Winter reigns again!

Winter Reigns Again!!

Well the temperature has taken a dip again and it is apparent that Old Man Winter is here for awhile. We took advantage of expanding on our winter adventures by introducing a new song into circle: "Old Man Winter came out to play and said he's going to make this a very cold day, so he blew to the South... , to the East, and the West, but when he blew to the North he said thats the best, The Old North Wind is my very best friend and when we play we make a very, very, very, very, very, cold day"! Still continuing with our songs about Jack Frost and our tale at rest "Old North Wind and Little Jack Frost" we rounded out our focus on Jack Frost and North Wind by making ice sun catchers. We took the morning to gather seasonal items from nature; twigs, leaves left over in the garden, cranberries and various pines that Miss Jamie used the snips to gather. Each child was able to place various items of their choice in her water filled plate. It was interesting to see some of the children heaping mounds of treasures into their plates and others placing each so very carefully as if making a masterpiece. We then set them out to freeze. Some of the children noticed by dismissal that there was a very thin layer of ice on them, and by morning they were frozen solid. They came out just beautiful!!! This was one of those crafts that suprised me how beautiful they turned out!!

This coming week we look forward to one of our first celebrations here, the celebration of Candelmas, officially occuring on Feb. 2. We know it as ground hog day and historically it has been deemed a time of "new beginings" and the begining of Spring. It is the mid way mark between the winter and summer solstice. It was often the time that the fields were readied for the coming planting. We will be making a craft to celebrate Candelmas as well as enjoying traditional foods eaten on this day. We have much to look forward to this coming week as we put Jack Frost, and North Wind behind us and look forward to the coming Spring. (How long until we feel that suns warmth?)