Sniff Sniff

Today was our last day on the five senses. Is one of our benchmarks to know the 5 senses ? No. I just use the themes as vehicles to work on all the other skills we need like listening, social skills and counting. At the end of each of our books this week it had a real picture of what body part we use for that 'sense". Today was nose and below was the picture. Do you know what the kids wanted to know ? " Where are the boogers..." Of course! We do some DEEP thinking around here.

We played an awesome 5 senses bingo game. Playing games with your child at home teaches listening to directions and taking turns.

The girls wanted me to take this picture then they walked around for ten minutes saying " Ok, who wants to marry us ?" Funny stuff.

Mr Randy did a cooking / science activity with the kids .They made GAK. The kids loved it. If you want to make some at home . I will post the recipe on our Bright Beginnings group page on Facebook.

I loved it when Kimber said " Ms Debbie , remember last year you put it in that little Easter basket and let it flow through? " THAT is recollection.. So, we did it again. I couldnt find the little Easter basket so we used to steamer top.

Outside Mr Randy and the boys did sack races. He said they loved it.

And it looks like they did.

Here are a couple videos I took today. This one is Orrin during circle time talking about how he uses his senses at the monster truck race track. I asked the question " What do you like to smell ?" and his reply was " the dirt at the monster truck race." So, I grabbed my camera/ phone and off we went.

Then of course when we made GAK the boys figured out how to make a farting noise ....

I'm scared

Look at this cool group of kiddos. They dont scare me... much. :)

Have you noticed our lost and found board on the cubbies ? Please check it periodically for your child's treasures.

Today we cooked together again. We made mini chocolate pies from pie crust and hersheys kisses. First of course, we washed our hands . We washed them again if we picked our nose or sneezed. Man... hurdling all those germs takes a huge hunk out of our day. But... being healthy is important.

We pounded the pie crust flat and placed a hersheys kiss in the middle.

And we made yummy deliciousness !

Our circle time today was about being scared. We read a story about being scared and then we talked about what makes us scared. Out of the eight children in my first group ALL of them said something about bedtime or monsters at night.

If you want more information about how to help your child at night not be scared here is some info .

Randy and I will be leaving for Mississippi for his uncles funeral. We will be singing at the graveside services so prayers are appreciated. Beth and Bethany will be in charge while we are gone and I am confident their days will go great.

Who are your friends ?

Today, day 2, was a much better day. I felt more accomplished and focused. I think the kdis felt more comfortable.

Our first goal is to learn our friends names. We played name games all day. The first one was a matching game with our pictures. All of the pictures were face up on the table and each child playing with me ( three at a time) chose a matching set of pictures and tried to tell me that friends name. The veterans were smart and chose all the " oldies first.

Today was also our first cooking experience. Ms Jodie helped the kids make neopolitan bars. It seeems like it was fairly easy for them to do. And it was very very yummy.

Source: picky-palate.com via Debbie on Pinterest

This is an activity we did with our names. Remember I told you I dont neccessarily TEACH the letters as in workbook type stuff but this poster below is one way I highlight letters. Remember in the upstairs playroom there is an HUGE A in a gold frame on the wall? So they already see it every day. Today as we did names all the A's are in red, the rest are in blue. I simply pointed it out. We also counted the number of A's. It was 16 - the exact number of friends we have at school.

During circle time today we also sang some songs, read a book about school, danced and played a game. The game was Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee. Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee, wont you say your name for me ? I threw a bean bag to each child and they stood up and said their name and their favorite food.

We did journals today. Basically... free art. An opportunity for each child to slow down and write or draw ( whatever they want ).

Today was our first birthday celebration. William turned 5. Tradition is the birthday child gets to chose a treat and receives a book for their birthday. William chose chocolate chip cookies. William loves to draw robots and I had a new book that was about a little boy that loves to draw monsters. NORMALLY.. we dont even talk about monsters but the book wasnt scary so we read it. What was scary was afterwards when Mr Randy showed the white of his eyes. REALLY ? Grr.... He is in trouble. Two of the little girls cried. SHAME ON YOUR MR RANDY! He recovered well and made them laugh .

Cat , our youngest but most expressive...told a story after Mr Randy about a monster and her grandma. We all just LOVE listening to this little girl talk. So precious.

We didnt get to go on the hunt today.. maybe tomorrow.

Purple Cows

Today we made purple cows !!

Flubber Fun

Remember the experiment we started yesterday with the " walking water?" This morning the kids came in to find all the water from the top cups emptied into the bottom cups . They were so excited!

For the tables I took out a few of my Easter activities. We had a visitor today. Teresa came to visit to observe our teaching styles. I think all teachers need to take a little time to visit other teacher. We can learn so much. I am glad she got to come but I am EXHAUSTED !

Malia working on a tracing page.... laminated. :)

Randy made flubber with the kids.

Then we hung it from the ceiling in a basket with holes to see what would happen. The kids LOVED IT. It was very cool to watch the flubber ooze from the basket to the table .

They wanted to put a ball in there to see what it would do.

Another fun science day to put down in the books. SUCCESS!

We also used lemon juice to shine pennies.

We made edible birds nest. Tis the season. :)