Science Experiment with Jello

Today during class time we did a fun science project using blue and yellow jello. Our outcome was to create the color green by mixing the blue and yellow colors together. The kids had fun using the eye droppers to squirt into the jelly bean trays.



John was on a roll trying to fill as many as possible! He had fun filling the green jello in random spots in the tray.

Finn wanted his green to be a "light green" so he added more yellow, then blue.

Layla mixed the colors together, making sure she had the perfect shade of green.

Nolan decided to pour the yellow into the extra cup, then add the blue using the eye droppers.

Saige filled up her green jello in a nice row!

Everyone loved this project...and can't wait to eat it after snack as a fun treat!

Coloring Layla's house

This morning the Beetle's went upstairs and got the chance to help decorate Layla's play cardboard house. The house is white on the outside as well as the inside, which leaves it up to the kids imagination to decorate it however they choose.

Lena, Raya and Kaya wanted to color Layla's favorite colors onto her roof :)

Kaya wanted to add the color blue onto the door to match her shirt.

Inside the house, Raya used a touch light to see. They had fun peeking out of the windows!

Lena playing hide and seek

This activity was a great way to lead into the start of our very own cardboard house neighborhood! This week the Beetle's will be making and decorating their very own house.

Visiting Blue

The Beetle's get a very special job sometimes in the morning....feeding Blue the fish!


Blue checked out the Beetles :)


Raya watched the food floating at the top.


Kaya layed down on the ground to get a better look at Blue catching up his food!


Lena, Raya and Kaya being silly. Lena said "fishy! feed fish." They can't wait to feed Blue again next time :)

Share Day

Today we decided to have a share day during circle time. The kids brought in something special from home for a show and tell with their friends.


Finn brought in his firetruck! He showed his friends how to save people from a burning building by making the ladder longer. Finn opened the front doors and storage space to show them where the firemen sit and where they store their hoses :)


Saige brought in her Leapster Explorer game. Saige talked about her favorite learning game and even let everyone take a look for themselves! She showed her friends where the up button was, as well as the down and side buttons


Austin showed everyone his favorite blanket. He told everyone that it was his favorite blanket and extra special to him because it's cuddly and warm.


Eleanor brought in her beautiful necklace! She explained how when she wears it, she feels very fancy and beautiful like a princess :)


Layla brought in her pink whale and pink matching book! She showed everyone the pink pages in the book and how pink is her very favorite color.


Eli brought in Mater, from the movie Cars. He told everyone that Mater was his favorite Car and how the front is his mouth to talk :)


Myla brought in her Seattle ABC book! She pointed out where the space needle was, and how it was about a boy and his pet dog.

Paige Rios original "You're Not Alone"

This is just another shameless plug for my beautiful and talented fourteen-year-old niece, Paige. I am so proud of her for writing and having the courage and talent to perform her original song, "You're Not Alone" at my friend Allison's benefit. She wrote the song for all people who have fought or are still fighting cancer.

Che Che Koolay

Today Bonnie walked in with three huge bags full of African Instruments. They all made different types of sounds. Some of the instruments made high-pitched sounds and some low-pitched sounds. Some were loud and some quiet. Some were very delicate, while most were strong enough to be passed around and played with.

CHE CHE KOOLAY

(An echo song from Africa)

Che Che Koolay , (Che Che Koolay)

Che Che Kofinsa, (Che Che Kofinsa)

Kofinsa langa, (Kofinsa langa)

Kata che langa, (Kata che langa)

Koom a dayn-day, (Koom a dayn-day),

Koom a dayn-day, (Koom a dayn-day),

Koom a dayn-day - HEY!

Pat your head,

Touch Your shoulders,

Hands on your waist,

Hands on your knees,

Bow down & welcome the day.

Letter Recognition/ Writing Practice

Because we have a mixed-age classroom, our class ranging in age from 1 - 4 yrs old, we try to provide activities that can be accommodating to different learning levels. We've been using our letter and name recognition cards for a few months now.

For the one and two year olds, we teach just the first letter of each of our friend's names. By doing this, the toddlers learn to associate the first letter and it's sound for each friend. The letter K and the "k" sound are for Kaya! Usually by the time they are three years old, they can find their own labeled water bottles, nap mats, and art bins by recognizing their name alone.


Today during circle time, we gave the preschoolers clipboards so they could practice writing each letter on the the cards. By doing this, we were able to challenge the older preschoolers who already recognize the letters in the alphabet with ease, to practice writing the letters.

Myla and Austin, both 2yrs old, practiced making the letter "M" by making lines "Up the mountain, down the mountain, up the mountain, down the mountain".

Layla, 3yrs, was proud to show off the letter "N" she wrote on her paper.

Finn (almost 4) made the letter "L" and many of the other letters too.

"Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"

Everyone was exited to be back from vacation today.

The Centipedes read the book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?". The book shares how using your words and actions can help fill or empty an invisible bucket everyone carries around with them. We can help fill each others buckets with good feelings or we can dip into their buckets which can leave them feeling sad or lonely.



They each shared something that helped fill their bucket this holiday season, something that made them happy or something they did that made others happy.

This is what they said:

Layla: I have a heart cup with glitter and hearts and pink, it makes me feel happy.
Grace: A princess house and it has dresses, its blue, pink, red, and pink on top. I got it for Christmas and it makes me feel happy.
John: I got a bucket! I have a tractor from Aunt Kelly and Big John. They picked from a toy store where they live. It makes me happy.
Quinn: Uncle Peppy gave me a thing you get to play with- its a lighting McQueen thing. It made me happy when he gave me it for Christmas. I gave people thank you cards.
Luka: Santa gave me a kitchen and a doll house. (How did that make you feel?) Happy. The Nutcracker made me happy.
Myla: I have a kitchen and a I have a baby stroller, a pink one and a black one. (How did that make you feel?) Happy. I go to sleep with my Sissy, that made her mad.
Ava: My baby doll is crying, makes me feel sad.
Aliza: Mammy and Daddy give something new... a real big hug.
Bodhi: Sad - Mommy and Daddy, this book make them happy.

At first I was thinking a lot of toys of course but then I also realize that one of the reasons we give them the toys is to make them happy. The gift of giving and seeing the joy and happiness on their face fills both their buckets and ours.

They then went on about their day and continued to talk about whether what they doing was filling a bucket or dipping into one.



We had a great deal of bucket fillers today, and if anyone "dipped" into someone's they recognized it and said something to help fill it again.



They were also asked to find choices during class time that made them feel good or that they thought could help fill someones bucket. Layla, Luka, and several others chose to paint. They looked forward to sharing their art with you and others. We hope it helps fill your bucket full of good feelings too.

Exploring our Neighborhood

Today we decided to check out a new park that's just a few blocks away from school. We came across the park a few weeks ago when we were walking around the neighborhood but didn't have time to explore it. Today was the perfect day to check it out since it finally stopped raining for a few hours.

The park was great to run about and is safely gated. We raced across the grass and played chase.

We found some nice rocks to climb on, not too high off the ground either!

John was being silly.

Myla checked out the "shell clock" made with beautiful multicolored pebbles.

Quinn, who was visiting because the school where she goes to kindergarten is still closed until tomorrow, was a big help with the younger preschoolers. She held their hands and helped them cross the streets.

Quinn directed Aliza, Luka, and Bodhi in a new game that she invented on the "shell clock", similar to Simon Says.

Grace and Luka challenged themselves by climbing and walking across the large rocks and benches. We are ecstatic to have found this new little gem in our neighborhood.

Coloring with Markers

Kaya was very interested with the paper and makers this morning. She grabbed the first marker she saw and started coloring on the big paper taped to the floor.

Lena got busy right away too. She made a lot of circles and lines, and she also traced her hand and had Carrie trace her hand multiple times.

Anna Lee liked watching the other beetles color at first then picked out the orange marker to decorate her paper.

West Seattle Preschool Association- Preschool Fair

Are you a parent or do you know a parent wondering about the different West Seattle Preschool options for preschoolers in our area?

3rd Annual West Seattle Preschool Fair

Monday, January 9, 2012

St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

5:30-7:30pm

Schools Attending:

Bright Horizons, Cometa Playschool, Community School of West Seattle, The Cove School, Neighborhood Preschool, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Room to Grow Preschool, Sweat Pea Cottage, South Seattle Community College C-op, West Seattle Montessori, and West Seattle Macaroni Kid

http://westseattleblog.com/2011/12/got-a-preschooler-to-be-west-seattle-preschool-fair-in-3-weeks

Check out the West Seattle Preschool Association and their other events below:
www.westseattlepreschoolassociation.com/