Today we explored through our treasure basket. We discovered different textures and materials. We found some fun and interesting items in there. We also played with play dough. We cut, squeezed, used stencils, rolled, pinched, poked, and pounded it. We drove our cars outside and also made red, white, and blue contact paper collages.

This week is Stars and Stripes week in recognition of Memorial Day. Today we painted with red and white paint on blue paper. We started out with paint brushes, but our little friends like to explore with art materials and ended up painting their hands and arms. We read one of our books for the week Lets Dance Little Pookie. We also played outside on the playground for the rest of our day at school. We had a short day today because of our Annual Picnic in the Park. Thank you to the families who were able to make it and bring something and to those who weren't able to make it, hopefully you can next year.

Opposites

Today we had a very fun day! We talked about light,  dark , big , small, over, and under,  high and low, wet, dry and also hard and soft objects. We did art on the easel today which was a switch up from what we normally do. The children loved it though i have a feeling we are gonna need more than one.  We had one very neat sensory tub today we  used our rice we died yesterday. We read Inside, outside and upside down then we went outside and we talked about what we had just read.

Over 

and  Under

Today was such a fun day! We were able to do most of our activities outside until we found a Caterpillar. We made some  colorful chalk paint today  then to the playground we went to paint shapes. They did such a great job. The I/T and preschool playground are pretty colorful now. Chalk paint is one of the easiest things to make plus the children love to mix it. We also worked on our listening ears and played "can you?" which is a toddler version of simon says. Our book for the day was "Llama Llama Hoppity Hop "

Chalk Paint is very easy and fast to make.
1 cup of water mix with 1 cup of cornstarch 
divide it up into a muffin tin after mixed
 Add in your food coloring or kool-aid 
Then let your children paint away

We found a Caterpillar 

 when you are all done painting just hose it off.
                                

School made chalk painting

This week is Stars and Stripes week. Today we went on a star hunt and looked for stars around the room, played with our striped parachute, and did some stars and stripes stamping. We also sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Sing this song with your toddler and encourage them to join in. Some of them know a few of the words. 

Today we arranged flower stems. (They were actually green straws and pipe cleaners.) We read On Mother's Lap and sang "Mommy, Mommy." We also mixed up some muffins for our Muffins for Mom party. Yes, these are toddlers, but they loved helping out to mix the ingredients. Let your children be involved in the kitchen at home. It might get a little messy, but they will enjoy helping and activities like this help develop fine motor skills..

Today we played in the motor room. We were swinging, dancing, making music, jumping, balancing and climbing. We made heart-shaped keepsakes for moms and put our thumbprints in them. We smelled flowers and felt their soft silky texture. We also made flowers with our footprints and hand prints.

Today we took over the preschooler's playground again. We played the chimes and the drums, climbed the rock mountain, and went down the slide. We also colored with chalk. We did some arts and crafts inside, but since we are getting ready for Mother's Day all arts and crafts are TOP SECRET until Friday afternoon. All I can say is these mommies will be reminded of their children every time they bake.

Last week we planted some seeds and this week they are starting to grow out of the soil! We went outside this morning and watered them and then set them in the sun so they would grow. The children enjoy helping out with tasks like this. They get excited when we talk about our flowers growing and go to the back door saying "flower, flower." We also made sidewalk paint today. It's like sidewalk chalk, but you paint it on instead. Just mix water, cornstarch and food coloring and then paint away. We painted on the preschooler's playground and left them a little message. 

(I/T WAS HERE)

Today we had bundles of fun! We played in the motor room. We were jumping on the trampoline, swinging in the swing, dancing to some music, doing somersaults on the mats, and sliding down the slide.We also painted and then sprayed it with water bottles to make pretend rain and built rainbow towers.

 

Ballon Pit

Our fun ballon pit!

Today was so much fun! We did a really fun activity with ballon's today. I turned our reading cozy space into a ballon pit. The children loved it so much. I set them in the pit and we went on a color hunt. I would ask them to find me a red ballon they would all search until they found one. If i may say so myself I have some pretty smart cookies in my classroom. We also made some really neat contact paper umbrella's. Afterwards we made some music with our rain sticks while talking about the weather.

Hiding in the ballon pit.

Trying to roll his play dough with his eyes shut.

We finally got some good playtime outside this morning. We blew bubbles, danced with our rainbow ribbons, and pushed our poppers. We hung up the rainbows we made yesterday. We also read Windows to Color and The Big Storm.