March 31

The World Wildlife Federation gave us milkweed seeds to provide food for migrating Monarch butterflies.

It all seemed to work together to make part of our Monday plan. 


Last week our milkweed seeds arrived in the mail from World Wildlife Fund.  

Researchers have found that the Monarch butterfly numbers have dropped worryingly low in the last few years.  One reason is the lack of milkweed - the Monarch's only host plant.  WWF is asking folks to plant milkweed in your backyard, cottage, farm, or in our case, school yard.  

Yesterday our spuds were planted in our tubs.



in the jungle, the mighty jungle 
the lion sleeps tonight


In the interests of full disclosure, I should admit that I spent six weeks in South Africa last December, 
and my husband was (usually) very patient while I searched market stalls for the "perfect" spoons, bowls and animals.

40 days.   40 bloggers.  40 different sensory bin fillers.

Now that's a sensory bin fix!  

One of my go to sensory bin fillers is found at your local pet store.


Aquarium gravel is  shiny. 

It has a wonderful texture. 

It comes in all sorts of colors - bright, natural and multicolored. 

It has many different "personalities".  Everything from neon loud to thoughtful neutrals. 

It makes a satisfying clinking sound when poured into or from a container.  

It sweeps up easily.  

It happily mixes with other fillers.   It "plays well with others". 

And that is why I like aquarium gravel so much.  It plays well with others.  It provides a wonderful backdrop to other sensory materials and small world play items.  
Sadly being mean and bullying is a problem.

In our schools, in our workplaces, where ever people gather. 

Instead of focusing on "anti-bullying", we prefer to focus on kindness and spreading "a little peace".

We like to be proactive.  

And to spread the message that we respect each other's differences.  Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?

It's Spring Break.

Here are some activities that I hope that my kidlets enjoy.

Skills to practice:  love, co-operation, kindness,  embracing serendipity, being brave, observation, creativity, perseverance, laughter ...

Get outside.
Check out a new park.
Go for a walk.
Explore a beach.
Hang out with trees.
Fly a kite.
Get a garden ready for planting.
Play.

Get into the kitchen.
Bake some cookies.
Make pancakes for dinner.
Make a salad with all the colors of the rainbow (I guess it will have blueberries in it!)

Get together with non-school friends.
School friends are great. Kids get to see their school friends lots.  
Connect, or reconnect with some other friends and families.
Bring enough cookies to share. 

Build a fort.
Inside with cloths and sofa cushions.
Outside with sticks and branches.
Every fort needs a snack. Maybe some cookies.  

Have a book fest with a story reading adult.
Grab a stack of books.
Find a cosy spot.
Feast on books.
And a cookie or two.  See above. 

Plan an adventure.
Choose a new place to visit and explore.
Or something new to do and experience.
Or something new to make.
Or something that has been visited/done/made before and bears repeating.
Adventures are always better with cookies.

Have un-plans.
Unscheduled time that leaves room for magic to happen. 
Be prepared with extra cookies. 





Image Map
This experiment was so easy to prep and so effective, I can't believe that I didn't do it with the kids years ago.



To prep, I went to my fridge for milk, to the sink for dish soap, the cupboard for food coloring and the bathroom drawer for q-tips.  So easy.  And a class set of bowls.  

The tricky part was getting 24 bowls with milk ready for 24 scientists without anyone spilling.  



It is always a good time for a little rainbow fun.


100 days of kindergarten is worthy of celebration.

So, we celebrate.


Big time.  Because I00 is a pretty big number.


One of the 100 Day traditions is the 100 penny hunt.




Somehow, I suspect it is Zero the Hero, 100 pennies get hidden in the classroom.  (Yes, Canada phased out the penny last year, but we have "leftovers" from our penny counter project - and if desperate, I can always head south of the border into Washington State).


The pennies are hidden ...


The penny chart is ready - taped to the table.




And the hunt is on.


The rule is that after a child finds ONE penny, the penny is to be brought to the chart and filled up from number 1.




The kids were expert penny finders.




In no time (it seemed), they had found all 100 pennies. (One year they managed to find 102!)


Next time, I think I will use a stopwatch to time the hunt.  How many seconds does it take a kindergarten class to find 100 pennies?

Enjoy a song about 1000 pennies by Norman Foote from his cd 1000 Pennies!  







            

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