Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

Research Supported!

Based on a recent study I'd have to say the parents of kiddos in FH, and all those taking their kids (especially girls) outside more often are doing their kids a great service! The NY Times article on the subject is here. This Spring I have more girls than ever, in fact in my preschool classes I have more girls than boys! Go Froggies!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Signs of Spring Thurs Pre

This Thursday we had a fun time searching for signs of spring all over the park, and the kids came up with a great list! The class started today at the creek, then onto the mud where I heard, "Pigs would like this mud! Pigs would LOVE this mud!" ~ T.
 
Then we searched for signs of spring all around Owl Valley,
 and sang, danced, snacked and read together too of course.
 
 A bracken fern unfurling
 M noticing the steam that was rising from the log
Then we were off again.
In Fairy Valley we stopped again to do some journal writing about spring:
 Here is the list we made today:
Signs of Spring
Mud!
Boots
Caterpillars
Huckleberries blooming
Worms
Slugs
Singing birds
Frogs
Bracken fern
Sword fern
Sun!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Froggy Holler at Kruckeberg!

This Spring and Summer Teacher Erin gets to teach at the Kruckeberg Garden in Shoreline! In addition to the wonderful Garden Tots program offered there on Friday mornings, there will be a Froggy Holler Garden Explorers drop off program on Friday afternoons from 1-2pm May 18th to June 22nd. I'm also running a Fairy Camp there in the summer, which I am SO excited for! Check out the website for more info and to sign up!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Signs of Spring K

This week at our FH K class we were busy! On Tuesday we started off at the creek (which was nearly all dried up!), then it was on up Mt. Trail where we discussed erosion.
Next we passed by the planting site where we chose our favorite plants. Then there was a little "chocolate factory" play and fort building time.
There the kids also made some "Forest Save Stew" which I was told, "Has magic that every now and then would get you another life!" Yeah, I'll take a bite kids! They kept adding to their soup with cinnamon and spices, and noodles when it was raining snow noodles in the fort (aka needles). We went from there to boat fort, where G drove the boat, and also started some new journal writing and drawing. Add in a little log balancing and a quick run back to the shelter and our day was complete!
 On Thursday we continued to add to our signs of spring list while first visiting the creek (wet again!) 
 
and tromping through the mud to Owl Valley. There they played dinos, and then the 3 little pigs in their "brick" house made of sticks. 
To end our day most of the kids did their journal writing and drawing about spring back at the shelter. This spring session this active group will certainly have fun together!
Signs of Spring
Sun
Baseball
Flowers growing
Baby centipede
Weeds growing
Caterpillar holes in leaves
New sword ferns
Baby english ivy

Signs of Spring, Tues Pre

This first session of the spring was delightful! The kids were full of creative energy and did a great job finding signs of spring!
 We trekked today from the creek (it was dry oh my!), then on up Mt Trail and to the Kitchen. There the kids made "Magic Frog Stew":

Then we made it over to Fairy Valley where we added to little fairy homes, sat on nests and up on stump chairs, and danced and sang together with scarves. 
The new cuties of FH:


Here is the list of Signs of Spring they created:
Baseball!
kids on the playground
birds on trees
baby centipede
bright green leaves
birds singing
bracken ferns unfurling
We'll keep looking for signs of spring this session as more begin to unfurl!