Already Wednesday!

On Monday we had a slow morning. In the afternoon, we worked on maps. We just got an inflatable globe in the mail from Kids Nat'l Geographic, so I want to blow that up tomorrow.

Emma went to Amy's to watch Moses for a while in the afternoon and Soren and I worked on her map book more, then read about Goddesses.

Tuesday they had LCG.

Greetings, Maple Families!

It was another glorious Autumn day as we gathered in the Maple class yesterday. I had to chuckle as I looked through my collection of Autumn songs for one to teach - they all have themes of gathering clouds, frosty days and withered leaves. So far we've had a bright and beautiful weather, but we know this must change...

After some time spent socializing and playing - challenging our hands and minds with pick-up sticks and Memory - we gathered together to do some leaf rubbings. Crayons rubbed over paper and silhouettes and patterns appeared like magic. We gathered in our circle with our candle and verses and Anne told some challenging riddles. What animal can jump higher than a house? We learned a new song about ploughing fields and sowing seeds, clapping a pattern in syncopation with our tune. In honor of Rosh Hashanah we dipped apples in honey for a sweet new year. As we nibbles, we learned a simple song about this tradition.

Our fable this week was "The Fox and the Crow" - a reminder not to let flattery and vanity work against your best interests. Hands were busy modeling images from the story and little beeswax foxes, crows and lumps of cheese appeared. We jumped up for some beanbag tossing, passing our beanbags around as we counted by threes, then fours. Our tossing pattern was "toss, spin, catch", punctuated by cries of "I did it!"

Our main lesson books came out as Anne led us in a lesson about "doing words", and the children wrote sentences about what it is that they do when they see a dragon. Among their ideas were "I stare...", "I run...", "I dash....", "I get eaten..." We had a little time to illustrate, but had to hurry ourselves to snack.

It was great to see every child busy with their own projects during handwork time. Groups of friends chatted as their fingers kept active with a knitting project or warping a big loom we are working on. After handwork, we could see that the children needed to be out in the sunshine, so we closed the circle with a few songs and a verse, then out onto the playground for a new game - All Touch Ball - and an old favorite, Lemonade.

Hoping you all are well -
Sue and Anne

Hello parents,

We had a lovely day today, and I felt very happy and energized after being with the children.

We started by finishing our main lesson drawings and writing from our first story.

Then we did our opening verse and song.

Sharon Balestra came in to do recorder with the children, giving them instruction on proper recorder technique. I was able to slip down to the Willow Room to be with Michael for a bit, which was a joy.

I came back and we did a bit of singing, including our first stab at round singing.

At handwork time we continued crocheting with Melissa.

After snack we launched into a rousing, spirited song/game of "Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley." That was a perfect example of "breathing in and breathing out"-- alternating more quiet, inward activity with more outward activity.

Finally we re-told our story from last week of "Hiawatha and the Peacemaker" and drew pictures and wrote in our main lesson book.

We finished a few minutes early so we could go down and help clean up in the Willow Room. We'll be doing this for a month at a time, alternating with Julia's and Sarah's classes.

We're looking forward to a beautiful day in Ganondagan tomorrow.

Have a good week,
Lynn

Soren made her knitting needles in class yesterday and had a blast. Emma learned how to crochet in rows, which was exciting! We stayed and played for a long time since it was so warm and lovely out. We won't have many weeks of that left!

Today they are at Camp Arrowhead. We were supposed to go to Ganondang or whatever it's called but it was just too much to fit in, especially since Soren already is missing ballet since I can't get her there today, because I have to get to work at 4:15.

Tomorrow I want to get back to the middle ages book and finish the JK Rowling bio.