School News: Rainbow Fish

We are winding down the school year and only have about 8 more days of school left! So much is going on between now and then, it’s going to be a very busy 3 weeks!

Today’s Bible story was the same one as the other day… and was called “A Net Full of Fish” and was about a fisherman catching fish in his net. When he arrived back on shore he would sort the fish from the good and the bad and only keep those fish that were good enough to eat. I believe it was going along with the theme of the week which is all about sea life.

The class also practiced for their Spring program that will be held on Thursday night. They sang their song and recited their Bible verses that they have learned over the school year. Looking forward to seeing the whole program put together, since I’ve seen them practice several times last week while I helped out.

Today’s craft project was “painting” but without paint. The class got tissue paper wet and then applied the color to their fish to make their own “rainbow fish”. The story today was called “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister.

The special helper today was Anika. For show and tell Anika brought a airplane flown by a horse inside and it also had a wand. When Anika placed the airplane on the ground she used the wand to make the airplane move but not fly. For snack, Anika brought to share crackers with cheese, fruit snacks and juice.

Art Museum

Today we took a trip over to see American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Art Museum.

We were not allowed to take any photos of the the Norman Rockwell pieces (BUMMER!). We did see 44 original paintings and 323 original Saturday Evening Post Covers. These covers were great to see, starting in the 1920’s and going until the last cover that Rockwell did on December 14th 1963 in In Memoriam: A Senseless Tragedy – John F. Kennedy, 1917 – 1963 “The New President”.

Some of the original art we saw was: Uneasy Christmas in the Birthplace of Christ (1970)Murder in Mississippi (1965), The Problem We All Live (1964)The Art Critic (1955), Merrie Christmas (1929), Welcome to Elmville (1929), The Law Student (1927), A Scout is Helpful (1939), A Girl Reading the Post (1941) – this was one of my favorites and was signed and given to Walt Disney. The Stay at Homes (Outward Bound) (1927), Checkers (1928) – this one looked as though you were standing right there in the picture and could smell the circus smells!  Going and Coming (1947), Christmas Homecoming (1948), Girl at Mirror (1954), The Discovery (1956) – Gino liked this one, he couldn’t get over the fact that the wood was only paint! It looked like real wood! The Peace Corps (JFK Bold Legacy) (1966), and 4 giant posters of the 4 freedoms that Rockwell did Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear (all from 1943).

We also saw a few glass works in Dale Chihuly’s Northwest exhibit along with wool Indian wool blankets and baskets from the Washington History Museum.

A tiny portion of the large wall of wool Indian blankets part of the inspiration of Dale Chihuly’s work.

After walking around for more then an hour we headed up to the third floor and into the art room, before heading up though we stopped by the giant puppy named Leroy.

The highlight of her day!

Leroy is made of cardboard and held together with glue and screws. He was made in 2005 by Scott Fife and is 10 feet tall! (He seemed a lot taller then 10 feet!)

Hanging out in the art room at the museum.

A cylinder chalkboard.

Below is some of art that we created while visiting the art room at the Museum…

A tissue paper flower and oil crayons by Daddy and Isabel.

Flowers with oil crayons by Daddy and Isabel.

Apple Tree with oil crayons by Isabel.

When we arrived at the museum the ticket lady gave Isabel a notebook  and small pencil to borrow. She told her to draw whatever she pleased as she looked at the art throughout the museum.

This was a lifesaver because Isabel got bored very quickly looking at all the Rockwell exhibits. Her final drawing is a house with Daisy in the left window and Isabel in the right window. There are 2 birds on the house and 3 butterflies, a rainbow, and the sun above it.

 

 

School News: Mommy Helper

Today Mrs. W was out of the classroom and Mrs. Huntsman and Mrs. ?? were filling in while she was away. Mrs. W had asked me on Wednesday to help out and I agreed. I had a lot of fun. The kids seemed very alert to me and really wanted to talk with me when the time allowed to do so. It was great!

We opened the class with prayer and then did our pledges for the flags and Bible. The special helper then pointed out items on the bulletin board likes colors, shapes, and letters. We then talked about our theme for the week, which was zoo animals. We talked about the different tracks that each animal makes and how they compare to our own tracks when we walk. On the way over to the tables to do our craft, the special helper picked the zebra and we all walked to the table as zebras!

Over at the tables each classmate was given the choice of animal they could have; a bobcat, panda bear, or gorilla.

Each classmate was told to color their mask, cut it out, and then write their name on the back of their mask.

The eyes were cut out and string was added after everything else was complete.

We didn’t get this craft project completed before heading out to recess.

After recess we headed back into the classroom to finish up our masks. I helped cut out the eye holes and helped a few grasp scissors correctly to get their mask cut out and even got to help tie string! I wish I would have been able  to get  a photo of the whole class with all with their masks on! Mrs. W would have loved it!

I did get a photo of Lilliana and Rebecca.

Afterward we heard the Bible story from Daniel 6: 4-27 and it was about Daniel and the lions den. Mrs. Huntsman is a great story telling and was able to grab their attention and keep it while telling the story! We also practiced our program verses and songs (the Spring program is next Thursday night!). I love watching  and hearing the class sing together! It’s going to be a great program.

Isabel did a coloring page this afternoon of Daniel in the den of lions.

The special helper today was Aiden. For show and tell Aiden brought a motorcycle type toy with a action figure and a mini R2D2 figure from Star Wars. For snack Aiden brought to share, gold fish crackers, dried cranberries, and canned mini apple juice.

Isabel with her gorilla mask acting like a… gorilla!

Pictures For Others

After running some errands this morning, Isabel was given the choice of digging in the dirt or painting. She choose painting and decided to paint pictures for others… Enjoy!

This was her last picture that she painted and it was a finger paint project. This one is for me, she said and she calls it “Hand-print”

This was her first painted project and was brushes and sponges. This one is for me as well and she calls this one “Candy”. When I asked her why she says it’s gum balls, tootsie rolls, and suckers.

This one is for Grandma and Grandpa and she calls it, “I love you, butterfly”.

This one is for Nana and Pompo and she calls it, “Rainbow scene”.

One last item to share… while I was getting lunch ready, Isabel pulls her easel over to the kitchen and pulls up a chair. She sits down and calls Daisy over to her. I think, Daisy was thinking, she was going to get a juicy treat because she came running! However Isabel had other ideas…

She told Daisy she was going to teach her how to do math. She drew (for some reason she drew all the numbers backward!) math problems and tried to get Daisy’s attention back from the disappointment of NOT getting a treat! It was so funny! Isabel says that she wrote the word “Amen” on the board because she was so surprised by how well Daisy did with her math problems!!

School News: Letter Z

I had signed up to be the Mommy Helper in class today and was so glad that I was available for Mrs. W since Mrs. Standfield was sent home sick. The class today was rowdy, so Mrs. W and I were kept on our toes the whole morning!

I will also be helping on Friday as well because Mrs. W will not be in class, because she is going to Alaska to her grand-daughter’s graduation.

The Bible story today was called “A Net Full of Fish” and was about a fisherman catching fish in his net. When he arrived back on shore he would sort the fish from the good and the bad and only keep those fish that were good enough to eat. Just like Jesus sorts us, from the good and the bad, when we get to heaven, Mrs. W explained.

Before heading over to the tables to work on our letter, Mrs. W talked more (this weeks theme) about zoo animals and whales. We listened to a recording of real whales “singing/communicating” in the ocean. The kids thought this was really cool and on the way to the tables we all made whale sounds together!

The class worked on the letter “Z” today. The letter “Z” is for: Zebra, Zipper (Isabel said this one!), Zackary, Zoo, and Zoot suit (or as Mrs. W spelled Zut suit).

Painting the letter “Z“.

More painting.

They were supposed to paint it like a zebra. Some of them got a little carried away by the time they were finished! I guess they really like to paint!

After painting and clean up we headed outside to the playground for recess!

Isabel found a paint brush and started “painting” everything; the fence, the table, the plastic gym set… she had to share the paintbrush since we could only find one.
I noticed Olivia painting for awhile and as well as Eden.

Isabela and Mila, these two played on the tire swing the whole time. So cute!

I thought it was so cute of Makayla to ask Isabel if she could push her on the swing.

Eden painted while Isabel rode on the swing. Then afterward, the two of them were painting together. After I just happened to find another paint brush!

After recess, we stopped by the restrooms to wash up and headed back to the classroom for snack, free play, and show and tell.

During free play the majority of the class worked on craft type projects with stickers, glue, paper, and other embellishments.

The special helper today was Devan. For show and tell Devan brought a very large monkey that he got from his Uncle. When Mrs. W asked what the monkeys name was Devan said “Monkey.” For snack, Devan brought to share graham crackers and milk.

Isabel’s letter “Z“. I think she did a rather great job!

 

Tumbling Tykes: Day 15

Today’s class was all about focusing on the exercise at hand and doing it right. To warm up Ms. Mo had the class run two laps around the room. I love watching Isabel run, it’s so great to watch. She gets her little arms pumping like they are helping her push her feet forward as she moves. So humorous, I giggle every time!

After warming up they worked their way around the room doing each exercise with guidance from Ms. Mo…

Working on the cart wheel mat. Isabel loves to do cart wheels!

The goal of the trampoline was to jump with arms out (Isabel is not doing it here!) and then jump off the trampoline (without stopping) into the dismount position.

After the trampoline they straddled a pad and then did a slalom run through the cones without touching them. Isabel did great on this, I think she was the only one that actually ran through them all after Ms. Mo let them do it on their own.

After the slalom, they did a “cat crawl” through the tube. A “cat crawl” is keeping your knees up while crawling through it quickly.

I love this photo!

The exercise here was to keep your feet together while jumping over the cones. Ms. Mo said this was going to be a bit harder since these cones are slightly larger then the normal (slalom) cones that they use.

 

Finally get a shot of her straddling the pad. Her arms are droopy  and we’ve been working on that at home.

After working on the different exercises, the class met in the middle and did a few mat exercises with Ms. Mo.

Here Isabel is getting help doing the rock-and-roll.

The tree exercise.

She got a “cat walk” stamp today and exercises to do at home for the week ahead… until next week!

School News: Elements Discovery

Today I was able to see get a close view of the special helpers show and tell and even got to ask her a few questions before she left for home. Isabel also showed me several new items in the classroom at the science table. There was a large (tall) giraffe and large brown bear. Along with 3 new elements; green sand, grass, and water, to discover in plastic trays. This is a very popular hang out before and after class. The kids are always so eager to see and do what the new items are.

Todays Bible story was from Jonah 1:1-17 …

and was the story of Jonah.

 

Isabel said they got to play in both the playground and the courtyard. When I asked her who she played with, she said Olivia and several others, were playing in the playhouse. In the courtyard, they were just running around.

The special helper today was Payton. For show and tell, Payton brought a brown teddy bear dressed up like a lady bug. Payton got her bear at Build-a-Bear. For snack, Payton brought to share rectangle shaped cakes with striped frosting and water.