September 2015 Newsletter

Getting into the swing of things!

September has flown by and it’s been really good to see how the kids are learning to follow the routine as well as joining along with the songs, rhymes and stories.  While they often play independently, they are starting to play together particularly outside and at the art stations.  

I’ve tried to introduce a number of different art materials this month so they can get used to how to put marker lids back on, where the paint brushes go and the idea that we only draw/paint on paper and not on the walls (or carpetJ). 

The birdhouse has been a big hit.  They love to knock on it and ask if anyone is inside which has led to a lot of conversation about where the birds are if they aren’t home.  They enjoy scooping out the birdseed and pouring it in to the house and into the bird feeder. 

Following on their enjoyment of the birdhouse, we’ve been reading stories, singing songs and rhymes about birds and using the scarves as wings while we dance and move to music (I’ve found a good YouTube channel called “Happy Classical Music for Children”).  They also like Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” (and we are reading the children’s book version as well).  

 

Outdoor Play:

Water table

Sand, baby and car washing, Gardening/planting/mud pie station

Painting – leaf prints

Bucket/pulley.  They love this!  I’ve put a bucket on a rope and strung it on a branch.  They fill it up with different materials and pull it up and lower it down.   

Sensory Stations:

Lavender scented playdough

Moon sand ice cream station

Bird seed with hidden objects

Apple Cinnamon playdough

Rainbow rice

Creative:

Water colours

Colour matching with feathers/sculptures with molding clay

Fall leaves with markers/food colouring and using droppers for fine motor skills

Apple printing

With ongoing access to paint, markers, crayons and paper

Imagination and Feelings Stations:

The kids have just started showing an interest in dressing up and with dressing and undressing the baby doll.  I’ve been putting out different pictures of kids showing different emotions along with small mirrors for them to look at their own faces. 

Independence and relationships:

We are working on how to speak to each other and how to negotiate taking turns with different toys and activities.   I’m finding that if I say we’ll count to 10 and switch it works well.   They are also learning to navigate lunch and snack – helping to serve each other and pour water at snack time and get then getting their lunches out and clearing up afterwards as well.   

Here are some of our songs and rhymes:

Hello Everybody (our gathering/transition song)

Hello everybody, and how are you, how are you, how are you?

Hello everybody and how are you, how are you today?

Morning song  (Traditional Waldorf)

Good Morning Dear Earth (hands as if holding earth on abdomen)

Good Morning Dear Sun (stretch arms above head in a circular arc)

Good Morning Dear Trees (stretch arms to side, like tree branches)

And the Flowers Everywhere (hands holding flowers on ground)

Good Morning Dear Beasts (hands as if petting a dog,etc..)

And the Birds in the Trees (hands “fly” away like birds flying away)

Good Morning Dear You and Good Morning Dear Me. (hands reaching to each other, then hands cross over our chest)

The more we get together (with ASL signs)

The more we get together, together, together

The more we get together, the happier we’ll be

Cos your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends,

The more we get together, the happier we’ll be

Rain is falling down

Rain is falling down – splat!

Rain is falling down – splat!

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter

Rain is falling down – splat!

Sun is peeking out – peek!

Sun is peeking out – peek!

Peeking here, peeking there

Sun is peeking out – peek!

Two little dickie birds

Two little dickie birds sitting on a wall

One named Peter, one named Paul.

Fly way Peter, Fly away Paul.

Come back Peter, come back Paul.

Way up in the Sky:

Way up in the sky the little birds fly

While down in their nest

The little birds rest

With a wing on the left

And a wing on the right

The sweet little birdies sleep all through the night

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

They’re sleeping!

The bright sun comes up

The dew falls away

Good morning, good morning

The little birds say!

Oatmeal Apple Cookies

We used apples from our neighbours apple tree to make these yummy cookies for snack. 

Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter, softened
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 3 cups old fashioned oats
    • 1/2 cup finely chopped apple

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.
  2. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  3. Combine the flour, cinnamon and baking soda.
  4. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  5. Fold in oat and apples.
  6. Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute before removing to wire racks.