October 18

well, this may be the least interesting post this year, but my computer is down & my camera is broken, so just roll with it.  The kids had a very full day today...

We learned how to make the number 8 with our hands, and then gave our poor little spiders the 8 legs they were missing.  most of the kids insisted they were giving their spiders 7 legs and 1 tail.  okay, sure, why not.

We worked on the letter H by tracing it with our fingers and with markers, and then we painted our palms to add our H-is-for-hand-prints.  Then we sang 54 Little Hippos Jumping on the Bed (the kids enthusiastically took turns jumping and falling down)--which led nicely into our discussion about Doctors!

We talked about doctors &dentists.  The kids got to count their teeth, learn about the tools you see at the doctor/dentist office, and we read Dr. DeSoto, by William Steig.  The highlight of this segment for the kids was putting together their own Doctor Kits--tongue depressors, masks, gloves, band-aids, gauze, and hand sanitizer.  I hope your little doctors came home and remedied your ailments.  (Heidi came up to me with her mask on and her kit in hand and said, "So, Mom, what's your problem?"  We're working on her bedside manner, but she did a fine job wrapping my foot in gauze and plastering my knees with band-aids.

We also learned about Carpenters!  We read A Carpenter, byDouglas Florian and talked about what a carpenter makes and the tools he uses.  the kids then sorted a jar of screws into flathead and phillips and used the appropriate screwdrivers to put the screws into blocks  of styrofoam.  I was surprised by how focused all of the kids were at this task!  I had to laugh a little when the kids went for freeplay and all of the girls scrambled for the workshop tools while Triistan made a beeline for the dollhouse!  Gender, schmender!

We had a great, busy day.   I love  having your kids in my home!

(please excuse any typos--I'm doing this on my phone)