Thanksgiving Celebration

Every monthly box from Mother Goose Time comes with a monthly celebration kit.  This months bonus day was for Thanksgiving.  During circle time the kids each said something they were thankful for, which I wrote on one of the provided feathers, and then they taped them to the turkey.

The kids used bubble wrap to paint corn.  After their paper dried, I cut out the shapes to make the indian corn for them, and we hung them on the walls.  

The kids split up in to two groups.  One group played stuff the turkey, where they threw cotton balls into a paperbag.

The other group went turkey bowling, and then we switched.

For snack I made a couple bowls of popcorn.  The kids stuffed gloves with colorful cereal to make feathers, and then added the popcorn to the rest of the glove to make a body.  Then we added an eye and beak to each glove to make a turkey snack.  The kids really liked these. 

Learning About the Rainforest

This moth we've been learning about the rainforest with Mother Goose Time.  Each morning we start with circle time, where a different child gets to pick the weather, day of the week, and date.  After the date is put up we work on counting up to the current number, and then figure out what the picture will be on the following days piece by looking at the pattern.  We also use this time to read a related book on the daily theme, discuss the daily topic, and review one of the letters we're working on.

We also will review shapes and colors during circle time and say the pledge of allegiance.  After circle time we move to the tables and work on our craft for the day, that way if glue or paint is involved it has time to dry before the kids go home.  

This month the kids have made aboriginal inspired gecko paintings,

drew pictures upside down while pretending to be sloths,

made bean to bar chocolate books,

used bubble warp to make snake skin,

decorated lily pads and used them to play a counting game,

used alphabet pasta to make coconut trees inspired by Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,

made monkey masks,

designed orchids,

made praying mantis headbands,

and made egg carton ants.

This month has been focusing on the letters D, J and M.  The kids have been working on these letters in their my little journals,

 with coloring pages,

by using hands on letters,

 and playing games that help reinforce them.

We've also working on identifying numbers,

finding sight words,

patterning,

taking turns and matching colors,

making shape designs,

matching patterns,

reenacting stories,

counting,

observing and documenting our potato experiment,

looking for items on the monthly theme poster,

and working together to build a giant ant colony.  It's been a busy month so far, with lots more fun activities to come.