Category: Uncategorized (Page 3 of 3)

The rain is falling all around,

On the housetops, on the ground.

The rain is falling on my toes,

On my head, and hands, and nose.

One rainy day, I was in the forest with a preschool class.  We had gathered up a pile of leaves and a girl was laying in them, looking up at the sky.  “It’s snowing,” she said.  We all smiled and shook our heads.  It was raining, and not very cold.  I was curious though and laid down beside her.  The raindrops were coming down on our faces, but looking up at them with the cloudy sky behind them, the raindrops were white!  They very much looked like snow.

Rain walks with children have become a favorite activity for me.  Although many people choose to stay inside, proper clothing make walking in the rain a peaceful, relaxing pastime.  When you don’t have a destination or time to adhere to, a leisurely stroll can prove to be a memorable experience!  Let your child(ren) lead the way!  Try to see what they see, hear, feel and smell as you go!  You might surprise yourself with your own discoveries walking in their boots!

Children and teachers often go for walks around the community.  We’ll catch ourselves wondering what children are experiencing as we go.  We might wonder…

Why has she stopped walking?  What does she see?  Is she listening to something?

Sometimes children find puddles of unusual size!  Why walk around it?  Puddles are for jumping in (ask any child or even Pete the Cat)! What does it feel like?  Ms. Thomas knows!

Sometimes we hear stories in the rain that stick with us.

Once a child said he saw his shadow in a puddle.  Ms. Carlsen asked, “Is it a shadow we’re seeing or a reflection?”

One child answered, “You know it’s a reflection if you can see color.”

Another child said, “It’s so clear, I can see myself, but nobody will notice.”

Today, it is raining.  Tomorrow, it might be sunny.  In the meantime, look for rainbows!

Hych’ka!

Ms. Jenny

Have you ever stood under a chery blossom tree and just listened?  Sometimes, I hear cars.  Sometimes, I hear people chatting.  But if I listen very carefully, sometimes I hear the tree buzzing!  Bees love flowers too!

Bees are everywhere these days, and so, so busy!  Sometimes, they even come into the house!  This one was on my window sill the other day.

At first, I thought it was a fly…

But, no!  It was a mason bee that had lost his way.

So, I brought him back outside to a mason bee house so he could get back to work.

To watch a video of him and his friends working at their home, click here

Do you remember this moment last year?  Well, the mason bees are back at the Stride Ave. Community Garden!  Come by for a visit and get a glimpse of the action!   (If you are wondering if mason bees sting, understand that only the girls do and only if they are trapped or squeezed.  In other words, very, very rarely!)

A rhyme to sing to them while you’re there:

Here is a Bee House

Here is a bee house, but where are the bees?

Hiding away where nobody sees.

If I watch and wait and wait some more,

they’ll come out, 1,2,3,4!

Hych’ka,

Ms. Jenny