Friday, April 30, 2010
NURSERY RHYMES - APRIL 2010
UPK Full Day
Bread, Bread, Bread!
It all started with a trip to the pizza shop. After that trip we had an experiment with yeast, water, and sugar. Next we had one with yeast, water, sugar, a bottle and a balloon. We added flour and so far we have baked about 8 different kinds of bread with an enthusiastic group of children who love to bake and love to eat their bread. We’ve also been grinding wheat into flour, and beginning to understand how hard The Little Red Hen had to work and what a miller does.
Using bread as a theme has opened up the door for lots of learning across the curriculum. Books like Bread, Bread,Bread, The Little Red Hen, and The Little Red Hen makes Pizza establish literacy connections and give children an opportunity for dramatic play. Math connections happen several ways, like following the recipes, and keeping track of the different kinds of bread we are making. Science knowledge grows as we experiment with yeast and watch the change of state that occurs in the oven, not to mention some understanding of the seed to wheat to bread process. Our homemade bakery will give us the opportunity to make signs and draw about bread, and of course we’ve already made some fabulous pictures for our Pizza Book. In addition, bread making offers children the opportunity to explore traditions of other countries as we learn that people all over the world eat some kind of bread. And yes, we even sing about bread and how it is made.
Often, each batch of bread made 2 loaves, so we would have one for snack and save the other one in the freezer. We will take all the breads out of the freezer and slice them up so that we can invite our parents to our bakery to taste some of our delicious bread. The children are looking forward to sharing a piece of their school lives with you and of course they are so proud of themselves.
We’re hoping to turn into Paleontologists when we get back from vacation and think about just how big T-Rex was, and what did he eat, and what happened to him and how do we know what we know about him and his fellow dinosaurs.
Minia, Lucy, Kirsty, Jan, Jean, and Yasmin
One of our favorites is Pita Bread, so here is the recipe in case anyone wants to try it at home!
Pita Bread
1 package yeast
2 tbs honey
1 tbs salt
2 cups hot water
5-6 cups flour
Combine yeast, honey, and water in a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend.
Add 4 cups flour and salt. Mix well.
Add more flour to make dough stiff.
Place dough in a greased bowl. Turn greased side of dough up.
Cover. Let rise 1 hour
Use butter knife to cut dough into 36 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Cover. Let rise 10 minutes.
Preheat oven 450
Press and pat each ball to flatten (approximately 1/4 inch thick by 3).
Place rounds on baking sheet. Turn when bread bubbles up. Bake 5-7 minutes.
It all started with a trip to the pizza shop. After that trip we had an experiment with yeast, water, and sugar. Next we had one with yeast, water, sugar, a bottle and a balloon. We added flour and so far we have baked about 8 different kinds of bread with an enthusiastic group of children who love to bake and love to eat their bread. We’ve also been grinding wheat into flour, and beginning to understand how hard The Little Red Hen had to work and what a miller does.
Using bread as a theme has opened up the door for lots of learning across the curriculum. Books like Bread, Bread,Bread, The Little Red Hen, and The Little Red Hen makes Pizza establish literacy connections and give children an opportunity for dramatic play. Math connections happen several ways, like following the recipes, and keeping track of the different kinds of bread we are making. Science knowledge grows as we experiment with yeast and watch the change of state that occurs in the oven, not to mention some understanding of the seed to wheat to bread process. Our homemade bakery will give us the opportunity to make signs and draw about bread, and of course we’ve already made some fabulous pictures for our Pizza Book. In addition, bread making offers children the opportunity to explore traditions of other countries as we learn that people all over the world eat some kind of bread. And yes, we even sing about bread and how it is made.
Often, each batch of bread made 2 loaves, so we would have one for snack and save the other one in the freezer. We will take all the breads out of the freezer and slice them up so that we can invite our parents to our bakery to taste some of our delicious bread. The children are looking forward to sharing a piece of their school lives with you and of course they are so proud of themselves.
We’re hoping to turn into Paleontologists when we get back from vacation and think about just how big T-Rex was, and what did he eat, and what happened to him and how do we know what we know about him and his fellow dinosaurs.
Minia, Lucy, Kirsty, Jan, Jean, and Yasmin
One of our favorites is Pita Bread, so here is the recipe in case anyone wants to try it at home!
Pita Bread
1 package yeast
2 tbs honey
1 tbs salt
2 cups hot water
5-6 cups flour
Combine yeast, honey, and water in a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend.
Add 4 cups flour and salt. Mix well.
Add more flour to make dough stiff.
Place dough in a greased bowl. Turn greased side of dough up.
Cover. Let rise 1 hour
Use butter knife to cut dough into 36 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Cover. Let rise 10 minutes.
Preheat oven 450
Press and pat each ball to flatten (approximately 1/4 inch thick by 3).
Place rounds on baking sheet. Turn when bread bubbles up. Bake 5-7 minutes.
NURSERY RHYMES - APRIL 2010
Director's Corner - by Lisa Wenz
Welcome back from Spring break! It was a busy late winter early spring here at the Nursery. We have recovered from the water damage in the big room and adjoining classrooms. The new cubbies and block cabinets in the classrooms are installed and the new rug is in place. We have worked with the insurance company to replace all that was damaged or soiled. The staff still has a few changes they hope to implement in the big room – to make better use of the space. Thanks to
all families for being so patient during the clean-up.
Registration for next year is still underway. We still have room in our UPK classes, both full day and half day. Our three year old class is full and we have a strong waiting list. Our Little Hands registration is comfortable for this time of year.
We are moving ahead with purchasing a new piece of climbing equipment for the tire park. While the old wooden structure is still sturdy - it has become weather damaged and needs to be replaced. The teachers and I have been meeting to select a structure that will be exciting and challenging for all the age groups that use that park. The fundraising that has been going on all year will helped us select suitable, good quality piece of equipment. Please continue to support our morning and afternoon Coffee/Tea Bake Sales which have been helping support this purchase.
In the meantime there are several upcoming events to look forward to here at the Nursery. In mid April we will begin our duck and chick incubation project. Eggs will be picked up on April 14th. This is such a fun and exciting project. If all goes well, we will have chicks hatch in 21 days and ducklings in 28 days. We will also be watching the development of caterpillars into butterflies and continue to observe our toads, stick bugs, hermit crabs and tadpoles. It becomes a bit critter crazy in May!! Although the incubators are housed in rooms 2 and 3, each class will be involved in the study of the changes and growth of the embryos inside the eggs and each class will have their own group of caterpillars. We also have scheduled our annual Little Red Lighthouse trip for the Three year old class and the UPK classes on May 10th. Unfortunately the Little Hands children are too young for this trip – but they will have their turn next year!! There will be no Little Hands Class on May 10th.
We also have the Annual Spring Bazaar to look forward to as well as the Moving Up Picnic. The Moving Up Picnic will be held on Monday June 14th – Not Wednesday, June 9th as noted on the school calendar. We have rescheduled the date to give our Little Hands students an extra day or two to make up for the school they missed due to the water damage in their classroom.
The children will be spending a great deal more time outdoors now that the weather is warmer. Please continue to dress your children in weather appropriate clothing and especially good climbing/running shoes. Please note that children cannot wear flip-flop shoes in school. This year we will be enforcing this policy strictly. Also if possible limit the wearing of sandals to only the hottest days. When children are playing with blocks – they often drop them on their toes – and shoes or sneakers give the best protection. We are looking forward to enjoying our parks and all fun the outdoors has to offer!
Happy Spring!
Welcome back from Spring break! It was a busy late winter early spring here at the Nursery. We have recovered from the water damage in the big room and adjoining classrooms. The new cubbies and block cabinets in the classrooms are installed and the new rug is in place. We have worked with the insurance company to replace all that was damaged or soiled. The staff still has a few changes they hope to implement in the big room – to make better use of the space. Thanks to
all families for being so patient during the clean-up.
Registration for next year is still underway. We still have room in our UPK classes, both full day and half day. Our three year old class is full and we have a strong waiting list. Our Little Hands registration is comfortable for this time of year.
We are moving ahead with purchasing a new piece of climbing equipment for the tire park. While the old wooden structure is still sturdy - it has become weather damaged and needs to be replaced. The teachers and I have been meeting to select a structure that will be exciting and challenging for all the age groups that use that park. The fundraising that has been going on all year will helped us select suitable, good quality piece of equipment. Please continue to support our morning and afternoon Coffee/Tea Bake Sales which have been helping support this purchase.
In the meantime there are several upcoming events to look forward to here at the Nursery. In mid April we will begin our duck and chick incubation project. Eggs will be picked up on April 14th. This is such a fun and exciting project. If all goes well, we will have chicks hatch in 21 days and ducklings in 28 days. We will also be watching the development of caterpillars into butterflies and continue to observe our toads, stick bugs, hermit crabs and tadpoles. It becomes a bit critter crazy in May!! Although the incubators are housed in rooms 2 and 3, each class will be involved in the study of the changes and growth of the embryos inside the eggs and each class will have their own group of caterpillars. We also have scheduled our annual Little Red Lighthouse trip for the Three year old class and the UPK classes on May 10th. Unfortunately the Little Hands children are too young for this trip – but they will have their turn next year!! There will be no Little Hands Class on May 10th.
We also have the Annual Spring Bazaar to look forward to as well as the Moving Up Picnic. The Moving Up Picnic will be held on Monday June 14th – Not Wednesday, June 9th as noted on the school calendar. We have rescheduled the date to give our Little Hands students an extra day or two to make up for the school they missed due to the water damage in their classroom.
The children will be spending a great deal more time outdoors now that the weather is warmer. Please continue to dress your children in weather appropriate clothing and especially good climbing/running shoes. Please note that children cannot wear flip-flop shoes in school. This year we will be enforcing this policy strictly. Also if possible limit the wearing of sandals to only the hottest days. When children are playing with blocks – they often drop them on their toes – and shoes or sneakers give the best protection. We are looking forward to enjoying our parks and all fun the outdoors has to offer!
Happy Spring!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
COOL CULTURE
COOL CULTURE: A How to Guide…
There is so much to choose from with your Cool Culture passes. Here are some suggestions to make your visits successful with your young child.
1. Pick a museum or institution that is very child friendly for your first few visits. Although MOMA or the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers wonderful experiences for a child, they may require a bit more restraint than a young child has. Choose a museum were touching and hands on experiences are encouraged like the Hall of Science or Children’s Museum of the Arts.
2. Pick a site that may have a theme or exhibit related to a special interest of your child. But also visit places to spark an interest - but be aware that this may or may not be as successful.
3. Go at a time when your child is rested. There are so many sights, sounds and things to do – a child needs their energy to engage and participate comfortably.
4. Don’t plan long visits! The beauty of the Cool Culture card is free admission – gone are the constraints of “getting your money’s worth” out of the visit. Depending on your child and the institution itself – that may only be 45 minutes.
5. Bring a snack or lunch and take a break. I noted that the NYC Transit Museum had tables where families could stop grab a bite (brought from home) and return to the exhibits for more. You can do this especially at the outdoor programs like Wave Hill or the Botanical Gardens. Often special picnicking areas are available.
6. If you have visited the site before make up a scavenger hunt or eye spy game to help children focus attention. (You will even be able to include these in our binder so that other families can use your ideas for their children!)
7. Bring a sketch pad for older preschool children – they may want to draw what they see.
8. If for some reason the visit was unsuccessful – please don’t give up – try another site or return on another day.
9. You should be receiving E-Family Times – a newsletter to keep you updated about events, by email if you provided an email on your application. If you do not, visit www.coolculture.org to sign up. The Cool Culture website has wonderful information – browse a bit.
10. Visit each program’s web site for information before you go. Get a sense of the place, travel information, special exhibits, etc. Please note Cool Culture is for free general admission. Although some special exhibits or activities may be free, others may have additional charges. You may want to call ahead to find out.
If you have visited a site, please fill out one of our Cool Culture Forms and put it in the guidebook we are compiling in the Big Room. Or if someone has been there before you, sign in on the page – so families can contact each other about their experiences. Blank forms are in the Cool Culture Guidebook in the Big Room.
Also, please bring back a brochure from your visit and place it in the guidebook. Feel free to post photo of you and your child at the site on our Cool Culture bulletin board!
There is so much to choose from with your Cool Culture passes. Here are some suggestions to make your visits successful with your young child.
1. Pick a museum or institution that is very child friendly for your first few visits. Although MOMA or the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers wonderful experiences for a child, they may require a bit more restraint than a young child has. Choose a museum were touching and hands on experiences are encouraged like the Hall of Science or Children’s Museum of the Arts.
2. Pick a site that may have a theme or exhibit related to a special interest of your child. But also visit places to spark an interest - but be aware that this may or may not be as successful.
3. Go at a time when your child is rested. There are so many sights, sounds and things to do – a child needs their energy to engage and participate comfortably.
4. Don’t plan long visits! The beauty of the Cool Culture card is free admission – gone are the constraints of “getting your money’s worth” out of the visit. Depending on your child and the institution itself – that may only be 45 minutes.
5. Bring a snack or lunch and take a break. I noted that the NYC Transit Museum had tables where families could stop grab a bite (brought from home) and return to the exhibits for more. You can do this especially at the outdoor programs like Wave Hill or the Botanical Gardens. Often special picnicking areas are available.
6. If you have visited the site before make up a scavenger hunt or eye spy game to help children focus attention. (You will even be able to include these in our binder so that other families can use your ideas for their children!)
7. Bring a sketch pad for older preschool children – they may want to draw what they see.
8. If for some reason the visit was unsuccessful – please don’t give up – try another site or return on another day.
9. You should be receiving E-Family Times – a newsletter to keep you updated about events, by email if you provided an email on your application. If you do not, visit www.coolculture.org to sign up. The Cool Culture website has wonderful information – browse a bit.
10. Visit each program’s web site for information before you go. Get a sense of the place, travel information, special exhibits, etc. Please note Cool Culture is for free general admission. Although some special exhibits or activities may be free, others may have additional charges. You may want to call ahead to find out.
If you have visited a site, please fill out one of our Cool Culture Forms and put it in the guidebook we are compiling in the Big Room. Or if someone has been there before you, sign in on the page – so families can contact each other about their experiences. Blank forms are in the Cool Culture Guidebook in the Big Room.
Also, please bring back a brochure from your visit and place it in the guidebook. Feel free to post photo of you and your child at the site on our Cool Culture bulletin board!
COFFEE IN THE KITCHEN
JANUARY & FEBRUARY COFFEE IN THE KITCHEN
On Fridays we are selling coffee, tea, hot chocolate and baked goods in the kitchen.
Jan 8, 22, Feb 5, 26 8:00am-9:30am
Jan 15, 29, Feb 12 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Please be sure to stop in and support our newest fundraiser. Also, feel free to sign up to donate
nut free/peanut free baked goods . Sign up sheets are in the big room.
Coffee/tea/hot chocolate $1.00
Baked goods $1.00
In a hurry? Bring your travel mug and take your coffee to go!
NURSERY RHYMES NEWSLETTER - FEB 2010
Little Hands 3 - Finger painting and Muffins!
The winter months have been fantastic!!!! The children have grown and explored within the classroom as well as outside. We took walks through the community, played in the snow, and made snow angels. Thanks to my husband who works for the Department of Sanitation, the children were able to see up close and personal how a garbage truck "eats the garbage". Some were very quick to notice that it has two steering wheels as they sat inside to take a picture.
With the snow upon us, the children created a winter wonderland mural in our classroom, as well as played with "snow" (kosher salt) in our water table. During our walk to play in the snow the first day some waddled their way out, struggling to stay on their feet. We had so much fun and much laughter.
The children are enjoying much more the "messier" art activities. Finger painting is by far their most exciting activity of the day. Often times the children will use their fingers at the easel rather than the paint brush. The texture between their tiny fingers is stimulating and fascinating to them they can't wait to get their hands dirty.
Of course, we can't forget to mention snack time, the most enjoyable part of the day! By far we could never seem to make enough banana muffins. Yummy! Following is the recipe to make Banana muffins at home. Enjoy.
Banana Muffins
3 Cups of Flour
1 Cup brown sugar
2-4 Ripe Bananas
1 tsp of baking powder
pinch of salt
2 sticks of butter
Mix all together and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.
We would also like to welcome some new classmates: Amanda Vasquez, Valentina Perez-Merio, and Gabriel Martinez. We all welcome you to our Little Hands III class!
Luz, Jean, and Lynn
The winter months have been fantastic!!!! The children have grown and explored within the classroom as well as outside. We took walks through the community, played in the snow, and made snow angels. Thanks to my husband who works for the Department of Sanitation, the children were able to see up close and personal how a garbage truck "eats the garbage". Some were very quick to notice that it has two steering wheels as they sat inside to take a picture.
With the snow upon us, the children created a winter wonderland mural in our classroom, as well as played with "snow" (kosher salt) in our water table. During our walk to play in the snow the first day some waddled their way out, struggling to stay on their feet. We had so much fun and much laughter.
The children are enjoying much more the "messier" art activities. Finger painting is by far their most exciting activity of the day. Often times the children will use their fingers at the easel rather than the paint brush. The texture between their tiny fingers is stimulating and fascinating to them they can't wait to get their hands dirty.
Of course, we can't forget to mention snack time, the most enjoyable part of the day! By far we could never seem to make enough banana muffins. Yummy! Following is the recipe to make Banana muffins at home. Enjoy.
Banana Muffins
3 Cups of Flour
1 Cup brown sugar
2-4 Ripe Bananas
1 tsp of baking powder
pinch of salt
2 sticks of butter
Mix all together and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.
We would also like to welcome some new classmates: Amanda Vasquez, Valentina Perez-Merio, and Gabriel Martinez. We all welcome you to our Little Hands III class!
Luz, Jean, and Lynn
NURSERY RHYMES NEWSLETTER - FEB 2010
Little Hands 2 - Books, Snacks, and Sand!
The Little Hands 2 class began as a small group of 4 children and has recently grown to a bustling group of 10. In December we welcomed Zoe and Dylan and now in January, Gabriel, Ava, Mary and Paz have joined the class. With our growing numbers we also welcome another teacher, Meg O’Connor to our group.
Back in October, our original group of students began their first school experience. It may only be for a short time each week, but the children became accustomed to saying goodbye to their loved ones for the short time and to stretch out into a community that is beyond their family and is “theirs” alone.
They have learned routines, have refined their self help skills and have established the beginnings of classroom community. Through the activities provided, they are developing language, expressing themselves both verbally and through the arts. They are learning to hear another person’s opinion, to take some risks and try new things, to move beyond their egocentric selves and join in their first small way, society.
For our newer families, let me tell you about the routine of our mornings. For the first hour in school, we have “work time”. The children are free to move about and select the activities they wish to work at, be it the easel, an art activity, puzzles, blocks building, writing/drawing, home life area, texture table or play dough. Their interests guide them and children begin to see that their decisions have value. For this group of children dramatic play with “dress-up” is very popular, as are collage type art activities. Following “work time” we have an organized clean-up where all children participate in the clean-up and care of their classroom which is a community building activity. Children feel a sense of care and responsibility for their classroom and the materials it contains.
Following “clean-up” we wash hands and have snack. The children sit down together comfortably and have a bite to eat and a bit of conversation, before moving on to circle where we sing our sock song and a few other favorites before our daily story.
Two favorite story time books have been:
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin
A Hat for Minerva Louise
Following story, the children get dressed for outdoors and we head out to the Tire Park for some very important big muscle building through climbing, running and jumping. This group is also very fond of using the sand toys in the park.
We do go out in the snow, so please be sure your child has snow gear (snow pants, boots, mittens and a hat) if there is snow on the ground.
As the year continues we may move into some thematic units of “study”. Last year my Little Hands class did a study of rooms in a home. We studied the bedroom, bathroom and laundry room, changing our dramatic play area into these rooms and enjoying some stories, music and art related to these rooms. It was great fun and we will probably test the children’s interests with this. If it sparks interest we will give it a go!
Looking forward to more fun times to come!
Lisa, Jean, and Meg
The Little Hands 2 class began as a small group of 4 children and has recently grown to a bustling group of 10. In December we welcomed Zoe and Dylan and now in January, Gabriel, Ava, Mary and Paz have joined the class. With our growing numbers we also welcome another teacher, Meg O’Connor to our group.
Back in October, our original group of students began their first school experience. It may only be for a short time each week, but the children became accustomed to saying goodbye to their loved ones for the short time and to stretch out into a community that is beyond their family and is “theirs” alone.
They have learned routines, have refined their self help skills and have established the beginnings of classroom community. Through the activities provided, they are developing language, expressing themselves both verbally and through the arts. They are learning to hear another person’s opinion, to take some risks and try new things, to move beyond their egocentric selves and join in their first small way, society.
For our newer families, let me tell you about the routine of our mornings. For the first hour in school, we have “work time”. The children are free to move about and select the activities they wish to work at, be it the easel, an art activity, puzzles, blocks building, writing/drawing, home life area, texture table or play dough. Their interests guide them and children begin to see that their decisions have value. For this group of children dramatic play with “dress-up” is very popular, as are collage type art activities. Following “work time” we have an organized clean-up where all children participate in the clean-up and care of their classroom which is a community building activity. Children feel a sense of care and responsibility for their classroom and the materials it contains.
Following “clean-up” we wash hands and have snack. The children sit down together comfortably and have a bite to eat and a bit of conversation, before moving on to circle where we sing our sock song and a few other favorites before our daily story.
Two favorite story time books have been:
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin
A Hat for Minerva Louise
Following story, the children get dressed for outdoors and we head out to the Tire Park for some very important big muscle building through climbing, running and jumping. This group is also very fond of using the sand toys in the park.
We do go out in the snow, so please be sure your child has snow gear (snow pants, boots, mittens and a hat) if there is snow on the ground.
As the year continues we may move into some thematic units of “study”. Last year my Little Hands class did a study of rooms in a home. We studied the bedroom, bathroom and laundry room, changing our dramatic play area into these rooms and enjoying some stories, music and art related to these rooms. It was great fun and we will probably test the children’s interests with this. If it sparks interest we will give it a go!
Looking forward to more fun times to come!
Lisa, Jean, and Meg
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