I had some help in our new garden area this week. The children helped me dig our swale pathway around the beds and then shovel some pea gravel into the ditch and spread it around. There were many busy watering cans watering our new plants as well. We will plant nasturtiums, borage, and climbing beans in the upcoming weeks. The children also were busy designing boats with our blocks, crates, ropes, and tubes. A bit of rain this week also provided opportunities for puddle splashing and malleable wet sand.
Inside, the children have been working on a little paper weaving using some watercolor paintings. They folded one painting in half lengthwise and cut slits about an inch apart. This was an excellent exercise in control, because they had to stop cutting before they reached the edge. There were a few lessons learned, but those mistakes were fixed with tape. Next, they cut strips from another painting. Lastly, they wove the strips. It took concentration to weave them first under and then over, and to remember to start the next strip in the opposite way! Primarily, this was a craft for my older 4's and 5's. Our younger children enjoyed painting and just cutting strips of paper into little pieces while they watched the older children.
Inside, the children have been working on a little paper weaving using some watercolor paintings. They folded one painting in half lengthwise and cut slits about an inch apart. This was an excellent exercise in control, because they had to stop cutting before they reached the edge. There were a few lessons learned, but those mistakes were fixed with tape. Next, they cut strips from another painting. Lastly, they wove the strips. It took concentration to weave them first under and then over, and to remember to start the next strip in the opposite way! Primarily, this was a craft for my older 4's and 5's. Our younger children enjoyed painting and just cutting strips of paper into little pieces while they watched the older children.
We've been playing some circle and ring games which the children love. One is called "My Lady Spring" and is based off of an old Springtime poem. A child, who is Lady Spring, weaves in and out under the arms of children holding hands in a circle while we sing "My Lady Spring is dressed in green, she wears a primrose crown, the sun shines if she laughs at all, my lady spring, my lady spring." Then the "lady spring" comes to the middle and leads us all as he/she twirls in the middle singing "And little baby buds and twigs are clinging to her gown, and if she weeps, the raindrops fall, my lady spring, my lady spring". We also have a little poem about flower elfins and their bulbs, and the children take turns being the flower elfin (who wears a colorful cape) and flower bulbs. The flower elfin pushes down the flowers roots and pulls up their shoots, then paints their petals. When father sun says it's time for bed, the bulb curls up again and the elfin covers it and protects it from winter cold. Lastly, by popular demand, we play some farmer in the dell, which is always a favorite.
I've also been reading some carefully chosen fairy tales to the children at lunch time. These fairy tales are usually lighthearted in nature and also there are no pictures (which helps deal with the "I can't see!" issue at lunch). Last week we read about a tiny little boy named Pimpernall who accidentally got carried out of his chimney by some steam, but through his wit and help from a friendly giant, made his way home again. Prior to Pimpernall, we read The Queen Bee, about three brothers, the youngest of whom helps some ants, some ducks, and some bees. When he later must fulfill 3 tasks, the animals help him. I often hear some of the themes of these fairy tales repeated in the children's play later on!
I've also been reading some carefully chosen fairy tales to the children at lunch time. These fairy tales are usually lighthearted in nature and also there are no pictures (which helps deal with the "I can't see!" issue at lunch). Last week we read about a tiny little boy named Pimpernall who accidentally got carried out of his chimney by some steam, but through his wit and help from a friendly giant, made his way home again. Prior to Pimpernall, we read The Queen Bee, about three brothers, the youngest of whom helps some ants, some ducks, and some bees. When he later must fulfill 3 tasks, the animals help him. I often hear some of the themes of these fairy tales repeated in the children's play later on!
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