Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...

Our Christmas Party was so much fun! We exchanged our gifts and then we made reindeer antlers and danced around to Christmas music. Happy Holidays to all my little ones!

Thanksgiving Feast

We had our own Thanksgiving Feast the day before Thanksgiving. First, we colored placemats to use during our feast. Then, we read books and talked about the first Thanksgiving and then we ate our pot-luch feast. Everyone brought something to share. While we were eating all our delicious food, we went around and everyone had a chance to share something they were thankful for. Everyone had something to say. Mommy and Daddy was the most popular thing to be thankful for, of course, but we also heard some original things like Horses and Water Slides. Thanks to everyone!

HALLOWEEN PARTY!

We had a lot of fun today at our Preschool Halloween Party! We made bats, searched for witches and played Halloween Bingo! The costumes were great! We had two spidermen (one red, one black) two ladybugs, a cowgirl, a cheerleader, Hannah Montana, a princess and a penguin. (Miss Crystal was a butterfly.)

Thanks to Ben for bringing "SPIDERS" for a snack!

There are Kids in My Kitchen!

We had so much fun on our October Kids Kitchen day! We made roasted pumpkin seeds with cinnamon and sugar first. Each of the kids got to stir the mixture 6 times and they also each had a chance to smooth them out on the pan before they went in the oven.

We also made "Spider Bites". Each child got to count out 8 legs for their spider and then count how many eyes they wanted their spider to have.

We had a great time. Thanks for letting all your kids cook with me! I hope you all enjoy the pictures!




Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Here is a great solution for all those pumpkin seeds you get when you make jack-o-lanterns! Plus, they taste good, are high in fiber and protein and are full of anti-oxidants. Enjoy!

Step 1- Clean the seeds
After carving your pumpkin, separate the seeds from the pumpkin flesh and strings. Wash them well and spread them on paper towels to dry.

Step 2- Season the seeds
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

Spread the seeds evenly over a cookie sheet and lightly baste the seeds with melted butter and then toss them with your choice of flavors. In class today we made cinnamon-sugar pumpkin seeds, but you can also make one of the following flavors:

1. Cinnamon: 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1 Tablespoon Sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, dash of salt
2. Savory: 4 tablespoons melted butter, ½ teaspoon garlic salt and two teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
3. Spicy: 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
4. Natural: 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons melted butter

Step 3- Roast the seeds

Heat them in a 275 degree oven for 40-60 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on them and stir them every ten minutes.

Pumpkin Patch!

What a beautiful day to go to the Pumpkin Patch! We had so much fun at Linder Farms on Friday October 17th. We went on a hayride and saw the pumpkin fields and some farm animals- including a zebra, camel and some emus! Everyone got to pick their own pumpkin and go through a little straw maze and a big corn maze. Thanks to Delaney for the fun halloween cookie snack, and thanks to all the parents, siblings and friends who came along for the fun. We missed you Erin!

Check out how cute our little Punkin Heads are!

Zoo Boise- Our First Fieldtrip

We had so much fun on our first fieldtrip. We went to Zoo Boise on Friday September 26th. All the kids were great listeners, including all the little brothers, sisters, cousins, etc who came along for the fun! Our next fieldtrip is Friday October 17th to Linder Farms to pick Pumpkins!

Kids Kitchen- Bear Bread

We had so much fun in our first "Kids Kitchen" day. Since we were learning the letter "Bb" and having fun with the theme "Bears" we made "Bear Bread". We made a basic bread dough and then shaped it into a bear head, using raisins for the eyes. We had a great time and Miss Crystal's kitchen survived!

Here is the basic recipe:

BEAR BREAD

Bears love to eat sweet leaves, fragrant herbs and sweet berries. We made this special “Bear” bread with sweet Rosemary and Raisins- some favorite bear treats.

1 packet dry yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp)
2 cups warm water
1 T sugar
2 tsp salt
4 cups flour
2-4 teaspoons fresh Rosemary
Raisins
Melted Butter


Dissolve yeast in the warm water and sugar. Add flour, salt and Rosemary. Stir until well blended. Do not knead! Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until double in size. (Place it on a warm stovetop for faster rising.)

Remove dough. It will be sticky. Knead additional flour into the dough so that it is not as sticky. Divide the dough into 8-10 balls. From each ball make one big ball for the bear head. Make two medium-size balls for the ears and one small ball for the nose. Attach the balls with a little water to make a bear head and face. Cut slits with a knife for the eyes and insert the raisins. Press the raisins into the dough slightly.

Carefully place each bear on a greased cookie sheet. Cover with a towel or greased plastic wrap and let it rise another hour or until double in size.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Brush with melted butter when the bears are fresh out of the oven.

Crazy Hair Day

We had our first "Special Day" on Friday September 12th- CRAZY HAIR DAY! I think we acheived our goal...crazy hair for everyone!

First Day of School

We have just about the cutest kids in our class at Tiny Hands Preschool!

Here are their first day of school pictures.

SYDNEY

DELANEY

MADISON

KATE

REESE

ERIN

ANDREW

RILEY

Now Registering for the 2008-2009 School Year

TINY HANDS PRESCHOOL

Tiny Hands…Growing Minds…Big Hearts

Now enrolling for the 2008-2009 School year

Ages 3-5 Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00-11:30 AM

McMillan & Locust Grove area

$100 monthly tuition

$50 initial registration fee

The curriculum is the right balance of structure and fun. We will focus on all the concepts your child needs for kindergarten, but we will also focus on the confidence, manners, listening and teamwork skills needed to succeed in school and life.

During each month we will also have:

• A Fieldtrip to a local venue (parents are encouraged to attend)


• A “Kids Kitchen” experience where our class can make fun, kid-friendly foods while also learning how to work and help in the kitchen.


• Special theme days
  

Please call Miss Crystal at 949-0594 for more details.

A Typical Day at Tiny Hands Preschool

9:00-9:15 As each child arrives we will have gathering activities that include toys, games and puzzles to start getting the children focused on learning.

9:15-9:30 Once we are all gathered we will start the day with songs, the Pledge of Allegiance, calendar and communication activities.

9:30-10:15 “Office Time” at the children’s desks with learning activities and work sheets focused on letter and number recognition, phonics, math skills, colors, shapes, writing skills, etc.

10:15-10:30 Snack

10:30-10:45 Physical Activity (outside if weather permits)

10:45-11:00 Quiet Activities (books, learning programs, etc) to re-focus the children after snack and physical activity.

11:00-11:20 Special Learning Activities and Projects

11:20-11:30 Farewell Activities with songs, books, games, etc to close the day.


During each month we will also have:
A Fieldtrip to a local venue (parents are encouraged to attend)
A “Kids Kitchen” experience where our class can make fun, kid-friendly foods while also learning how to work and help in the kitchen.
Special theme days

Please feel free to visit our classroom at any time!