Hanging with Almond

On Thursday and Friday, we got to make Round Challah with our very special friend... Mrs. Georgia!  Baking is such a rich experience that allows children to engage so many of their senses and... is just a handy and tasty skill! They got to help Mrs. Georgia pour in, flour, sugar, salt, oil and stir to mix it together! Everyone was given a task and got a chance to stir on their own. On Friday they got to go to the cafeteria and knead their dough and place raisins and chocolate chips inside! After they finished kneading they coated their dough in egg wash!  Baking connects them to so many cultural traditions and roots them in their identity.  Mrs. Georgia bakes as a true act of love, it's a privilege to be on the receiving end of anything she bakes!  Indiana Learning Foundations: M5.2 Understand measurement through description and comparison, SC1.1: Demonstrate ability to explore objects in the physical world, APL1.2: Demonstrate interest and curiosity a...

 On Wednesday we had a special visit... from a Ram! The kiddos got to go visit a friendly Ram and learned that the Shofar's we blow are made from the Ram's horns! They got to pet the Ram and hold the shofar. One of the best things about early childhood to me is the genuine wonder that pours out of our friends. There skepticism can be seen on their faces, and it was so sweet to see some friends who are confident every day need a little bit of courage from a teacher to reach for the Ram.  Indiana Learning Foundations: SW1.1: Demonstrate self awareness and confidence, SW1.2: Demonstrate identification and expression of emotions, SW2.1: Demonstrate self control, SW4.1: Demonstrate relationship skills, SC3.2: Demonstrate awareness of the preservation, protection, and care of living creatures and plants, SC3.1: Demonstrate awareness of life, SC1.1: Demonstrate ability to explore objects in the physical world

Monday afternoon our friends in the Almond room got to read books about our upcoming holiday, Rosh Hashanah! After reading two books about our holiday, we walked over to the provocation table and got to explore it a little. The kiddos were able to identify honey cakes, red apples, green apples and the pictures of bees on a honeycomb! After talking about that a little we walked over to our invitation for the day.. honey pot sensory jars! The kiddos got to squeeze clear glue into the jar with warm water before picking out their favorite liquid watercolor paint to pour into it as well. When they were finished putting it all together, they were able to place a gold bee charm inside their honey pot and pour their own glitter inside! They looked to really enjoy getting to shake their sensory jars after Ms Hannah and Miss Kyronn were able to secure their lids!  Indiana Learning Foundations: ELA 2.4: Demonstrate comprehension, M4.1 Understanding of spatial relationships, SC1...

 On Tuesday after using a little soil for their flowerpots, we used the remainder of our soil and put it in a bucket and made a soil sensory bin. We hid gems, bumblebees, and leaves in the soil and then beside the bin we put water and watering cans... And then, as a friend in the Almond room said, "It's just a bunch of mud!" They had the best time, splashing and pouring water into the soil making a gigantic mud pit. Some kids were about elbow deep in the mud, while others chose to search through the soil before it became mud. It was very exciting to see how much fun they were having washing their gems and bees off and then combining the mud to the clean water 😂 I love watching them get to explore every day!  Before it became mud  "I need to roll my sleeves up" digging for treasure and the mud play has begun "No thanks" to the mud 😂 Different sensory play but still fun!  Indiana Learning Foundations: SC3.2: Demonstrate awareness of the preservation, p...