We made Pizza!

Today we have continued our measurements. We headed to McDonalds this morning for snack and to play. Our favorite person Toto decided to meet is. In grandmother's world it's coffee time! The funny thing is J was digging on her purse (manners?) but found a tape measure. Everyone began measuring each others arms and feet ( their choice). I was thinking not better way and time to discuss measurements and inches. And we played limbo with the tape measure and 2 other kids!
At lunch we made pizza each kiddo poured 1/3 cup of pizza sauce. They topped their pizza with pepperoni, cheese, and black olives! They were delicious!

Making playdough

This post will be short today. We mixed and measured making playdough. We discussed liquid and solids. Little A ate her jell-o when she first poured it onto her mixing bowl. Next came the flour which she figured out quickly was not tasty! This is the best playdough recipe ever and if the little ones want to eat it will not harm them. These three mixed their own batch. Then I cooked each on the stove top, they watched it go from goo to playdough. Older A said can I please play with my potato ( so cute!)
Recipe:
1 box jell-o
1cup flour
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons cooking oil

Mix dry ingredients then add wet ingredients. Cook in sauce pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until all forms a large ball around mixing spoon. Let cool add flour when playing as needed.

Happy messy Tuesday!

WEEK OF MIXING AND MEASURING: DAY 1

This is the last week of August meaning last part of science month. So what better way to end than tons of messes with mixing and measuring. This morning we had a ice cube water park. This was made with cookie sheets, baking pans, and mixing bowl lagoons. We used cold water and hot water to see how the ice melted at different temperatures. Blue lagoons were cold and red lagoons were hot. These two played for ever with this then J said let's make super spoons that throw the ice into the lagoons. Older A loved it.
  They were stuck on the super hero track so they began flying around the house saving " people." These two are closer in age so their minds think a like a lot of the time. So fun to watch and listen to them. This though leads to me being a hostage that they eventually save. Great day full of laughs!

Space week day 4

This morning all three kids were tired so getting them going this morning was a challenge even after using the world McDonalds. We finally headed out to McDonalds for a pancake breakfast. All three kids of course loved it. They ran and played with the others kids they met. Each of these kids have to introduce themself and each other, including me. So after all three introductions the kids they meet usually remember their names, so the method works! Leaving our morning breakfast always lead Tp the why's, I don't want to, etc...
  When we returned we headed outside for story time. The book: our Very Own Star, the Sun. It is very informative, since J is older he could follow a little better. I decided to change the wording while reading so each kid understood. As always adding questions to the story, which I always direct at the child who is losing focus, helps each child feel apart of the story. This lead is into discussing the stars, when we see them and the constellations. Which on their terms are  groups of stars that form a picture ( easier for me to understand also!). We used black construction paper, dollar tree stars, and chalk. They all did great connecting their stars to for a picture. Then we took turns talking about our picture. This is great for all ages!

Great Thursday!

Space Week Day 2

This morning we read our book filled with fun facts about space shuttles, our 8 planets, and astronauts. These three silliest kids they were stuck on the fact that astronauts potty in their suits and a vacuum sucks it out. Of course J was making the two girls laugh about this ( sounds included, lol). Found myself laughing with them of course it is a funny thought. They also loved the fact that they sleep on sleeping bags strapped to the wall. So the discussion of gravity became very long with all the very important "what if..." questions.
Outside the pool was deflated from J little swim last night and of course there was  a little water left. Little A hopped right on in clothes and all! She said don't worry I just looking. Older A followed let's little A lead to see if it's ok ( smart girl). Finally J said "See we are on a water planet where there are no adults!" Great place I guess when your " a big kid." Little A started bouncing around on the ball in the water a great challenge for each one. We decided to call it "planet bouncing" counting how many times each kiddo could stay on. They gladly took turns ( whew!)
Painting your own planet on a paper plate was a favorite ( when is painting not!) To add a little twist I asked each kid a few questions about their planet. First question the name of course. Here are the three answers: Donnett, Planet Mommy, and Chocolate milk plant, guess which one belongs to each child?! ( parents?)
Anyways they each gave me a small description of their planet, you will like. It is always so interesting seeing what goes through each kids mind on a topic and a few questions. Btw a little insite on one planet. "Dad lives in the grass and he is 41."
Day 2 successful
I love to find out what's in the mind of a child.

Space Week

The continuation the month of August ( Science). This week is a week about Outer Space. This morning the huge box was discovered and turned into a space ship which was the purpose but with out me proposing the idea, all three kids closed themselves in counting down from 10... then blast off ( correctly I will say), it was great! They were having their own conversation about where they were going. The girls said to the stars and moon. J said they were going to "Marslins," hahaha. J was telling them the story behind the planet. Planes that talked lived there and that there were no cars. Little A ran for the toy planes bringing one for each friend and went inside the box, making this story true. All 3 kids were now on " Marslins." Older A got the markers so a control panel was added to the spaceship with great drawing on the exterior.
Let me end this. Have to say the power of their imagination is a great learning method. They teach each other at times without my direction!

Water Balloons Away!

We did the usual Thursday morning routine. Had breakfast ay chickfila, It's always nice and clean just wish the paly area was larger. Of course kids love tight places personal space really means nothing right now ( especially the 2 year olds). So I the adult feeling a little to close for comfort with the other 3 kids and 5 adults in the play area decided to go to the park. Not a great idea end of the week and the youngest was tired and ready to leave.
      At home had water balloons so we decided to fill them with food coloring and paint the fence with them. My fingers were cut from my nails and tired from tying them. But these three little kiddos loved it. The older boy of course was pretending it was a "grenade" blowing up on the fence, but also made out his own description of the design it made. Crater that aliens made. So of course the girls loved the colors splashed on their feet, grass, and fence. They were seeing flowers from these "beautiful balloons." Makes me laugh at the differences between this little boy and two little girls. Anyways I have babbled on but mission water balloons with colored water was a success!

Summer fun!

Here we go my second summer off and I am truly trying to blog but finding the time is so hard.
Definitely so worth leaving the office job to start my home daycare. There are days when I miss the daily adult interactions but these kids make me laugh A LOT! It is summer activities here until the second week of September then the school activities begin. So days like these are now precious to all of us... Hehehe life is good today... Toes on the water...

Science Lesson Plan

Brookeside in home Daycare

Lesson Plan

Week: August 12, 2013                       Theme: Our body

Color:  white               Letter: S                       Month of Science

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning Meet	Identify bones in our skeleton	What do your muscles do?	Why we breathe?	Blood in your body.	Your brain.
Outdoor Play	Run, jump, and climb	Stretching	Breathe in and out.	Water play- blue and red water	Splash day
Free Play	Skeleton connection and play	__		__	We use all of our body parts to swim.
Literacy/  Language	Book: Science: Bony parts	Book: Muscles	Song: Singing in the rain.	__	Book: Your brain
Daily Activity	Bone Chicka Bone, Bone ( I point and you name the bone)	Play dough monster	Water balloon painting	__	Jell-o play.

 

All activities are altered based on age of each child

 

Notes to Parents: Splash day Friday, swim suits and water shoes.