Weekending March 16

We are over the moon! Spring is almost here.
The past week was a celebration of "waiting for spring". The time change only affected us slightly. I noticed a few yawns here and there. A few of those yawns could have come from yours truly :) :)

Last week the sun felt warmer on our skin- even on the colder days. Our feet felt lighter, even while heavy boots made steady tracks in inches of snow. We went down by the pond; still frozen, but signs of life emerging from the deep, from above and below - with vigour.
Indeed, there was a promise of spring.

And inside the house? I noticed later in the afternoons, the children, joyfully playing, asked me to close the blinds on numerous occasions, as the sun streamed in, and sometimes blinded our eyes.
We are slowly changing baskets of toys, re-arranging our decor and adding pieces of nature to our space.
It's been fun!

Have a great week everyone!

5 reasons why we love circle time

1. we get to hang out and sing songs with our friends

2. finger-play is funny

3. drumming is loud

4. it's silly

5. we laugh a lot

* as told by the kids

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summer circle...a different rhythm

Our latest activities are hinting that I am not prepared for summer. Or, at least, I am unprepared for parts of it like - circle time/drumming. Yesterday morning we were all prepared for circle, and then realized that we have been following our spring theme...still...gasp*

I've got a bit of catching up to do. But that didn't stop us from doing what we do best...coming together and having fun!

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drumming circle fun

I prefer the drumming circle over the typical circle time activities because the kids are excited from start to finish.

As always, I place 1 instrument on each mat. First come first served...

Our first drumming circle of the year

Drumming takes place once a week in place of our circle time. We do Call & Response, because it's fun, silly and a learning experience for all. If you read our circle time post,  you'll see that we have a little system. For drumming, it's not really different.

1. I gather materials
2. put down 4 mats and place an instrument on each one - first come first served
3. I sit down and start playing my instrument
4. as the kids gather I start the call...they respond
(ie, I hit or shake my instrument once...they hit once...me 2x...them 2x etc etc)
5. we continue making music and sharing tunes...10 minutes is the ultimate maximum and then we play.

winter:circle time

Circle time can be a hit and miss with the little ones - we don't do it every day.  Sometimes, it's because the kids just want to get right into playing...or they just don't want to be interrupted from playing, if they've already gotten into it. 

Putting together our Winter circle time activities was quite fun. I did it quite last minute, but I think I got just what we needed. I strive to find activities, songs, and finger-play that will engage different age groups-challenging at times, but not impossible, especially if there's movement involved.

Circle time in our home is about starting the day.  We start each circle time with our circle affirmation (as I call it). If the kids are not in the circle, then I sit in my place (after putting out circle basket in the center), and start singing our song, it's an open invitation to come to the circle. I've learnt it's best to not single out any child to come to the circle ...

Then one of the kids "light" our first candle. 

We always, regardless of the season do our welcome song (en Français)...to the tune of Frère Jacques) 
Bonjour *name* x 2
Comment ça va? x 2
Très bien merci...
etc etc

We then sing about 1 or 2 songs, do 1 finger-play and a very short story usually a French book...that's it. Kids don't like to sit for a long time, so if I find that they're not interested, or a child wanders off - that's fine. if they all wander off, then I know that's it - circle time is over.

Our Winter Circle...

2 songs

(To the tune of Frère Jacques) 

Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
In the air
Whirling, Twirling snowflakes
Whirling, Twirling snowflakes
Here and there
Here and there

I'm a little snowflake

I'm a Little Snowflake (tune I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little snowflake, Look at me.

No other snowflake is just like me.

I am so unique, as you can see.

And just as special as I can be!

Finger-play

Way up high In the winter sky , 1 little snowflake caught my eye.
Down to the ground it fell without a sound.
And before very long , It was snowing all around
1 little snow flake hit the ground... 

(then 2...3 etc)

For our book of the month (January - Stranger in the Woods)

*Finger Play

A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose.
(show long nose with a closed fist like a trumpet in front of face)
Along a came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
(Hands show the bunny hopping)
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch,
(wiggle nose like a bunny)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch
(pretend to eat the carrot)

That's our Winter circle stuff...