the boys academy: Feb 19th more food fun

Centers:

The kitchen
Magnet letters
Chalkboard literacy
Matching shapes game
Tower of boxes

Toward the beginning of Center Time, the boys were all doing their own thing for the most part: Ray in the kitchen, Jack playing the matching game, Carsten working on writing letters at the chalkboard, and Mason working on words and creating silly words for Miss Katrina to phoenetically pronounce.

Soon they were working together building towers with boxes. We had to add to the fun by throwing balls at our tower and I even took a few videos (that they of course loved to see).

As for the videos:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7477474392073444728&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9183088384399887495&hl=en

Circle Time:

We updated the Calendar, sang the “Rainbow Song” (having the boys pop up when the color of their shirt was called), read “The Snowman’s Annual Ball,” a wonderful wintery story about food festivities, dancing, and skating. They loved this book, and the poetic prose. Off to wash our hands, singing the “dirty” song.

Snack:

I love watching the boys and their routines. Jack and Carsten are always the first to the snack table, where Ray and Mason love to spend a bit more time washing their hands. Jack and Carsten helped set out the napkins and glasses at everyone’s seat. Then we enjoyed some cookies with frosting, and pears.

Showing excitement for the letter "Ww!"

The Letter “Ww”

This week we are learning about the letter “Ww.” As the boys were eating their snack, we used the chalkboard again and talked about familiar words that begin with W: window, water, wave, & whale, as I drew them, or pointed to them. Then they took turns pointing to a “w” and we sang our phonics song together.

Letter Game

I cut out letters from magazines the other day and put them all over the dining room to help all the kiddos. We played a game where the boys would run and point to a letter of their choosing. When it was their turn they would tell me which letter they chose and the sound that it makes. They loved this. I’ll put up some new letters for next week.

Music & Movement

The boys were very excited for music & movement. We passed out the scarves and sang & moved to “Jonny Brown,” quickly becoming a favorite. They even made a train with their scarves and ran down the line together. Then we chose instruments and sang as we rowed “Row row row your boat.” As we row up hill, our tempo slows and our tone lowers. Then when getting to the “merrily” part, we ride quickly down a hill and sing higher. They love this song. Finally, we took a train ride and followed eachother through the house singing “Engine Engine #9” (another favorite). We sing “A-way” (high then low tones) as we put away our instruments…they think this is funny.

Our Activity:

For today’s main activity: we have been talking about recipes, so we read Hudson Talbott’s O’ Sullivan Stew’s together. The overall theme is “Everyone is one of us.” There are tall tales, magic, fantasy, sea dragons, wailing wolves, a king, and a heroine. After reading this fun story together. We came up with our own recipe. One for a cake, filled with a dragon, fairy, leprechaun, king, sneezing Kate… The boys drew as they felt comfortable, but mostly dictated the crayon I was holding.

Then we talked a bit about setting the table. (They are getting better at helping during snack time). They were each given a napkin, plate, spoon, fork, knife, and glass. I quickly showed them the basic layout, and we sang and danced to a fun song about setting the table. Hoping for some table setting confidence and willingness for those cute moms out there! Maybe next week we’ll set our tables again and have a dinner party with our play food (during Centers).