By: Miss Christa
While playing in the block area Emma and Gracie two of our vacation buddies built a maze for all of the kids to go through. Everyone was charged an admission fee which was a wooden block, once they gave the block to Emma they could enter the maze. But "be care" says Jada "its tricky!"

By: Miss Christa
The preschoolers had a rest time treat because of our older vcation buddies!! Each older student helped the preschoolers make their beds and then read a book or two to them. It was such a special afternoon watching the older kids mentor the younger children.

By Miss Kerri Ann
We had a special visitor at Preschool today!  Peter's au pair, Louisa, came in to share some traditional German Christmas songs and fingerplays with our preschoolers.  Louisa told us about how, in Germany, Santa Claus, comes to visit in the beginning of December and leaves gifts in children's shoes.  This tradition, she explained isn't related to Christmastime.  On Christmas Eve, however, another spirit (I can't remember what she called him) brings gifts while the families are away from the house.  Louisa really enjoys that here in the U.S. the children can "visit" Santa to tell him what they would like for Christmas.  The children in Germany, she explained, make lists with cut outs from magazines, but they don't visit Santa the way that U.S. children often do.  Thank you for the visit, Louisa!  It was great to hear about your Christmas traditions!

By: Miss Christa
Even with the lack of snow falling from the sky the kids interests have been with snow flakes, we have cut out snowflakes from folded triangles, rubbed snow flakes with crayons.  

By: Miss Christa
Here is the beginning of our Christmas Candy Canes as you can see they are each different then the other just like our little ones. 

By Miss Kerri Ann
We had such a fun day today!  In the morning we sorted beads than used them to decorate pine cone ornaments.  Most of the preschoolers can sort by one attribute (color or shape) but have difficulty sorting by more than one attribute.  This is developmentally appropriate for their ages.  You can help develop this skill at home by sorting buttons, beads or coins.  It's fun to listen to a child's logic when he starts to classify objects.

Later in the day, we shared an expiditionary learning moment when Peter discovered that he could create a light spot with the play Doctor's kit.  He and Daniel has  blast chasing the light around the room.  Check out the video that I was able to get of their activity:

By Miss Kerri Ann
We had a great time doing reindeer games and holiday dancing with Miss Kathy today.  It's great to see how much rhythym these kids have!  We also painted ornaments and shells to take home. 

By: Miss Christa
 I was excited to get my annual Christmas CD from Chris at the Clark Store today, however that means the holiday season is upon us and as this festive time draws near I would like to know what kind of traditions your family participates in. I am looking for ideas on how to celebrate with the students, so if you and your family has a tradition you would like us to incorporate please let us know. Thank you 

We had a great day today!  Joseph and Jayla were very engaged in the wedgits early this morning.  It was great to see tehm working together to build structures.  Later, Daniel went on an Elk hunt where he shot 96 Elk and 90 Cows!  He used our wooden menora to cook the meat over the open flame of the candles.  Then, he served us all.  All of the preschoolers got involved in this dramatic play, taking turns cooking in our wooden frying pan.  Later, they made faces out of the play food.  Daniel used a fork to represent a tear in his sad food face.

By: Miss Christa
Starting this year we will be alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week so that every child has an opportunity to participate in Miss Kathy's wonderful lessons. Today we first talked about Hanukkah and how it is celebrated, we brought out our Menorah, Dreidle, pretend Latkes, and pretend Chocolate Gelt. We each took a turn to light the Menorah, we each added a Latkes, or substituted with the Gelt, to the frying pan and cooked them up. Then we all had a chance to play with a Dreidle, Miss Kathy even taught us how to play the Dreidle game and we danced with our Dreidles along with the Dreidle song. But that's not all two of our charter school friends came over and we had some free play with tools they brought over. What a blast today was!! Take a look!