That's a Wrap in the YC - Teachers Lisa and Jelena

Your little elves have been busy and we sure hope you enjoy the gift they brought home for you this week. It's been sweet to sit with each of them as they chose which paper, ribbon, and sparkles they liked best, to glue and then glue some more, and to help them make a gift bag for their finished product. These were made with love.

When they weren't in their workshop, they had fun with some of the activities we left up for an extra week since they enjoyed them so much. One of those was the car wash.

The candy builders were also out for a second week.

At the texture table there were lots of gems, jewels and candy canes buried in the flax seed. The windmills were back and the kids always enjoy those.

There were magnetic bows to stick on brightly wrapped magnet boards, and trees to decorate at the light table.

This class really enjoys puzzles and games. This week there were a few new puzzles among the more familiar ones, along with Christmas Bingo and Memory games.

It's always good to look over and see friends enjoying books or the flannel board in our library.

Our dramatic play area never disappoints.

We learned a gingerbread finger play that goes:

5 gingerbread people baking on a pan,

The pan got hot, and one went, "BAM!" (clap hands)

4 gingerbread people baking on a pan,

The pan got hot, and one went, "BAM!" 

Etc.

We put the gingerbread out on our magnet board so the children could do it on their own - or make up their own versions and it was fun to hear what they came up with.

On Thursday we made fold-over trees. We squeezed different colors of metallic paint onto one side of a paper tree and then folded the tree and squished the paint around inside to see what cool designs we could make. These are hanging in our classroom and will make very a very shiny, festive New Year display!

Here are a few more pictures of your sweet children around the room...

At story time we rang our jingle bells, did a scarf dance, pretended we were elves, and invited the children help us tell a story at the flannel board.

Outside it was exciting to find ice on the slides Tuesday - until our fingers got cold! Then it was fun to throw it at the slides and watch it shatter.

We have told the children that we are taking a break from pushing them on the swings for awhile so that they can use the "power of their own bodies" (and imaginations) around the playground. We have liked what we are seeing as they work together and come up with new and different ways to engage with the playground and each other.

And that's a wrap - the first part of our school year comes to a close. It's been a fantastic few months and we can't wait to see what 2022 brings! In the meantime, we wish you peace, comfort and special time with family over the holidays. We'll see you next year :)

Warmly,

Lisa and Jelena