Big

"Which pumpkin in big?" The kids answered correctly.  We continued to compare sizes with other ordinary objects like books, spoons, anything we could find.  

 We read 'The Biggest Pumpkin Ever!' by Elizabeth Bennett. 

Our worksheet about the concept of 'big' was very simple.  We had lots of time so we decided to play a round of "Find The Big Pumpkin".  The kids waited in the playroom....

I hid the pumpkin...

The kids were released in a loud and fast moving jumble of voices and stomping.. where could the pumpkin be?

Hmmm.. not seeing it yet...

Look..look...look...

"We found it!"

Congratulatory applause.. so cute..

We played again.

And again.. I love this game because it is simple and the kids really enjoy it.   It ate up the rest of our work time.  It is absolutely gorgeous outside this morning. The lake is covered with thick fog and I love the way the air feels and smells.  Fall is here! I am overjoyed!  Happy Thursday.♥♥♥

"Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish.  A favorite of mine, for sure.♫

Thanking God

We are thanking God for so many things!  Adam and I had been on the hunt for more mill ends to stock up to burn this winter and have received our first delivery.  I love mill ends for firewood.  They stack beautifully!  I am so grateful to God that we have the promise of a warm home when the weather turns.  In group time, we have been counting the consecutive days of sunshine each week.  I think our area is actually nearing SIXTY days of sunshine! Can you believe that?  We thank God for the sunshine each morning when we look out the window to see what weather we should post up on the calendar.  

We are thanking God for the new youth room at church.  We've been working on it for a couple of months now and it is finally complete!  I think it's still hard to grasp that Adam is actually living his dream of being a youth pastor.  Things have changed since this photo was snapped.  It's a great space, perfect for bible study and hanging out.  We are so grateful! 

I thank God for my job, even on the bad days.  Let's face it- I am not a machine.  By Friday I'm a little spent.  We have been working on the number 2.  We did our usual worksheets, but it was rather nondescript, so we traced our hands and counted them.  

Dot..dot...dot...

"Hey, where did my two hands go?"  LOL  Happy Wednesday!  I am also thankful that the AWANA program will be in full swing tonight at Machias Community Church at 6:30.  Age 3 through 6th grade.  Invite your neighbors, friends, family, anyone you know. ♥♥♥

Positive Reinforcement

Kids need to hear that they are doing a great job!  It's a good habit to be in if you are randomly pointing out great behavior or good effort on a project or action.  Manners are pointed out at Henle House quite often.  When I see that a child is working diligently on the project for the day I add a sticker to their paper.  Smiles follow.  A simple sticker can encourage and brighten the moment.  

Another helpful tool for me is the "Good Job Jar".  Right now it is full of plain MnMs.  It is in my group time basket but I don't hesitate to use it throughout the day, too.  Here are some easy ways that a child can earn an mnm from the good job jar:

*Manners (Please and thank yous, excuse me's)

*Being helpful to others

*Showing empathy

*Working hard on a task

*Pointing out the letter, color, shape or number of the week

*Sitting nicely in group time

*Singing and or participation

*Just being awesome

 Meanwhile, we are working on the letter Bb this week.  I get very excited to see the kids getting excited about it!  Alphabet nerds- UNITE! (I'm talking about myself.)  I truly love teaching these kids.♥

A dot painting project was provided for the little ones.  They are still being introduced to the letter and having a little sensory experience as well.  They both enjoy taking part in art, even if they just wrinkle the paper up and throw it on the floor. Happy Tuesday!♥♥♥

"Where Will We Go" by Iamdynamite. ♫ 

Leaves That Pop

We did it again- using black construction paper to make a painted piece of white construction paper "POP".  The art wall was looking beautiful, I snapped a photo because lately the art has been going home quickly. 

 To begin, just privide some paint and a white piece of construction paper.  Paint the white away!

It can take a while depending on the ages of the painters.  This project screams out to let the paint colors be mixed a little.  Red, yellow and orange are perfect for fall!  Adam keeps reminding me that it is still summer.  I realize this, but there are so many beautiful fall projects and activities to do that we start them in the beginning of September.  Autumnal Equinox is officially this Saturday!

Ahead of time, I traced some leaf stencils onto the paper and cut the leaf shapes out.  

It was kind of fun holding the leaf stencil up to different backgrounds.  Bricks sure make pretty leaves!

I liked the table runner leaves, too.

When the "white was painted away", we added glue to the stencil.  

He was excited to see what happened!  Leaves 'popped' out.  I love this project because no matter what the season, we can always create something that pertains to what we are learning and it will 'pop' as well.  

Meanwhile, I was doing the usual milk, juice and bread shopping for Henle House when I happened upon and Elmo DVD called "Elmo Says Boo!".  Our kids all really enjoyed that movie on VHS for years.  We no longer have a VCR, so into the cart that DVD went without my even batting an eye.  It's 30 minutes long,  full of silly jokes and great songs that are fun for Halloween.  I thought I'd share my favorite song from the DVD with you as the song for today. Happy Monday!  We have a new little guy arriving this morning!  Please pray that he will feel comfortable and that we will help him feel at home!♥♥♥

"Frazzle" from the DVD 'Elmo Says Boo!'.♫

Story Exploring Thursday

 Every other Thursday we do "story exploring".  We start with a book in group time.  We then go back through the book while I ask the kids specific questions about the story.  It's great for conversation  and allows the kids to take part in the story rather than being what I like to call "read at".  They feel involved and take away more information from the story than they normally would have.  We read 'Good Morning, Chick' by Mirra Ginsburg.

I have a beautiful curriculum book specifically for story exploring.  There are two pages of  ideas and activities in the book for each story that I can incorporate into the lesson.  I add sticky notes with my own ideas, too.  I keep all of the books for this curriculum in a box away from the kids.  It makes the book new and exciting for them when I pull it out. 

We decided to create our own little chick on a farm.  

They built a barn.  They also noted that it is red.  (Big smile!)

I wrote on the art what book coincides with this art and what name each child chose for their chick.  

Meanwhile, Smudge is a weirdo head and must've depleted the mouse population in Snohomish because he has been lazy and snuggly for a couple of weeks.  He chose our bathroom paper towels as a bed yesterday.  Happy Friday! ♥♥♥

Fineshrine by Purity Ring.♫  Funky video but a smooth sound with an edge.

Best Day Ever

 We had the BEST day ever yesterday.  I already love my job, but days like yesterday happen and my happy meter shoots to the moon.  The weather has been stunning.  Cool and crisp with sunshine.  This is perfect nature walk weather! We have been talking so much about the colors of the leaves.  We thought we should take a little walk down the street to see my favorite tree.

Off we went!

Walk... walk... walk... we don't all go to the bus stop the way we used to, so it's not as easy to keep these kiddos walking in a nice line.  It's so helpful to have Adam in front while I bring up the rear.  See the tree?  It's just a one minute walk to it from our house. 

We got right up underneath it to get a feel for just how large this tree is.

It's a majestic, beautiful tree.  

I love to walk underneath it and notice the changes with each season.  We were noting the color of the leaves.  Mostly green, right now.  We will return in a couple of weeks to see if anything has changed. 

My photos do not capture the enormity of it.  We felt like ants. 

I was happy that the kids really looked at it.  

Then we found leaves on the ground. 

On our way to the giant tree, we noticed a smaller tree that was turning red.  We hopped on over to see it up close.  Both trees belong to the church at the end of our street. 

Look how beautiful it is, all dressed in red! 

There were not any leaves on the ground, so we picked one to look at. 

The kids knew where they were.  Behind those trees ahead, is a park.

We enjoyed the rest of our morning schedule at the park.  It was the BEST day ever.  Happy Thursday!♥♥♥

"Best Day Ever" by Spongebob. ♫

♫Leaves Are Falling♫

"I wonder what is hiding inside the treasure box today.  Here's a clue.. it grows."  We love to use the guessing treasure box.  This time it was filled with fallen leaves from the bus walk.  I tried to pick out a couple of different colors. 

It sparked a song! In the grouptime basket is a stack of tissue paper leaves lined with wire that we use to sing our song with.  To the tune of Frera Jaques:

♫Leaves are falling,

Leaves are falling,

On the ground,

All around,

Red, yellow and orange,

Many different colors,

To be found,

 To be found!"♫

They sing and wave their leaves around until the end when...

They have fallen to the ground.  

It's the perfect song for our two weeks of  talking about and looking for the color red. 

We read this library book.  The kids enjoy pointing out the red items.  It's a very cute book, too.  The chicken is in love with the red truck and accidentally goes for a ride in the back of it.

Meanwhile, my Great Great Grandmother is gracing our fridge.  I have been learning some interesting things about her from my grandma.  My mom looks just like my great great grandma. (Her name was Inez Duncan.) She was very particular and had her clothing made just for her.  She would never wear anything store bought.  She was very severe with the kids and a rowdy bunch would be calmed immediately by her warning, "Once now..."  I think I like her.  I would've enjoyed meeting her.  I'm so glad to have a photo!  Happy Wednesday!  There is a cat in my lap- what to do now?♥♥♥

Repeat offender here, but I love the video and the song.  "Welcome Home Son" by Radical Face.♫