lunch...

...according to the Food Guide Pyramid.

The children have really enjoyed using the Food Guide Pyramid to sort the items in their lunchboxes during the morning work period.

The rug is just a regular working rug with the outline of the Food Guide Pyramid taped on with colored tape.

I just realized that we're using an outdated version of the pyramid!
Check out the new one here.

Oh well, the children haven't really been concerned about the number of servings...

They're more excited to find out if they have something in their lunch from each of the food groups...
and that applesauce comes from apples and apples are fruit...
and that dessert is O.K., it just goes last!

yeah, snack!

After hemming and hawing
{for the past several months}
I finally gave our snack area an upgrade.

Check out the before photos here.

after...

This morning, in addition to the snack, I set out 3 tubs...
{one for washing, one for rinsing, and one for drying}

The children have always been able
to help themselves to a snack during the work period
{the numeral cards tell them how much to take}

and now, they're able to wash their own dishes, too!
{How independent!}

Finally! A real purpose for the soap suds!
{This lesson was off the hook today, by the way.}

sweet and scary

The idea for these scary {and sweet} spiders
came from Jennifer at Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.
She is one busy, crafty lady!

Each child painted a section of an egg carton.
{We used brown, purple, and black paint.}

The children selected googly eyes
and glued them onto their spiders.

Then came the tricky part,
we had to WAIT for the paint to dry.

Whew! It was intense!
Have you ever watched paint dry?!!!

When the paint was almost dry,
I poked 8 holes in each spider with a corn cob skewer.
Then, the children counted-out 8 pipe cleaner legs
and pushed them through the tiny holes.

Aren't they spook-tabulous?
I love the way the indentations on the bottom of the
egg carton make the spiders look like they're smiling. :)

FYI: I did this as an afternoon project with a group of five 3-4 year olds.

two variations...

of two favorite lessons:

The children arrived at school and discovered
that their snipping paper
{strips of colored copy paper - some with lines, some without}
had been replaced by paint color swatches!
{donated to the school by an interior decorating mama}

Their sponge squeezing bowls
{two ceramic cereal bowls}
had been replaced by abalone shells!

The children were pleased to discover that
paint swatch strips are really fun to cut.
{The paper is nice and thick, and it makes a satisfying sound as it's cut.}
Right now the children are just cutting snips to cut snips.
{I plan on adding the option of glue and paper later on,
so they can use the snips for mosaics.}

The children quickly realized that the abalone shells are a little wobbly,
so they have been extra careful with their sponge squeezing.
{The nooks and crannies of the shells and their beautiful iridescence
have made up for any spills the children have had to wipe up!}

apple slicing

Food lessons are sort of the pinnacle of the practical life curriculum in our classroom. A lesson like apple slicing requires coordination and control, organization, sequencing, problem solving, and social grace.

Only a few children in the class are capable of a lesson like apple slicing. You might think that this would disappoint the other children, but instead, it inspires them to practice the lessons that come before apple slicing. They eagerly pour, scrub, and spoon, knowing that their work is preparing them for some really fabulous food lessons! :)

What you'll need:

• 1 medium-sized bowl (for washing apples and cleaning up)
• 1 small bowl (for waste)
• scrub brush
  
• cutting board
• knife (we use pumpkin carvers)
• water pitcher
• serving plate
  
• toothpicks
• cinnamon
• drying cloth
• apples!
  

First, the child fills the pitcher with water and pours it into the bowl. (Prior to this, he's washed his hands, put on an apron, and set up his workspace.) He uses the brush to scrub the apple and the cloth to dry it off.

Saw! Saw! Saw!
Although it is only a pumpkin carver,it is still fairly sharp. The child in these photos has been shown how to handle a knife with great care. If only you could see the concentration on his face!

Next, the child removes the core. This goes into the small waste bowl, which he'll empty when he cleans up.

After arranging the slices on a plate, he sprinkles them with cinnamon. Yum!

He skewers them with toothpicks - this makes serving the slices a snap!

The apple slices are set aside in a safe location while the child cleans up. Not only does he wash and dry everything, he restocks the tray with a clean serving dish and drying cloth, so the lesson will be ready for the next child.

Ta da!!!
He radiates pride as he offers his classmates the fruits of his labor.

"Would you care for an apple slice?"