Another beautiful day of fun outdoors/New addition

Another beautiful day, got chilly come later in the day, but we  remained outdoors having lots of fun.  The kids I had with me this morning rode the bikes quite a bit today and, again, as they would ride around, they would stop at me and I would ask a question.  I asked mostly Math questions, but also shapes , colors and other types of questions.  They played tag, swings, sandbox, climbers, the seesaw and much more.  We also have a new addition to our Daycare family. An infant boy, CS. Welcome CS, I am pleased to have you here.

Once the school kids arrived we continued playing outside. Many of the same activities we did in the morning.  Another fun filled day. Enjoy the pictures.

 

             Tired boy  

Great day to combine Math and lots of outside fun. (MONDAY)

I am playing catch up, as I ran out of time last night, this was yesterday (Monday).

I had my three this morning (4 tomorrow) and two are old enough to ride bikes, so we did that for quite awhile. During the riding, in order to pass me they had to answer a Math addition question. Had to total under 10 as fingers were used.  They loved this game. When I stopped they actually asked to do it some more, it was great.  Also, there was swinging, sandbox, climber play, as well as playing house.  They kids and I, even the baby, rolled around in the nice grass and played a few games as well.  I was so nice out that the kids asked if we could have a lunch Pic Nic outside, so that is just what we did.

Once the school kids arrived, we stayed outside, rode bikes, more sandbox play and continued to have a wonderful, fun afternoon.  Enjoy this pictures.

Workbooks/Weather/Cloud-Rain Science project/Playing

Just my two preschoolers and the baby here today, until after school. We did Letters, numbers, “About myself”and weather in their Workbooks.  We looked up, on the computer, all the different clouds and talked about them. Then we did an experiment around the weather, rain and clouds. I saw this experiment on a website and thought it would be fun.  We started with a jar or water and two cups with colored water.  We placed a large amount of shaving cream in the top of the jar.  Then each child filled a dropper and squeezed the colored water on top of the shaving cream.  They got to watch it come out the bottom of the shaving cream “Cloud”,much like rain comes out of the clouds.  After this was done, the two girls just wanted to play with the shaving cream, so I gave them each a piece of paper and that is what they did.  Next they played with baby dolls, the kitchen, little people, littlest Petshops AND a “ball” I got that starts small and when you pull it apart to make it large. Let it go and it is small again. The baby loved watching the bigger girls play with that. Then she started reaching for her own ball, and got it.  The after school kids all had a lot of fun as well. Building, jumping on the Trampoline, books and good old playing.

Letter H and X practice/Animals/Playing

We had a wonderful day. We spend extra time with “Pre-School” today, we just got so involved. The girls each worked on the letter that they are up to, we talked about how words sound alike and did a worksheet on those as well as a worksheet on “what does not belong”. We talked a lot about these worksheets- the colors, shapes, sounds etc. The girls love the different variety of things we are working on and they are learning. “S” had the letter H today, so after we went over the sound of the letter and many words that begin with the letter H I surprised the girls and brought out my daughters “H”ampster.  Then “K” wanted to see the bunny so I brought him out as well. “K” couldn’t wait to pet them and hold them. “S” was fine with the Hampster and a tad bit nervous when the Bunny was brought out. But she saw “K” petting him and holding him and she wanted to as well.  We had a lot of fun playing in the play room after.  Once the after school kids arrived we continued playing and having lots of fun, as you will see. And for a surprise at snack my daughter made everyone hot chocolate. The kids were so excited about that.

And just to add a personal message to one of my kids:  “S”, you did AWESOME today, with you know what”.

                  

Practice doll/Matching/Worksheets/Play Doh/BINGO/Play

Happy Monday. Had my three little ones all day until the rest arrived after School. We had a very busy, very fun day. I wanted to change things up from concentrating on just the letters because there are so many other skills to be learned as well. “K” and “S” and I started off using the Practice dolls that help children to learn, buttoning, snapping, zipping and more. From there we moved onto Pre-school worksheets.  We discussed colors and shapes, then the kids had to match one side to the other side of the sheet. The next sheet we worked on was words that sound the same.  I constantly rhyme words and names through the day, but we had never done it on paper.  The final sheet was a winter maze, which is always a hit. Next we played a few games of “Food and exercise” BINGO.  The girls were so excited whenever they got a match.   We tried a new recipe for Play doh, but ours came out rather sticky, as you will see. The the girls wanted to play with the floral beads, but that didn’t last too long. So off to the Play room where they were pleasantly surprised to see a play tent set up (I took the climber down), they spend a lot of the day in that tent, using their great imaginations. A couple of the other kids joined us after the bus, not all of them today. They also were happy with the tent. We ended the day with a couple games of “Penguin Pat”, a fun game.

Science Fair and Library Day (What a day of Learning)

I took the Daycare kids to the Science Fair at the Middle School. They got to hear about plants/Soil (My daughter’s experiment), different kinds of Pizzas, which Ice cream melts quickest, Popcorn, french fries, cereal etc, and even got to try some samples. They also have their own Pumpkin or Bean cup to grow given to them by my daughter Brianna.  They kids knew people (Sister’s/cousins, friends) that were in the Science Fair.  It was a lot of learning.  We did this before we took a Field trip to the Library for Reading time, since the weather was so bad. There, they had a ton of fun, even though there were A LOT of other children there too.  They played a parachute game, sang the Alphabet three different ways (Loud, quiet, no voice), did wheels on the bus (See white wheels) and more. Then was a “Special” guest.  It was an Iguana. It was VERY big. My three little ones were pretty close to it too and I was shocked that none of them were scared of it at all (I know I wasn’t getting to close to it). They even, get this, patted its tail, I tried to get pictures of that. After they saw the Iguana it was craft time. The kids used glue to outline the picture of the Iguana and then used sprinkles on them. Their pictures came out great, mine, not as well (Still don’t have my regular camera).

 My Beautiful daughter

Letter “T” outside play, running/racing Tee pee play and more

Another great, fun filled day here today. We started off our learning with letter “T”, tracing, using a dry erase board, cutting and pasting objects that begin with “T”. Next we went on to crafts. The first one was a color, cut and paste that made a  Train.  Then an idea just popped into my head. Parents, forgive me for this one,we took two paper plates, I hot glued them together, leaving an opening, and the kids placed beans inside. I then hot glued the hole closed. These are noise makers for sure. We were talking about instruments, so why no make one?  Then we went outside and did a huge variety of fun activities.  Riding bikes, running, flips down the back hill, swings, sandbox, playing in the Tee Pee my daughter made, picking flowers and so much more.  I have to try to cut down on the number of pictures before I upload them, took too many as always.

Little helpers preparing the Garden

Late yesterday afternoon, my daughter decided it was time to start preparing the Garden for planting. I still had two Daycare children here who were MORE then willing to help.  “E” and “JP”.  They grabbed rakes and shovels and even used their hands.  The raking began, what a big job.  Next there was some dirt digging and turning. And finally came the weed pulling.  These three almost filled the wheel barrel with weeds. They worked hard, got dirty and had a great time doing it. NOW they want to start planting our Veggies and Fruits, but the garden still isn’t quite ready. I can’t wait to see them all help with the planting and then watching the seeds grow into foods.

 Can almost see the full size of the Garden 

Filed trip to the Library to see the Goats.

Today was a very exciting day.  We went to the Baxter Memorial Library to see the Goats.  We went early so that we could do other things before the Goats arrived.  We did puzzles, played with toys, read books and we did a HUGE puzzle all together (you will see it).  Then the Goats arrived. We sat on the carpet and learned that the Goats were only three weeks old, that a Goat produces 3 gallons of milk a day and what can be made with goats milk, like cheese, soap, butter etc.  Then came the time to each feed the goats and pet them. I did have one child that was a little nervous, but did give in a bit and enjoyed the goats. Then the kids colored pictures of a goat, played jump rope with the long library snake and more. Then we came home and played outside until the noon bus arrived.  Another a great  day!!!  Enjoy the pictures..

JUST A GREAT DAY..

I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS BLOG.  IT WAS JUST SUCH A GREAT DAY..                  Another busy day here.  JP was a bit late this morning so I worked on letters with K and E. I scrambled up all the letters and the kids had to listen to me (I would say the letter and the color of the letter if needed) and choose the correct letter to create the Alphabet in order. We did this several times, then they each made their name with the letters. We moved over to crafts and made a snowflake out of cotton swaps and glue on blue background paper. Then came our science experiment. Each child started with a bottle of water and a spot of dish detergent.  The kids added food coloring and glitter to their bottles and shook them. After the bubbles settled we could see all the different colors of glitter on the sides of the bottles (I think I added a bit too much soap to a bottle or two).  THEN came the “Surprise”, we went outside to go sledding down my back hill. The all had a BLAST!!   As you will notice in the pictures we had some furry guests outside with us, my dogs.  The kids had  fun playing with them and you will see that the dogs are waiting by the pic nic table to catch the snow that the girls were throwing to them.   When we came back inside the request was made for hot cocoa.  JW joined us after school,  about Lunch time.  After lunch we went to the play room. The kids wanted to show JW  “Our Daycare” song, as the kids call it (A fast version of 5 Little Monkeys).  So they all danced to that.  Then I broke out the puzzles and EVERYONE  wanted to do them, I was thrilled..  I was so excited that they all wanted to do them at the same time, and for quite a while too. They did such a great job with them too. Then rest and back outside for more sledding, snowball fighting and snowman building (Camera died).   Today was just such an exceptionally great day for me!!!

 Letter practice.                               Into the Woods.. Coming back out of the woods.   Feeding the dogs the snow.   Hot Cocoa time.