Week 22: Patience, piggies and painting

It felt great to get back to the normal swing of things again this week with the kids. The 4s especially are at some a pivotal time: we'll all be entering into a formal pre-K or Kindergarten program starting next fall, so the time with them like this feels special and short-lived. 

Week 22 was focused on patience. They all know what the word means but often have a hard time putting it into practice. You know, because they are 4.

This week we continued the lessons about our senses, moving onto sense of taste. I had the kids start the first day by describing three flavors: soy sauce, lemon juice and agave. The boys -- who by the way are super picky eaters -- decided it was hilarious and delicious to mix them all together and DRINK THEM. Again, because they are 4.

In talking about patience we made some quick-rising bread. As we mixed we talked about the tastes of the various ingredients.

I used this recipe, which turned out pretty well. I got it from this site which also has a cute project for making butter in baby food jars, which I'd like to try sometime.

Bread

2 1/4 - 2 1/2 c. flour - I do a mix of bread flour and whole wheat
1 c. warm water
1 1/2 t. yeast
2 T softened butter
Handful of rolled oats
2 T honey - or more if you like
1 1/2 t. salt

Mix water and honey, top with yeast, let foam
Add oats, butter, flour and salt, mix
Turn out and knead for 10min.
Leave to rise covered in oiled bowl for 1 1/2 - 2 hrs.
Form into rolls/shapes
Cover and let rest 15 min.
Bake 375 for 12-15min.

The books this week were The Very Hungry Caterpillar (which we read while we ate our lunch)and Olivia. Unfortunately, my copy of Olivia didn't arrive in time for this lesson, but I found a cute version online that we watched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tY9G-Nh-U.

In the book, Olivia (who is a pig) is inspired by a trip to the museum where she sees a Pollock-like painting. So inspired that she tries it at home where she gets in trouble for making a mess. Not a super good lesson, actually, but the idea of creating an abstract painting is fun. Using three colors and various sized pieces of cut yarn the kids made their own versions.

They turned out really cute, even though Jack and Addison decided it'd be even more amazing to finger paint the heck out of the paintings…and their hands, and their clothes…

Jack requested some show-and-tell time this week which we fit in on Day 2. This is always a fun exercise that teaches some great lessons in listening and public speaking.

We've been incorporating journaling in our daily lessons which the kids love. This week we drew and described things we are good at and things we'd like to learn to be good at (or do better).

Addison wanted to learn to make cookies

Jack wanted to learn to shoot a gun. NO COMMENT.

Noah wanted to learn to drive a car…and then a roller coster of some sort

One other activity from Olivia: she's really good at making sandcastles. So we braved the intense wind and made some castles in the sand area outside. Noah decided it was nicer inside. Smart boy.

XO, Kelda