Sunflower Garden News * May 8, 2009

 Dear Sunflower Garden Families,

 I've concluded the telling of Three Billy Goats Gruff. We enjoyed telling it sitting in a circle on the floor and moving the goats around our circle until each reached the hillside. We also told it outside in the Memorial Garden, where children acted out the story. They put up a wooden bridge between the large stones and crossed over it...trip, trap, trip, trap. The Troll was bravely curled up under the bridge and would call out, "Who's that tripping over my bridge?" I am now telling a nature tale about Bobby, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. His contrary ways catch up with him as the Gnome King asks him to find three treasure chests of spring!

 In the story about Bobby, he goes off into the woods. No child left inside! How important that we give our children time outdoors to play...with our watchful, but not intrusive presence. They find places and spaces to make their own. The play is without adult agendas as they are engaged with nature and the elements. These are important aspects of play highlighted in Sally Jenkinson's book, The Genius of Play, a recommended summer read!

 Our kindergarten children are beginning sewing of puppets. We will use these to create our own story and puppet show for the kindergarten ceremony on June 3. This project is three-fold. How much can the child focus on such a project and engage fine motor skills in its creation (and the child's desire, willingness and connection to this group and the project), and to offer a project that meets the older child's need to be engaged in purposeful and focused work at a time of year when they are inclined to FLY AWAY! It also is a chance for them to experience teacher in a more authoritative role. This is the work we will do. Kindergarten parents, help will be needed for the Kindergarten Ceremony, so expect more details from me soon!

 Below are excerpts from our Spring Circle. Enjoy! Our circle is transitioning into many songs of spring that we'll sing as we dance around the May Pole on Saturday, May 16. See you there. Please sign up to help, especially with food service "Café" and the greeting table. We also need lots of cakes for the cake walk!  Thanks.

 Happy Mother's Day to all of you very loving and good mothers. I can feel your love and connection to the children. I must be getting old, for I was called "grandma" today. I think I'll take it as a compliment...or else I'll cry! Enjoy your mother's day and the gifts from your children. They love you dearly!

Spring Circle!

 Lady Spring ~Anonymous from A Child's Seasonal Treasury

My lady spring, she's dressed in green,
She wears a primrose crown.
And little baby buds and twigs
Come clinging to her gown.
The sun shines if she laughs at all
And when she weeps the raindrops fall.
My Lady Spring. My Lady Spring!

Rain Chant

Pitter patter. Pitter patter.
Look at all the rain.
Splashing on the windowsills
And on the window pane.
Sounding like the pitter pat of tiny fairy feet.
Washing off the garden path.
Washing off the street.
Washing everybody's homes
And everybody's shops.
Pitter patter. Pitter pat.
When will it ever stop?

The Heart of a Seed  ~from Dancing as We Sing

In the heart of a seed buried deep so deep,
a dear little plant lay fast asleep.
Wake! Said the sun and creep to the light.
Wake! Said the voice of the raindrops bright.
The little seed heard and rose to see
What a wonderful outside world might be.
In the springtime bunny rabbits go hop, hop.
In the springtime little birdies go chirp, chirp.
Daisies bow to daffodils little children run up hills
And fall down!

It's Raining

It's raining. It's raining. The roof is getting wet.The roof is getting wet.
The rain will make the flowers bloom.  The mud we'll sweep out with a broom.
It's raining. It's raining. The roof is getting wet.

It's Raining... Fingerplay from Dancing as we Sing

It's sprinkling. It's sprinkling.
It's raining. It's raining.
It's pouring. It's pouring.
It's hailing. It's hailing.
It's thundering. It's thundering!
It's lightning. It's lightning.
Again the sun comes out.
Again the sun comes out.
Rain, rain, rain....rainbow! 

Rainbow Circle Game

Two little clouds one springtime day,
Went flying through the sky
They went so fast they bumped their heads,
And both began to cry.
Old Father Sun looked out and said,
"Oh never mind my dears. I'll send my little fairy fold to dry away your tears."
One fairy came in red, one orange, one yellow and one all dressed in green. 
One was blue, one indigo, and violet. A "fairyful" sight to be seen.
Their gowns in the gentle breezes did blow.
All seven little fairies made such a pretty row.
They wiped the cloud tears all away and then from out the sky,
Upon a line the sunbeams made, they hung their gowns to dry. 

The Earth Needs the Raindrops  adapted from the music by A. Wagner via Elizabeth Swisher

The earth needs the raindrops, the day needs a light,
And heaven needs little star when the day turns to night.
The tree needs a little branch where the bird builds her nest
And we need a little heart to love and to trust.