Today the Chipmunks voted on what book they would like to read at circle. The choices were, "Goodnight Moon," "I Want To Be An Astronaut," and "Happy Birthday Moon." Each child was given a colored cube and placed the cube on the book of choice. "I Want to Be An Astronaut," garnered the most votes. After reading and noticing that both boys and girls are astronauts, we counted down and blasted off to our playground.

On Thursday, April 2, we learned a new song called, "All Aboard The Space Ship," where we count down and blast off in our rocket ships. A book about the moon was read and there was a mixed response from the Chipmunks as to who would like to go up to the moon in a space ship. Some are content to look at it in the evening sky without making a visit.

On Friday, we read a book called, "Rain," and noticed the clouds coming our way. One of the high school students shared a book she created with a song about the planets. We marched around the room, playing our rhythm sticks and singing, "The Ants Go Marching." The "ants" were quite energetic and were half running/half marching, as if they knew it was Friday.

Today at our large group we played a game called, "The Old Grey Cat Is Sleeping," where half of the children are sleeping cats and half are creeping mice. It is a game that teaches children to work in teams and also to wait for their cue to sleep, creep, nibble, stretch or run. Teams switch to experience life inside and outside of the mouse hole.

At circle we used our thumbs to chant "Two Little Blackbirds," and "Jack and Jill." There is a twist to Jack and Jill so that after they fall down, Jill gets up, helps Jack brush off the dirt, go back up the hill, retrieve the water and present it to Mom or Dad. We learned a new song, "Elevator," where, as elevators, we count the floors as we use our bodies, starting with a squat and ending with arms stretched high; then we reverse. It's a good muscle strengthening activity.

On Monday, March 23, the teachers and I went to a conference and workshop run by the Preschool Association of Lexington. It was a delightful and enlightening experience. I had so much fun bringing some new and old ideas back to our circle group on Tuesday and Wednesday. One workshop that I went to was presented by Hugh Hanley. The workshop was called "Songs for Circle Time or Anytime". So the Chipmunks had a great time learning the new songs and rhymes that I had just heard. "Sticky Sticky Bubble
Gum" and "Blow The Balloon" were loved by all. I will continue to use Hugh Hanley's music because it really is an engaging mix of "hands-on" songs, fingerplays and music activities. What a wonderful way to have fun and learn the enrichment of music. Feel free to come by and have a sing a long with the Chipmunks! This is a personal invitation from Mrs. Sullivan.

On Friday we played a game at circle, "Sleeping Giants/Waking Giants." Friday tends to be a high energy day, so we had a chance to jump as the waking giants, and then sleep as the quiet giants. Children like to pretend they are asleep and then bounce up following a direction. We also played, "The King/Queen Says," and had a chance to order each other around (instead of "Simon Says.")


On Thursday we practiced our sign language by singing "This Is The Way We Say Hello," using our hands and voices as we change hello to stop, more, and I love you. We learned a new song, "Wise Old Owl," because two of our chipmunks are very fond of owls. We looked at a language chart with "Humpty Dumpty,"; I point to the words and pictures as we say the rhyme, reinforcing the idea that print carries the message. After reading, "There's No Such Thing as A Dragon," we played a guessing game called, "Dragon, Dragon, Where's Your Bone," where one child is the sleeping dragon and another child takes the bone. Of course, many children like to confess that the bone is in their possession before the dragon has time to guess, or some like to be the reporters and blurt out the name of the bone hider.

Tuesday March 10


I think one of the most enjoyable themes we explore every year is the "fairy tale" theme. The whole concept of fairy tales just tickles your imagination and leads you on to remembering and retelling our old favorite nursery rhymes.
On Tuesday we recited "Humpty Dumpty" while visually playing out the story with the characters on our felt board. Later on at activity time I found the children going back to the felt board and reciting the rhyme by themselves.

Wednesday March 11

On Wednesday we read the book "Ten Cats Have Hats". This is a rhyming book which has the children count up to ten. For the fun of it, I gave each child a paper painter's hat with which they could tap their hats to the numbers in the story. For example, when the book said "ten cats have hats" the children touched their caps 10 times. Afterwards, the children personalized their hats with markers and crayons.

Today at circle we sang "Mary Had A Little Lamb," and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,"; it's funny how the old nursery rhyme songs still resonate with children today. Since it is fairy tale month, I told a flannel board story of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," who, as you may know were very hungry and looked longingly at the grassy meadow on the other side of the bridge. The bridge was guarded by a troll; children have a natural bent toward the idea of good and evil;so this story always captivates. Ask your child what happened to the troll. It will make for interesting conversation.