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Bending and shaking, a goat with no coat, tossing candy and eating spiders: MONDAY G WEEK

Our Monday “Red Day” Class showed many moments of respect for each other today. Children came with costumes, accessories and even a riding dog car. These children were respectful of each other’s things by returning them back to their owners or to just leaving them where they were. I heard many children advocating for themselves, telling people when they weren’t done with a turn and getting help if they needed it. We are only two months into school so observing their care for each other and themselves is very glorious.

There was plenty of play, cascading through costumes being worn, stories read, projects done and Costume Parade practice on the track. Here are 5 questions with hints to learn more…

Where was your candy pumpkin for most of the day? (Hint: by a yellow name tag)
What did goat do with his coat today? (Hint: he was being helpful)
Who was the birthday boy today and what did he bring for snack? (Hint: he brought something with 8 legs)
What G thing did you bend and shake today? (Hint: it lights up)
Where did we go to wait when the grown-ups were arriving for the costume parade? (Hint: it’s someone’s office)

1. Where was your candy pumpkin for most of the day? (Hint: by a yellow name tag)

On the Big Table by a little yellow name tag. If someone brought their own treat collection bag or basket from home, they just traded it out!

Grandma Vicki and Grandpa Norm filled the pumpkins with candy that we could look at, count and even smell the wrappers. This candy would be used for our Costume Parade and then taken home by the children.

2. What did Goat do with his coat today? (Hint: he was being helpful)

Cut pieces off to use in helping his friends.

We will continue to use the book, Goat’s Coat for the next few weeks, but I spent extra time on it because the children were so engaged today.

3. Who was the birthday boy today and what did he bring for snack? (Hint: he brought something with 8 legs)

Walter turned five years old today! He brought edible spiders…

…but really they were cookies with pretzel legs. Walter chose for us to sing loudly for the happy birthday song and I think we did a good job with that. Thank you, Walter, and happy birthday!

4. What G thing did you bend and shake today? (Hint: it lights up)

Glow sticks!

Follow up questions where all the answers are yes :

Did you get four of them? Yes!

Did Grandpa Norm have the connectors? Yes!

Could you wear them like bracelets? Yes!

Could you wear them like anklets? Yes!

Could you put them together for a necklace? Yes!

Could you put straight ones in your backpack to save them for home? Yes!

Did one of them fall on the floor and then did Ms Kristin lay across the table to pick it up for Eleanor during Snack Time? Also yes.

5. Where did we go to wait when the grown-ups were arriving for the costume parade? (Hint: it’s someone’s office)

In Ms Brenda‘s office!

Technically, the children were in our safety shelter area without even realizing it. They stood carefully and quietly in a crowded space. Everyone left Ms Brenda‘s office things right where they were. And even though they were just waiting for the parade to start, we snuck in some safety practice because this is where we would go in case we ever needed to shelter in place.

After that was a very friendly Costume Parade featuring all of our costumed friends. Since most schools are not in session today, we got to see a lot of siblings as well!

Happy Monday, friends! Stay curious and kind.

Spaghetti head, not a dog bum, carrying pumpkins and hanging up the fire: FRIDAY F WEEK

Our Friday “Purple Day” Class started our Costume Days! Every year I remember how simply adding costumes and even the idea of candy or trick or treating ramps up the energy of the room. There were moments of calm focus which were most often around book reading…what a treat. Having more than 13 pumpkins in the room makes everything look festive. With the cold north wind and muddy playground, we opted to stay inside to protect the costumes.

Read on to find the answers to these questions:

Who drew a picture of you today? (Hint: she wore a witch hat)
In one of our books, who made the mess in the kitchen? (Hint: he swam in the jam)
What color bells did Ms Kristin ring today? (Hint: fire colors)
What did Ms Brenda have on her head? (Hint: it’s really yarn)
What was the round thing Ms Kristin drew? (Hint: not a dog bum)

1. Who drew a picture of you today?

Ms Kristin!

These pictures will stay posted in the classroom and eventually end up in their journals. If someone did not want their picture drawn today, that was completely fine! I’ll be drawing for two more days!

Children love looking at the pictures of themselves and friends remembering the costumes they wore or told me about. Today we saw superheroes, dinosaurs, Woody, construction workers, fire fighters, a Ghostbuster, a ghost, a pirate, Rafael, a butterfly princess and Rubble (who stayed in character most of the day).

2. In one of our books, who made the mess in the kitchen?

The mouse!

In Mouse Mess, a mouse makes a big mess, then stands back and asks, “Who made this mess?” Silly mouse, it was you! We also read books about children going trick or treating and people playing dress up.

FUN FACT: An important part of our program is that messes are morally neutral which children and adults can be reminded of every time they fill their own water cup:

3. What color bells did Ms Kristin ring today? (Hint: fire colors)

Red, yellow and orange!

In the midst of our costume play and parade prep, we also did Fire projects and journal work (which included more costume family talk) and hung up the Fire F alphabet project!

4. What did Ms Brenda have on her head? (Hint: it’s really yarn)

Spaghetti and meatballs!

By now this is an iconic preschool costume that a couple of preschoolers remembered from last year. So fun! Ms Brenda told the story of her costume during Snack Time. We had a warm snack today that “smelled like lunch” and “smelled so good” in the oven: fish sticks and french fries! Thank you, Arthur and Julian! The Snack Store was BUSY:

5. What was the round thing Ms Kristin drew? (Hint: not a dog bum)

It was the running track in our room!

There were a lot of clever guesses what this blob shape could be which you can see in the corner (with dog bum gaining the most giggles). It was a drawing in anticipation of our Costume Parade!

At the end of the day we walked on the track a few times for our Costume Parade. There was waving, pumpkin carrying, candy tossing and quite a few Happy Halloweens!

Happy Friday, friends! Stay curious and kind!

A man holding three dolls, fire in a pit, hearing a knife cut and new hay bales: THURSDAY F WEEK

Our Thursday “Blue Day” Class was busy today! The library was open many times and we had the pumpkin swing, fire painting, puzzle work, baby play, firefighter play, play dough sculptures and an extra involved Circle Time (where Ms Kristin intentionally tested the capacity to follow so many instructions…it’s so fun to watch them). Everyone worked in their journal making fire. We had fireplaces, fire pits, candles, houses, chimneys. Families can look at journals anytime you’re in the classroom….they come home for good in May.

I can tell which days are more busy than others based on how many photos I took…today, not many! Thanks to Ms Emily we have a few more! Here are 5 questions with hints to ask your Thursday preschooler. Then read on for more information, photos and video clips.

What do you remember about today’s visitor? (Hint: it was a daddy)

Did we put dirt in the pumpkin? (Hint: Ms Kristin lost something)

In our book today, who made a touchdown without even knowing that he did? (Hint: someone small)

What did we sit on for the end of the day? (Hint: it was NOT the Dirt Hill)

What costume did you say you would be wearing on Tuesday? (Hint: they changed again today!)

1. What do you remember about today’s visitor? (Hint: it was a daddy)

His name is Mr Brandon, he had on a red sweatshirt, he knew how to play, he talked with kids and he is a real dad of four previous preschoolers. We got a clue of that he really is a dad when he took care of three baby dolls at once bouncing them for much of the day. You can play “Where’s Mr Brandon” in these pictures:

Thank you for coming, Mr Brandon!

2. Where did you have to move to during Circle Time? (Hint: because of the knife)

To the purple rug (outside of the green circle rug).

Once there, Ms Kristin followed the Serious Pumpkin Timeline and cut off a section so that there is a nice big hole for the pumpkin to grow out of. The class was so quiet that we could hear the knife cutting through the pumpkin.

Also included on the timeline was the putting dirt in the pumpkin. But when Ms Kristin went to the cupboard where her bag of potting soil was, it wasn’t there. When she looked in her office, it wasn’t there either! So, if it’s not in the outdoor storage room she will get more from the store.

3. In our book today, who made a touchdown without even knowing that he did? (Hint: someone small)

Clifford, the puppy!

He grabbed the football because there was a string hanging off of it and he ran. Puppy Clifford ended up making a touchdown!

When we went outside today, lots of friends made touchdowns by running to the fence over and over.

4. What did we sit on for the end of the day? (Hint: it was NOT the Dirt Hill)

New hay bales!

Thank you to Grandpa Kelven and Ms Brenda for bringing another round of hay bales for the season. Before we sat on them we ran on them, walked on them, tiptoed on them, jumped off of them and even danced on them. They are such a wonderful addition to our playground in the fall.

5. What costume did you say you would be wearing on Tuesday? (Hint: many changed again today!)

The wait is almost over. According to the children’s reports, everyone is planning to wear a costume on Halloween and today some ideas changed again. During Snack Time, we reviewed the costume plan chart and made adjustments as needed! The stars mean that the person has verified the information this week.

What a fun process this has been and how exciting to wait for Tuesday to see which of these costumes show up and which new ones we will find!

Learning sign language, painting with water, things on fire and eating fish food: WEDNESDAY F WEEK

Our Wednesday “Green Day” Class had an inside day today. We left the possibility open that we might go out to play but the rain stayed consistent and there were bits of lightning so we adjusted and stayed indoors all day. There was watercolor for flames of fire painting available too.

Read on to learn more about our day including a special visitor and make believe play that lasted through pick up time.

How do you clap in sign language?

What did Lane’s daddy draw on the orange containers?

What costume did you say that you would like to be wearing for Halloween?

What did you draw about fire in your journal today?

Where did you sit for story time today?

1. How do you clap in sign language?

Maybe they can demonstrate: hands in the air “waving” in a little twist.

We had an early mini Circle Time today with Auden’s grandma, Grandma Joan. She was a teacher and knows sign language. They demonstrated doing Five Little Pumpkins in sign language. Some of the signs are similar to the actions we do. Our class watched carefully and did some of the signs along with her and Auden. The video is not muted, it really was that quiet!

During our regular Circle Time, followed the timeline for our Serious Pumpkin Project and cut the lid off of the top of the pumpkin!

2. What did Lane’s daddy draw on the orange containers?

Faces!

That is just one of 5 F words from snack today: fish, food, fruit, face and Frankenberry cereal. Look in your child’s things and you will see that Lane also gave a take home bag full of snack! Thank you Lane for a fun and festive snack! We also saved the lids from the oranges and put them on our little orange rug. There was math involved as the lids came one by one.

3. What costume did you say that you would like to be wearing for Halloween?

We reviewed the same list again and made adjustments as needed. I giggled at how many of the costumes are yet evolving and again wonder how many of these ideas the grownups at the home are aware of.

We also played a guessing game for one friend who revealed at the end of the day that she was indeed going to be a fox! We knew it was an animal while we guessed a lot of them (including a horse eating a blueberry), we never guessed fox!

4. What did you draw about fire in your journal today

We had houses on fire, buildings on fire, cars of fire, entire prairies on fire and campfires. Some friends were motivated to get a fire truck drawn and then went over to the project table to find blue crayons to be water.

5. Where did you sit for story time today?

In our pretend fire truck!

We made it by carrying chairs to the Circle Time rug and lining them up. We answered pretend calls from 911 and then went on our way pausing to read about George at the fire station.

We finished our day still in the midst of imaginary play. Children left with their grown-ups with their backpacks being their fire packs and their coats being their fire fighter uniforms. Their own vehicles were fire trucks and I liked watching them leave with the slightly wider eye gaze of make-believe still fully engaged.

Happy Wednesday, everyone, stay, curious and kind!

Pork rinds, another knife, firetruck sirens and guessing body parts: TUESDAY F WEEK

Our Tuesday “Yellow Day” Class experienced the first rainy day of the year! This means that Outside Time was questionable until the end of the day. We lived with the tension of not knowing if we’d play our firefighter game inside or outside…you can watch the results in our video below!

Here are 5 questions you can ask your child about today then read on to see photos/learn more…

1. How many friends can go on the swings today?

2. What was for snack today?

3. Why did you have to stay on the purple rug at Circle Time?

4. How did you play the firefighter game?

5. What funny show did Ms Kristin do while waiting on the steps?

1. How many friends could go on the swings today?

Only one friend at a time on the Pumpkin Swing (our orange fabric womb swing) but as many as can fit on the Big Swing (which morphed from a swing to an airplane to a fire truck).

2. What was for snack today?

Asher was VERY excited to show the snack he picked out at the store for us…pork rinds/chicharrones and white chocolate chips.

The disappointing surprise was that there weren’t cookies in the bag, only white chocolate chips. We determined that the package had cookies on it to let people know that they COULD make cookies with them if they wanted to.

Friends carried their trays AND cups today…incredible! How fun it is to try new things with no fear of negative consequences. When trays or cups fall, children will never hear us say to “be more careful” or “do better next time” or “you’re just too little”…we will always find out what help they might want to finish the experience (new food? help cleaning up any mess? fresh water?) and acknowledge their experience!

3. Why did you have to stay on the purple rug at Circle Time?

Because Ms Kristin got out a real knife! She didn’t use it today but our Serious Pumpkin Timeline tells us she will on Wednesday and Thursday!

4. How did you play the firefighter game?

I would love to hear children’s responses to this…the video will give you a sense of the game…we did this at least three times! Elements included getting in and out of chairs, putting on pretend uniforms and seat belts, being a siren or horn, answering 911 calls, smelling for smoke, looking for the fire (battery candles), spraying with pretend hoses, sleeping on the truck, snoring, and ending with a cozy reading of Curious George at the Fire Station.

5. What funny show did Ms Kristin do while waiting on the steps?

What body part is showing…foot, hand or head?

Since it was raining, we were waiting on the big steps for the grown ups…Whatever it takes to keep kids settled and engaged while waiting! Even Pastor Shana is waiting for what comes next!

BONUS: Play dough plans

Our preschoolers learn quickly that plans can change and teachers will meet requests or behavior with curiosity. The plan we focused on today was keeping play dough at the play dough table. There was a lot of incredible work here!

Today I came upon one friend saying, “I need my toe to squish it really flat.” He knew that he could provide more force with his foot than his hand…pretty intuitive!

Happy Tuesday, friends! Stay curious and kind.