LOL – I totally forgot to post this week’s lesson plans. I think this really shows how much I’ve moved into holiday mode. My evenings have been spent crafting away to get holiday presents and decorations completed in time. Not to mention the fact that we are taking the whole month of December off from preplanned activities. I think my mind has moved on from this term and I might have started my break a week early. 😉
Week Twelve (Nov 17-22)
The Story of the Pilgrims
Sarah Morton’s Day
Samuel Eaton’s Day
L is for Lily-of-the-Valley
We will be coloring the Lily page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
We are still working on stuff for our Thanksgiving table.
Sorry I don’t have anything to share this week. I’m hosting Thanksgiving for 22 people next week and we will be doing so much cooking and baking I will probably take this week off of any planned kitchen activities.
Over the River and Through the Woods (or A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day)
Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandmother’s house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood –
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling-ding”,
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river, and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood –
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river, and through the wood –
Now Grandmother’s cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
by Lydia Maria Child
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
Week Nine (Oct 27-31)
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever
Halloween Is
I is for Iris
We will be coloring the Iris page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
Once a month, we will be decorating a 12 inch quilt square to reflect something we are currently learning about. At the end of the school year, I will turn all of our squares into a keepsake quilt.
After last week’s craziness we could use a quiet week.
Pumpkin Pie
INGREDIENTS
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 c. solid packed pumpkin
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1 2/3 c. (13 oz.) evaporated milk or light cream
1 9 inch pie shell
DIRECTIONS
Mix filling ingredients in order given. Pour into pie shell. Bake in preheated 425 oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temp. to 350 and continue baking for 45 minutes or until knife inserted into center of pie filling comes out clean. Cool. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
Harvest
Now all the farmers from far and wide
Have gathered their bounty of countryside:
Corn and barley from field and wold,
Honey from beehive and wool from the fold,
Fruit from the orchard all ripe, red and gold,
Log for the fire to keep out the cold.
by Dorothy Hancock
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
This might be a quiet week for me in terms of posting. We have a lot on our calendar and quite a bit of family coming in from out of town. Fun, Fun, Fun.
Week Eight (Oct 20-25)
Pumpkin Pumpkin
Pumpkin Circle
There is a lovely DVD that goes with the Pumpkin Circle book if you can find it at your library. It is a bit too pricey for me to recommend buying it but Scholastic does carry it if you are interested.
H is for Herb Twopence
We will be coloring the Herb Twopence page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
I think we will paint a couple of the little ‘baby pumpkins’ and gourds for some fun decorations.
A trip to the pumpkin patch of course!
Pumpkin Muffins
INGREDIENTS
Nonstick spray coating
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar plus 2 packets heat-stable sugar substitute, or 1/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/4 cup orange juice
DIRECTIONS
1. Spray twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with nonstick coating; set pan aside. In a medium bowl combine the all-purpose flour, buckwheat flour, sugar plus sugar substitute or the sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In another bowl combine the eggs, pumpkin, milk, oil, orange peel, and orange juice. Add the egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).
3. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, dividing the batter evenly. Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the muffins are light brown. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups; serve warm. Makes 12 muffins.
Harvest
Now all the farmers from far and wide
Have gathered their bounty of countryside:
Corn and barley from field and wold,
Honey from beehive and wool from the fold,
Fruit from the orchard all ripe, red and gold,
Log for the fire to keep out the cold.
by Dorothy Hancock
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
Week Seven (Oct 13-20)
Pelle’s New Suit
How We Use Wool
G is for Gorse
We will be coloring the Gorse page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
I’m not totally sure what our project will end up being. We may use the wool roving on felt to make pictures. We may try to make Felted Wool Soap Bars or maybe some felted critters for the nature table. I’ll have to see what the kids are interested in trying.
Try to find a knitting shop, local farm, historic village, etc that has a spinning wheel, loom or in some way processes wool. If nothing else, visit your local yarn shop (not one of the box stores – they don’t have as many natural fibers) to compare the types of yarn available. How do the different fibers feel? What other animals do we get yarn from?
I don’t have something specific in mind so we will probably just go ahead with making some yummy, fresh bread.
Harvest
Now all the farmers from far and wide
Have gathered their bounty of countryside:
Corn and barley from field and wold,
Honey from beehive and wool from the fold,
Fruit from the orchard all ripe, red and gold,
Log for the fire to keep out the cold.
by Dorothy Hancock
Bug has started on a new project with a theme of “Inside the Body.” I am trying to let him lead the process on this one… so we will be working on this as well, but I have no predetermined plans for it. Last week he checked out a lot of books and a dvd from the library, put together a skeleton and colored a diagram of the heart chambers.
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
We are going to be focusing on one of our favorite books this week, The Little Red Hen. We have several different copies but the one by Paul Galdone is our favorite. In this version the Little Red Hen bakes a cake instead of bread which works out nicely since the Fairy is celebrating her fourth birthday this week. We will be making her birthday cake!
Week Six (Oct 6-11)
The Little Red Hen
Chicks and Chickens
F is for Fuchsia
We will be coloring the Fuchsia page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
Bug told me he had a book he wanted to write this week. OK, sounds good to me. It sounds like an elaborate plot involving knights, wizards and an evil king. I will definitely let him run with that this week. For the Fairy girl, I will probably design her some story cards to color to go along with The Little Red Hen.
I also have an idea for a Big, Messy, Outside Art Project. I will post more about it… if it works out the way I’m imagining it.
At playgroup last week, the hostess had chickens. Pixie was especially excited. She loves all the farm birds… chickens, ducks, turkeys. We haven’t been to our local petting farm in a few weeks so we will probably head there. (Fur & Feathers Field Trip)
This is a cake recipe that resembles the ingredient list in the book.
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 tsp vanilla
5 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 350. Grease & flour bottom of 2 loaf pans or bundt cake pan.
Beat sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Beat flour mixture into sugar mixture alternately with milk. Spread in pan.
Bake bundt about 1 hour – 1hr 20min (check with toothpick), loaf pans 50-60min.
Harvest
Now all the farmers from far and wide
Have gathered their bounty of countryside:
Corn and barley from field and wold,
Honey from beehive and wool from the fold,
Fruit from the orchard all ripe, red and gold,
Log for the fire to keep out the cold.
by Dorothy Hancock
The Little Red Hen’s Song
This is the way I plant the seed,
Plant the seed,
Plant the seed,
This is the way I plant the seed, Early in the morning.
Repeat using the following verses:
…cut the wheat
…go to the mill
…mix the cake
…eat the cake
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
We are continuing with our apple theme, but this week looking more at the tree than the fruit. We will be focusing on the topic of the change in seasons. I think this will be a good week to take some time to freshen up and decorate our nature table to reflect the change that is occurring outside our windows.
Week Four (Sep 29th-Oct 3)
The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree
Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
E is for Eyebright
We will be coloring the Eyebright page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
Once a month, we will be decorating a 12 inch quilt square to reflect something we are currently learning about. At the end of the school year, I will turn all of our squares into a keepsake quilt. (Related post: Glue Batik Fabric Squares)
We have a busy week and I don’t have a specific field trip in mind other than enjoying our falls walks and watching as the leaves change. We are also hoping to get out to pick fall raspberries. Raspberry Jam is a family favorite. (Related post: Cider, Snails & Acorns)
INGREDIENTS
1/4 c. shortening
1/2 t. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. orange juice
1 1/2 T. milk
2 c. flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 – 2 c. chopped apples
1 t. baking soda
Topping:
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients together (except topping ingredients) and place in greased loaf pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of loaf. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn;
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn.
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack, fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
No, not I. For if I do he’s sure to cry.
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord,
For giving me the things I need,
The Sun, the Rain and the Appleseed,
The Lord is good to me.
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
We spent the morning at Gammy’s yesterday and took advantage of her seemingly endless supply of art materials (this time rummaging through her entire box of stamp pads). We made our apple prints to go along with our Week Four, Johnny Appleseed theme.
This was a very easy craft! All we did was take a couple apples and cut them in half (some lengthwise, some crosswise) and then used red and green ink pads. You have to press the apple very firmly to get a ‘full’ apple shape. Some we even had to rock slightly… I guess a straight cut really isn’t as straight as you think. If you take a close look, you can really see the star in the middle of some of the cross cut apple prints.
For those of you following along… yes we are jumping ahead a bit. I am switching Week Four with Week Six because we went apple picking this weekend and it just makes more sense for us right now.
Week Four (Sep 22th-29th)
Johnny Appleseed
How Do Apples Grow?
D is for Double Daisy
We will be coloring the Double Daisy page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
Cut one apple in half from top to bottom and another in half across the middle. Dip the apple halves in paint or large stamp pad and make prints on a page. Note the star shape made by the apple cut across the middle. If you make a bunch of Red and Green apple prints on large sheets of butcher paper, save them for cute Christmas wrapping paper.
Consider reading Ten Apples Up on Top as another add on book. You could then print a photo of your child (head and shoulder shot works well), cut it out and glue it to the bottom edge of a large sheet of paper. Then make Ten Apple Prints Up on Top stacked on top of your child’s head.
Hand Print Apple Trees are also a fun activity. Cover your child’s arm in brown paint from the finger tips to elbow. Place the entire hand and arm down on a sheet of paper (fingers outstretched). This forms the trunk of the tree. Then make green thumb prints for leaves and red finger prints for apples.
If you haven’t already, go pick some apples. If you don’t have a u-pick orchard near you try going to the store and getting one of each type of apple (or at least one red, one green, one yellow) and then doing a taste test to see which one you and your child like best. If there are several of you performing the taste test, try graphing the results.
Dutch Apple Pie
INGREDIENTS
1 (9 inch) pie shell
FILLING:
5 cups apples – peeled, cored and sliced (I like Granny Smith’s for baking)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons butter
TOPPING:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup butter
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Fit pastry shell into pie pan and place in freezer.
To Make Apple Filling: Place apples in a large bowl. In a separate bowl combine 2 tablespoons flour, white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Mix well, then add to apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated.
Remove pie shell from freezer. Place apple mixture in pie shell and dot with 2 tablespoons butter or margarine. Lay a sheet of aluminum foil lightly on top of filling, but do not seal.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
While filling is baking, make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl combine 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, brown sugar, oats, and lemon peel. Mix thoroughly, then cut in 1/2 cup butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Remove filling from oven and sprinkle streusel on top.
Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake an additional 30 to 35 minutes, until streusel is browned and apples are tender. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excess browning.
No, not I. For if I do he’s sure to cry.
Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn;
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn.
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack, fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord,
For giving me the things I need,
The Sun, the Rain and the Appleseed,
The Lord is good to me.
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time
For Week Three our focus was on tractors/farm machines and the book Rusty, Trusty Tractor. To go along with this theme, our art project was Tracks in the Mud.
It was a beautiful day so we rolled out a large sheet of paper on the drive way, filled a baking pan with WASHABLE brown paint and then dipped a variety of items into the paint to make mud tracks on the page (you could easily do a scaled down version at the kitchen table but I do think it is important for big, messy art sometimes). This is one of those projects that is all about the PROCESS not the PRODUCT.
It was so much fun. By the end, the kids had gotten so into it… they were literally IN it and left their own tracks in the mud.
Our craft project for Week Two was making our own Barn Yard Stuffed Animals. LOL – I’m not sure they really count as barnyard animals, although Bug assured me his knight was riding a horse so that makes it ok.
We used permanent craft markets on white muslin. I used painter’s tape on the edge so the kids knew they couldn’t go all the way to edge. Once their picture was done, I used a hot iron to help set the colors and then I cut the images out along leaving about a 1″ border. I cut out a matching blank piece for the back (you can cut both pieces at the same time). I sewed the two pieces right sides together leaving about a 2″ gap. We flipped them right side out and stuffed them. I then hand sewed up the open gap.
