, and igloo. We made a graph of who had played in the snow before and read a book called " The Smallest Snowman. " I love productive days.

Freeze

The kids LOVE dance parties ! Today we had one and played FREEZE dance. Before this we talked about how water left outside during the winter might FREEZE. This was a lot of fun.

New calendars for January are in your cubbies today!

There is also a list of ten ways to play in December !

We also practiced HOW to use out sign in sheet . Since the beginning of the year we have been writing our name on art and in our journals. This week we are stepping up a little and the kids will sign in in the morning just like the parents . Parents , you may help. If you do, please only guide their hand, use upper case letters for the first letter of the name and small case for the rest and ONLY being encouraging please ! :)

Nolan learned to tie shoes over the break ! WAY TO GO NOLAN ! As tradition has it, he got a $1 from Randy.

Tap shoes... who's foot ?

There's that game again....

We also talked about what letters that winter and snow begin with.

It was a busy day.

For those of you that are curious. I left early today to go to the doctor. I had a consult with an oncologist to start genetic testing to see what my chances of getting ovarian cancer like my mom had. The process is started, it will be a while before we know. Randy went with me for support. The hardest part was walking in the clinic that I went to with mom for so long. Im not sure how I feel about this testing process . I mean, if I am predestined to get cancer there is a reason and there will be nothing I can do to stop that from happening. And... would I even want to ? I am a firm believer that God has a plan in all that happens in our life. My doctor advise this - so I am . Maybe as it sinks in I will feel more peace about it. But I am ok. I am healthy !