One of our most exciting activities was making apple pie in a cup! The children cut apples and added them to a simmering pot, crushed graham crackers for crust, and then took a turn stirring the apples and adding a dash of cinnamon.
During our snack time, we spooned warm apples over the graham cracker crusts, added whipped cream and YUM! It all disappeared very quickly.
There was more fun with food on Friday as everyone took a turn making a "squirrel snack". They put several different crunchy foods into a zip lock bag, closed it tightly and then buried it in our squirrel's nest. We took the nest out into the hallway when it was time for snack so that they could dig their snacks up just like little squirrels - which was also great name-recognition practice!
When we weren't busy making snacks, we were playing alphabet games. On Wednesday the kids learned to play Apple Bingo, focusing on letter names and sounds.
We also played a game during our group time on Wednesday, matching apples with letters on them to the correct letters hanging in the pocket chart. Then on Friday, the apples were hidden around the room so children could repeat the activity on their own. We put out some special wands that they can use to point to letters and read them.
It wouldn't be fall without a few leaf activities, so on Friday everyone learned the art of crayon rubbing. It was so fun to rub the crayons over the raised surface of the leaf templates and watch as colorful leaves appeared!
We put the candle warmers out at the creation station, along with paper leaves and crayons that the children could melt on the warmers. This is a great sensory activity as children experience what it's like to draw with the warm, silky-smooth wax.
Lincoln Logs (remember those?) were out on the building table and we had some tall towers!
The farm scene at our flannel board included some very familiar faces...
We read a book called Livingstone Mouse last week and then this week we had a board game out so that the children could retell the story as they moved Livingstone around the board in his search for China.
There were autumn colored blocks out on the light table.
Here are some of the other ways children used their free time this week...
During our group time we continued to practice our Thanksgiving Yoga flow series. See if your child can remember some of the poses!
We did the Beanie Bag Dance and everyone did a great job balancing their bean bag buddies on different parts of their bodies.
Some of the kids have been asking to play with the guitar, so we finally remembered to take it out for a while during our free time!
We learned a song about a very busy oak tree and read Leaf Man and a funny book called, Those Darn Squirrels! On Friday we had our Friendship Circle and shared things we are each thankful for. Friends, families, school, Halloween and Christmas were among the things mentioned. It was very sweet.
One thing we're all thankful for - as long as it lasts - is our beautiful fall weather and the chance to be outside in it together.
Next week we will have more fall fun with owls, acorns and some delicious stone soup. It's hard to believe that December is just around the corner!
Thanks for sharing your time and your children with us - we are so grateful for this wonderful community :).
Warmly,
Lisa and Sheri
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