Friday, February 26

It was an exciting Friday at ALG with a visit from Oran's dog Elizabeth. After Elizabeth got used to the action and excitement,she relaxed and played catch with the children in the back room along with Oran and Pickett. Many children created wonderful collages today, Jose and Cara had the children engrossed in story telling, Melissa had the children draw pictures to go along with their stories she has collected, Natasha had children playing in the dirt, and many boats and other vehicles were constructed from blocks and other materials. We can't wait for Monday! :-)

Wednesday, Feb. 24

After a robust and extensive sing-a-long at circle time, we broke up into groups. Red and purple groups went to the back to do capoeira with Jeremy while the rest of us played in the big room, doing floor puzzles, building with the large blocks, and playing in the playhouse. Then we switched and blue and yellow groups got a chance to do all the groovy capoeira moves. After capoeira some kids stayed in the back with Natasha to do noodling play. In the big room Daisy, Coco, Grace, Sophia, Sophie, Maeve, and others carefully helped Cara paint the terracotta planters that will contain the seedlings we are soon going to plant. All the play areas were full of industrious and concentrated players today, so much so that only a small group could be enticed away for a short walk around the neighborhood in the sunshine. Deborah and Kathi took Coco, Sophie, Henry, Harry, Sydney, and Clara out for a stroll. While we walked we did some scientific pondering: do we think the snow would melt faster on the sunny side of the street or the shady side? what was that gurgling/dripping sound we heard, and what could have caused it? Why are some leaves on the ground green and some brown? what was the squirrel chattering at us from the wall trying to say? etc. Another fun day at ALG.

Tuesday, February 23

Today was another exciting day at ALG. Pickett came and played cats and kittens in the back with all the groups, which was really fun. In the big room there was lots going on as usual -- puzzles, playing with blocks, leggos, trucks, play dough and moon sand. A special project grabbed the attention of some kids - paper making! We used recycled paper to make new paper. What a great way to make something new out of something old. Today was also a very special day at ALG -- Maeve's 4th birthday! Maeve's mom brought in some delicious muffins to share -- corn bread and strawberry, YUM! Happy Birthday, Maeve!

Monday, 22 February 2010

We had a great Music Monday with Tiffany playing along to some of our favorites - Hurry, Hurry Drive the Firetruck, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/Rock and Oats, Peas Beans & Barley. Kara and friends were whipping up batches of paper in the blender. She got lots of help with the shredding process as well. The real fun seemed to be in the back room with Deborah. There were lots of dare devils leaping onto the mattresses and running off all that energy!

Friday, February 19

Well, it's been a week since we've been back to school and I think all the kids are happy to be back in the swing of things. We still didn't go outside today, so there was lots of activity inside. Pickett came and played "Bears" with a group of kids while another group played like crazy in the back with the big rent tent and lots of music. The pipes remain a popular activity. Today we pretended we were fire fighters and the pipes were our hoses. We also had fun exploring the "treasures" that everyone has been bringing in. We've started separating the items into "families" and using them to create things on the art boards. Overall, it was another super fun day at ALG!

Today is Thursday, and that means Yoga Jenny! She read us a book called What Do You Do When It's Going To Snow?.. and we did yoga poses for all the animals [and eggs, and trees] in the story who were caught in the snow fall. Some of us dictated stories to Melissa, and there was lots of lego and light box and puzzle and big block work, too. We had a few dance parties and noodle romps to work off so of our energy -- still too icy and snow piled to go outside.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

We had lots of fun at ALG today. After singing some songs during circle time, the red and purple groups went to the back room to do Caporia with Jeremy. They all had a great time singing, following Jeremy's movements and calling out the names of the instruments.

Up front the other kids did lots of playing with blocks, looking at worms and trash, and painting.

Later on, it was too cold to go out so a bunch of us headed to the back room to run off some energy, hang from the bar, jump of the table, throw soccer balls at alligators, and play dress up.

Then it was already time for clean-up - another full day at ALG.

Tuesday 2-16-2010

So - we are getting back to normal after all the snow. We had almost a full house today. We were not able to get outside but we definitely let off some steam inside.

Oran came today and stayed for quite a while. He played with everyone in the front and then took several kids to the back with Natasha and Deborah. In the back, we had a fashion show, played with the parachute and played baseball. Also, as always in the back, much running & jumping off tables was happening.

In the front, we played with the big blocks, small blocks, legos, little people & cars. We colored, stamped, played with playdough, read stories, wrote stories with Melissa & acted out Owl Babies with the puppets.

We played with everything!

The Friday after Snowpocalypse!

A whole WEEK since ALG has been open, so a happy and hardy crew made it to ALG to shake off cabin fever. Road conditions being what they are, several families arrived before staff but in the end, with Oran, Pickett, Natasha, Marcy, and Melissa and 2 co-opers we had a great ratio: about 1 grown-up for every 2 kids. At circle time some kids shared their collected treasures. We "noodled" in the back room, had a vigorous game of duck-duck-goose, and jumped and rolled on the mattress. Dragons and princesses had pretend snowball fights, books were read, snacks were had, and the usual good time was had by all.

Enjoy the long weekend everyone. With wishes for melting ice and easy parking... See you all next week!

Yoga Jenny was sick today, so Natasha stepped in with noodles, swing, and jumping in the back room (each group had a turn, in rotation). In the big room, in addition to the usual books, dress up, and legos, Melissa guided four kids at a time in acting out the Owl Babies story with 'puppets.' Later in the day, the one-o-clockers went for a walk outside in the sun. We got to witness a "tree man" cutting off a big piece of branch with an electric saw. A rope was tied around the log to guide its safe descent to the ground. Very exciting.

Wednesday Febuary 3

Snow Day at school today. We had great fun romping in the snow. First inside wwarmed up with some Caporia. We danced, played instruments, and sang songs. It's such good exercise and a blast. Ask us to show the moves Jeremy has been teaching us. Then we heaed out for some time in the snow. We built a snowman, threw snowballs, dug with shovels and buckets... You name it we, we did it. We came back in, warmed up with some dry clothes and herbal tea and called it a morning.