Happy...

On Tuesday our Mother Goose lesson was all about feeling HAPPY!

Look at this adorable class!  All of them sitting so nicely; so eager to learn!  I love looking at this every morning!!!

We passed around the hands-on letter F.  The kids pressed it to their "f-f-face" or "f-f-foot."

What do you look like when you are happy?  We explored with mirrors again...

Then we sang, "If You're Happy and You Know It!!!"

  New this year...Mother Goose has printed all of our monthly circle time songs, and provided a metal ring!  This makes down time so much fun!  We can pick this up and bring it anywhere we go!  We can sing the songs we have been learning each morning while outside, after lunch, before story time, etc....

On Tuesday Mother Goose provided each child with a new "My Feelings Book."

I worked one-on-one with each child.  They completed the sentence..."I am happy when _____."  When writing in preschool, I encourage inventive spelling.  Please do not correct misspelled words at this age. (Unless they are the common sight words we are learning about each month.  This month we are learning the words: he, she, is, & a.)

"I am happy when...I get a sucker."

Next I took out the world map that Mother Goose provided for us this year.

Mother Goose also provided each of the kids with a new bouncy ball for our next activity!  For our next activity, I introduced our new global friend from France!

We identified which parts of the map are land, and which parts are water (oceans).  We sang our continent song, and then we looked for France on the map.  We discussed how long it would take to travel to France.  Then the kids shared what games make them feel happy, and what games make them feel frustrated.  I explained that children in France like to play to.  They have a special ball game called Petanque (pay-tonk). 

I rolled up our floor rug and asked all of the kids to stand behind it.  We threw a beanbag out on the floor.  Each child stood behind the rug "line" and tossed their bouncy ball in the direction of the beanbag.  Once everyone had a turn, we examined all the balls and determined who was the closest to the beanbag!

Next, Mother Goose provided us with these supplies for me to read a participation story that is a French Folktale. 

I encouraged the kids to make a face for every feeling/emotion word they heard.  Then I taped a sausage to the kid's nose when it happened in the story.  They laughed hysterically at this!  We discussed how happiness comes from the heart and not from things that we can buy.  Then we took turns sharing who we love, and who makes us happy.

The kids worked on this graphing activity in their math workbook...

The kids also practiced reading this mini-book from their literacy workbook...

This was our book for the day...

Mother Goose provided us with this recipe card for the day...

I provided each child with a whole wheat sandwich thin, and cream cheese (with a Popsicle stick to spread it)...

 Then I set out this large platter of fresh fruits and veggies.  I encouraged the kids to help themselves with the tongs.  They could make faces on their sandwich thin with the food.  They had so much fun!  I challenged them to try and eat all of the fruits and veggies, and they were definitely up for the challenge.  They ate everything except a few lettuce leaves, and a few broccoli florets.  Wow!!!  I felt good knowing they filled themselves up on such healthy food!

 This girl ate faster than I could keep up!  She must be going through a growth spurt!  She have FIVE helpings!!!!  Whoa! 

 Where does she put it all?  What a cutie!