tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49409998624317639972024-03-14T02:10:42.240-04:00{Joy Before You}. . . . . . . . . . . . . . playful learning for joyful living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-23082885429776898222013-02-27T02:03:00.001-05:002013-02-27T02:27:50.740-05:00Sunday School: Sin & Forgiveness
Photo by Matt Keilen
At Sunday School this week, the kids learned about sin and forgiveness. Yes, they're three and four years old. As such, it was important to me to relate this concept to them in an age-appropriate way while discussing only the details necessary for a three or four-year-old.
First, after some guessing on their part, I told them what sin is: knowing Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-14811127715359666082013-02-11T20:14:00.000-05:002013-02-11T20:14:37.601-05:009 Hearts - 7 Ways to Learn
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Holidays are loaded with opportunities for teachable moments. Amidst all the festivities and decor, children will be having fun learning without even realizing it.
These nine simple hearts are your key to a host of Valentine's Day related learning games.
1. Learning to wield a writing utensil begins at an early age by Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-3560688505133448002012-12-13T00:43:00.000-05:002012-12-27T00:44:17.764-05:00Patterns with Cranberries and Popcorn
We have limited Christmas decorations this year because they're all in storage back in the States. We will enjoy them next year, but we needed a little something to decorate with this year. I decided to make garland out of cranberries and popcorn.
This is my first time making garland. At first it seems tedious, but as you go on it is relaxing, too. It is a great Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-47270918210023944452012-12-03T02:10:00.000-05:002012-12-03T02:09:19.132-05:00Paper Plate AngelThis week in my Sunday school class, we read a story about when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce her pregnancy with Jesus. The story was apparently really interesting, too, because in the middle one child hollered,"When do we get to color?!"When do we get to color? That is a good question.Color we did, and because I couldn't come up with any projects centered around Mary that Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-85624567416941657542012-10-08T06:22:00.001-04:002013-02-27T02:32:29.899-05:00Want to Know What's Inside a Chinese Lantern?
For the past month I have been curiously noticing these Chinese Lanterns growing alongside my drive way. I can guess what most flowers look like inside, but these were so mysterious.
I plucked one of these beauties, and discovered a straight tap root that brought the whole plant quickly out of the earth.
I took it inside and got ready to dissect it. Have you Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-47609460945634311112012-10-02T01:38:00.000-04:002012-10-02T01:39:38.087-04:00Pom Pom Day
Image by Craftster.org
Need something fun and creative for the day? Try playing with fuzzy pom poms! They are found in the craft department, and come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and sometimes even prints or glitter.
Math:
Sort your pom poms by color, size (serration), or pattern. If you can sort by one attribute, try sorting by two - it's much trickierBrooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-56105470147352297632012-07-24T19:54:00.001-04:002012-07-24T19:54:48.406-04:00Oatmeal Canister Drum
We eat a lot of oatmeal around here. In the summertime I often choose something sweet for breakfast over something savory. And when I want something hearty that isn't eggs and toast, I microwave a bowl of oats with chopped apples and nuts. When it's too hot to bake dessert in the oven, I make a quick batch of No-Bake Cookies. It is now the end of July, and we have Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-40894484196817501082012-06-27T03:24:00.000-04:002012-06-27T03:24:41.824-04:00I'll Meet You at the BeginningI am back in country (well, this country anyway) and have just started work for JBY. A few posts ago I was letting you know about my need to take some time to dig into research about scope and sequence. I wanted to gather ideas to help build a framework for my writing here.I discovered something interesting.The words here are all about early childhood, but I was undecided about Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-87331219804713779402012-05-25T04:37:00.000-04:002012-05-25T05:56:53.046-04:00What Children Really Need to KnowI just want children to know the world is their classroom.
I mentioned last time (about an hour ago) how I was needing to adjust my focus. My world has been clouded these past few weeks with busy-ness, some necessary and some not. Then today I wrote here and read this article from my personal blog, and everything cleared up. My heart softened. My lungs breathed deeply. &Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-4314462437202049072012-05-25T03:31:00.000-04:002012-05-25T03:31:26.539-04:00Matchmaker: Willingness & Completion
I began this blogsite with such a burst of energy that I have burnt myself out a bit. I enjoy writing here so much, but the last two weeks I have been procrastinating in a big way. While I love writing, I don't love sitting at the computer. I want to be steady in my work here, motivated by these words:
"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-8764119033343487962012-05-22T03:43:00.000-04:002012-05-22T03:43:03.210-04:00Plants Around Us: Science EditionToday
Ask the children, "What do plants need?" Review answers from the story Plant Secrets as needed. Create a circle map to define plant needs. In a small circle in the center of a paper, write "Plant Needs". Draw a much larger circle around the inner circle. It should be almost as big as the whole paper. Fill this circle with words and pictures that define Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-15430574110558052332012-05-22T03:38:00.002-04:002012-05-22T03:38:51.351-04:00Plant Taste TestIn our math lesson we compared the sizes of various seeds and their fruits. Today, let's taste test plants in various stages of development: seed, stalk, flower, fruit.
I'm going to leave the flowers out even though there are some edible flowers. Whenever I have seen them in the store they are expensive. If you want to try it, by all means go ahead!
Image by Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-54277556719019133762012-05-16T05:28:00.000-04:002012-05-16T05:28:38.412-04:00Watermelon MathAll kinds of watermelon math is coming your way today!
Image by Picture-books.com
Today
Our study of plants this week begins with the humble seed. Try an orange or a slice of watermelon for a snack. Be sure everyone has a plate on which to discard his or her seeds. When everyone is finished, encourage each child to count his or her seeds.
Who had the most?
Who had the Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-2074486301095935772012-05-16T04:49:00.000-04:002012-05-22T03:05:17.375-04:00Plants Around Us
Image by Waysandhow.com
Today
Read Plant Secrets written by Emily Goodman and illustrated by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes. This is a fantastic book: great pictures, simple text, highly informative and also fun to read!
We are doing a lot of Thinking Maps this week! I have described a few of these before, but if you have questions, please email me or take a look at their Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-50690394811795151122012-05-11T01:38:00.004-04:002012-05-11T01:38:56.811-04:00Time to Tally
Image by Christian-parent.com
Today
Do your children have a concept of time?
Children who are older preschoolers should already know:
-There is day time and night time.
-It is light during the day and dark at night.
-People use clocks and watches to tell the time.
Children may find it interesting to learn:
-Morning is called AM and night is called PM.
-There are 24 hours in a day.  Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-69240163894892231612012-05-10T04:39:00.002-04:002012-05-10T22:25:16.242-04:00Can You Splash Like a Sprinkler + Storm Safety
Image by Lindenlink.com
Today we have an opportunity for two types of dramatic play involving water.
1. The first idea exercise is one for creative movement. Sometime during the week read Water Voices written by Toby Speed and illustrated by Julie Downing. Allow the children to guess to what form of water the poem is referring. After the initial reading, read again, Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-56114529473543887182012-05-10T03:02:00.000-04:002012-05-10T04:24:26.506-04:00World Tour: Travel, Communication & Climate
Image by Burcikos.blogspot.com
Today
Read First Rain which is also integrated into the Next Time section of this unit's literacy lesson.
Ask questions such as: Why was the family traveling? Where is Israel? How did they get there? What do we know/want to know about life in Israel?
Everyone experiences travel in some capacity. Travel can be Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-43948735451959875472012-05-03T04:25:00.000-04:002012-05-11T01:16:13.853-04:00The Sky Above
Image by Flickr.com
Today
This week we learn about the sky.
Start by reading Sophie's Window by Holly Keller. This is a cute story about a bird learning to fly. It can also be used to introduce the concepts were studying this week.
Print pictures of the main concepts in our Sky unit: sun, clouds, rain, wind, storm, bird, shadow. Use sentence strips or index cardsBrooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-42326316431037543332012-05-01T04:52:00.000-04:002012-05-01T04:52:26.648-04:00Spring Science Times Three!Today
Skim through Don't Throw It, Grow It! 68 Windowsill Plants from Kitchen Scraps by Deborah Peterson.
Choose a plant growing experiment of your own, or try this one using a sweet potato or an avocado pit.
Obtain a wide-mouthed jar, 1-2 cups water, 4-6 toothpicks, and a sweet potato or avocado pit. Or try both if you like!
Images by Bloomcosmetics.blogspot.com and Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-82181934808456320972012-05-01T03:40:00.001-04:002012-05-01T03:40:47.314-04:00Season Sequencing and a Picto-Recipe
Today
Print four pictures such as the ones above, one for each season of the year. Talk with children about the order of the seasons in the year and read Four Seasons Make a Year written by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by Megan Halsey.
Encourage children to mix up the pictures and then sequence them in order. They can start with any season as long as they go in order. &Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-81201319123369851352012-04-30T02:59:00.000-04:002012-10-09T03:43:40.865-04:00Bringing Spring to the Chernobyl ChildrenPlease begin with the literacy lesson for How Mama Brought the Spring written by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Holly Berry.
This happy story is set in early to mid-twentieth century Minsk, Belarus, a small country in northeastern Europe near Russia. Not knowing much about Belarus -or history for that matter, I looked to the internet to research how children here could connect withBrooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-72864068598779948182012-04-27T02:08:00.000-04:002012-04-30T03:00:41.578-04:00Wonderful Spring
Spring is the time for beautiful new beginnings! On this gorgeous spring day -my Mother's birthday- I dedicate, this, my newest article to you, Mom. Thank you for being a fantastic mom, my Mom. Thank you for loving me, hoping for me, believing in me, supporting me. In celebration of your birthday today, I announce the beginning of Joy Before You. Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-66640050501675734332012-04-16T03:58:00.001-04:002012-04-27T01:57:13.363-04:00Make Like a Chick and HatchDramatic play is an important activity for young children. Recreating events they see or read about helps children develop greater understanding of the event.
Encourage children to pretend to be a hatching egg. Remind them about the beginning, middle, and end of this process. Supply them with large boxes (that they can fit in) to hatch out of.
Image by Edenparadigm.com
Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-37715818275066079402012-04-16T03:50:00.002-04:002012-04-27T01:56:14.946-04:00Making Egg ToastCooking is a fun edible way to do science! Today, let's make Egg Toast!
Image by Slices-of-life.com
Ingredients:
1 slice bread
1 egg
1/2 T. butter
Directions:
1. Spread butter onto bread. Cut bread with round 2 inch biscuit cutter.
2. Place cut bread in pan. Put the circle cut next to it. Help child crack egg into the circle cut out in the bread.
3. &Brooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940999862431763997.post-70534560045144167402012-04-16T03:40:00.004-04:002012-04-27T01:55:20.900-04:00Eggs and Jelly Beans are Ovals
Image by Dineanddish.net
Today
Create a matching game using the following materials:
-1 Egg carton
-6 plastic eggs
-Glue
-2 each of 6 small objects (for a total of 12 objects) such as penny, pencil eraser, bottle cap, cotton ball, paper clip, bingo token, etc.
Separate egg halves. Glue one half egg shell in each of the spots in the top row (towards the fold) on the egg carton.
InsertBrooke, here.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09124233936503396469noreply@blogger.com0