Let it Snow

On Tuesday, we were complaining that it was raining and we could not go outside. We really wanted it to be snowing so that we could go sledding on the hill out in back of the school.

Some kids made pictures of what they would like to do if there was snow. I suggested we write a letter to Tom Messner, the local weather man on WPTZ, to ask him to make it snow.

At closing meeting, the kids all contributed to writing the following letter:

I took pictures of the drawings the kids made and sent Tom Messner an email with all of the pictures attached. 

What did we learn? It works. Today we had enough snow to go sledding and make a snowman. We had a blast!

We still haven't heard back from Tom Messner, but we have our fingers crossed that he'll respond.

Feed the Birds

This year in preschool we have been playing special attention to trees. The very first week of school, we chose a tree near the playground that we will document all year by taking a picture of it everyday we are able to get outside. 

We have incorporated many other activities into our tree study. We went apple picking and then made several cooking projects with the apples. We have read books that include The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons, and Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert.

Our latest project is to take care of the birds that live in trees and winter over in Vermont. We have installed two feeders on our preschool window so we can see the birds come to eat. We will be keeping track of the birds who come to eat there. We check the level of the birdseed each day. If they need to be filled, the kids who have the snack helper job help fill it. 

This week, everyone will make a bird feeder that we can hang on the tree we are documenting on the playground. They are simple pine cone feeders spread with peanut butter and bird seed. 

Here are some photos of the process:

First, Spread on the peanut butter with a spreading stick.

Next, roll your sticky pine cone in the bin of bird seed.

Place on the tray until other kids finish making their feeders.

Outside, kids hand the feeders to Beth to place in the tree.

Here is the first group of kids to hang their feeders.