Trip to Tilden Park! Oh yeah!

What an absolutely perfect day to enjoy a day at Tilden Park. We went to the Little Farm, Merry-Go-Round and Steam Trains...we had a picnic lunch, we played on the climbing structure. Wowee! So much to do...so many fun experiences...thanks to the great parent helpers and all the organization that goes into a trip like this. It was a blast...I know I am dog tired...how about you?

More photos from the trip tomorrow, too!
Hugs,

Miss Sue

Tortillas and Salsa and Flamenco...oh my!

Today was our Latin music and food day! We listened to all kinds of music from the Latin world. To start off our morning we had a visit by a friend of Miss Sue's, Martha, who made homemade corn tortillas for us. She showed us the special corn meal she used to make the tortillas, how to flatten them with a metal press and place them on the griddle to cook. The children loved it!

Then Miss Janelle taught everyone how to do the Salsa and Flamenco dance...complete with fan. We listened to Latin music and learned some Spanish words....Tomorrow is our Tilden Park Field Trip....we can hardly wait! 

Smiles to you,
Miss Sue

Mozart, Anyone??

Today's theme was Classical Music!

Poor Ms. Sue was out with the flu today, but that did not interfere with any of the fun around here! In honor of Classical Music we talked about symphonies, opera, and ballet . The kids learned about what an orcehstra is and a symphonic orchestra. We learned what it means if the music is instrumental. We talked about how opera and ballet use music to tell a story. That each song has a story and different feelings to it. This afternoon we explored the different moods by fingerpainting to classical music!!  

The kids and I created some lovely paintings to pieces from amazing operas like "Pirates of Penzance" and "Il Travatore". We really enjoyed talking about how the notes and tempo of each piece help convey the story being told!

In honor of the Italian influence on Classical Music, opera especially, we dined on Fettucinni Alfredo with chicken! This was a brand new lunch for us here and most of the kids seemed to really like it! Such a fun, tasty, elegant lunch really hit the spot with most of them!

Tune in tomorrow to hear all about our fun day inspired by the fun, colorful, exotic sounds of Latin American Music! I cant wait to dance a little salsa with the kiddos! Que divertido!!

~Ms. Janelle

Rock'n Roll Funday Monday!

This week at Cherub is Music Week! Rock'n'Roll Monday was so much fun we didnt even have time to blog about it! We were too busy Rockin out to some classic tunes by the Beach Boys, Beatles, Bengals, etc!!

In the morning we made our VERY OWN maracas and tambourines! It sure is amazing what you can do with some dried beans, some dry pasta, jingle bells, toilet paper rolls, paper plates, and LOTS of creativity! Parading around the school with our instruments was a blast! And we really digged learning some far out dance moves!! Then in the afternoon we made our own guitars using shoeboxes and rubber bands! The kids were thrilled! Now we can all slam like ROCKSTARS!!! Ms. Sue was decked out in her 70's Hippie gear and she was so hip! (Although the kids claimed she didnt look at ALL like a hippo! Hee hee!)

And I had fun rocking my slamming 80's gear! So rad! We cant wait for the rest of the fun stuff this week!!

~Ms. Janelle

There's Gold in them Thar Hills or at Cherub!

Today we panned for gold in our water play tables and saw how apple pie sans the pie crust is made. The children loved the discovery of both gold and silver in the water....some were uncomfortable about getting their hands "dirty" but were shown how to get clean by dipping them in the water!

Our baked apples came out great and they were a hit at snack. Everything is better with cinnamon and sugar on it! We got to smell the spices before they went into the apples and helped mix them together to be baked.

We are truly enjoying ourselves here...come join us anytime! You can have as much as we are too!

Happy Weekend,
Miss Sue

Get Along Little Doggies...

Today was great, we had 2 red tractors come visit us. Everyone got to sit on the tractor and feel what it was like to into the driver's seat! It was so exciting!

This afternoon we circled the wagons and sang songs by our (pretend) campfire while we ate some popcorn. We talked about what it was like to travel west in a covered wagon and why the wagons circled up at night.

Tomorrow, we will get to take home our stick/hobby horses, bandanas, cowboy hats, vests as we say goodbye to Western Week. However, we still have "fishing" in the local fishing hole, panning for gold and making baked apples for afternoon snack. 

Adios partners,
Miss Sue

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Howdy Partners,
Well, life gave us lemons today...the ponies were supposted to be here at 9:30 a.m., but due to a truck breakdown they had to reschedule until Friday, 6/24 @9:30 a.m.

Today we DID make lemonade....it took 10 lemons, 4 cups of cold water and 2 cups of simple syrup. Some of the Cherub's were brave enough to taste a lemon...their faces were priceless when encountering the lemons! We took turns squeezing lemons, stiring and getting just the right mixture of lemon juice/sugar/water. We had many enthusiasts who asked for 2nds, 3rds, 4ths of lemonade!

Our cowpokes made their own trail mix from pretzels, goldfish, dried apricots, raisins, banana chips and nuts. Each child got to serve themselves from a larger bowl to their own bowl, picking the amount they wanted.

This afternoon we started learning "Home on the Range" and "Oh, Suzannah" and square danced! Ask your children about how to Promenade & Swing Your Partner. We have had Pandora Internet Radio tuned to "Western Swing" music all week, hearing the "old school" country stars like: Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash...lots of fun!

More fun tomorrow with a real tractor coming to visit, our campfire with songs and stories when we circle the wagons.

Hugs,
Miss Sue

Come to the Cherub Stables and Pick Your Horse

Today we made our own Stick/Hobby Horses today! Every cowboy/cowgirl needs a horse...we learned about horses and had a great time roping and riding and learning more about the great plains. Snack included real corn on the cob, beef jerky, pretzels, apple juice and more.

Saddle on over to check out the latest activities from your cowpokes....enjoy!

Smiles to everyone,
Miss Sue

Come Along Boys and Listen to My Tale....

Howdy Cowboys, Cowgirls, Cowpokes, Wranglers, Rustlers and anyone who loves the west!
It was the first day of Western Week....we made our own bandanas, vests, got our very own cowboy hats. We learned about cowboy culture...all about what cowboys say: "giddy-up", "get along little doggies", "cow juice" and learned some cowboy songs: "Buffalo Gals" and "The Chislhom Trail". We all had a round up at the Cherub Chuckwagon for lunch....more of the wild west tomorrow....enjoy!

It's Fun Friday! Ice cream!

It's Friday and it's been fun! We sang songs, played with some of most favorite stuff: playdoh and enjoyed ice cream cups outside in the yard. Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! We're getting ready for Western Week....can't wait for the round up! Have a great weekend!

Who is that Masked Man/Woman?

Today we learned more about the American Revolution our early flag, flags of other countries and the Boston Tea Party. We talked about the colonists who dumped the tea in Boston harbor....what kind of mask would you make if you needed to do something brave, but did not want to be recognized?

It is cooler today, so we can go out and enjoy our playground. More to come tomorrow about our Father's Day projects...they came out great!

Smiles,
Miss Sue

Fine Dining at it's Best

Los Angeles has Spago, New York City has Le Cirque, Yountville has the renown French Laundry Restaurant...however, Cherub experienced fine dining at it's best...Le Burger King in Martinez. We dined on le poulet (chicken nuggets), français fries (french fries), les pommes (apples), boeuf a la le fromage (cheeseburgers), le jus les pommes (apples juice).

We had a rolicking good time, played on the climbing structure and dined with our finest manners. We had a ball, laughing, eating, talking, sharing. Our walk up and back was an adventure...saw a dead squirrel, dog paw prints in the side walk, learned about "stop, look and listen" before crossing the street.

Next time maybe we can try a 5 star resort for our field trip! Enjoy!
Miss Sue

We Spread Happiness and Smiles to over 100 Vets today

Ever wonder how to make someone smile? Today we walked to the VA Hospital  to distribute over 100 handmade flags to the Vets. Hand in hand, we toured all of the Community Living Center at the VA to bring happiness and joy to the vets. They truly enjoyed seeing the children and loved the flags. Lots of photos were taken and will be forthcoming. Several of the vets stated that they had not seen children in ages and were thrilled for the visit and the wonderful flags. We shouted "Happy Flag Day" to everyone we saw along the way.

We are also learning patriotic songs and about the history of our country. This afternoon we are beginning to make our Father's Day gifts, we can't wait to send them home for all our great dads.

See you next time,

Miss Sue

A Busy Day

We have been busy finishing our flags, lots of singing including learning "Yankee Doodle Dandy", "You're a Grand Old Flag" and beginning to learn "The Pledge of Allegiance" including when, where and how we say it.

Today, we made "Cat's Eye's" for snack. Ritz crackers, spread with peanut butter, slice of banana and one raisin for the pupil. They were a big hit! Ask your child for more detail.

Please remember to put on sunscreen before your child comes to school and bring a tube to keeping here. We will reapply in the afternoon before playing outside. We don't want any "crispy critters" without sunscreen on them.

Smiles to everyone!
Miss Sue

Have a GAK-alicious kind of day....

Oh GAK, glorious GAK...it's oozy, it's kind wet and kind of dry all at the same time! One child said, "It's creepy!" Try making this at home...best to do this outside, away from carpeted area. Wear old clothes to have the most fun!

Here's what you do to make GAK:
1 box of cornstarch
1 1/4 cup warm water
5-8 drops food coloring
Mix together in a bowl until all dry cornstarch is absorbed. GAK is both runny and hard at the same time. Nothing toxic, but not too tasty. Children enjoy the tactile experience of mushing their hands through the mixture and watch it be hard and liquid at the same time. Enjoy

Happy Weekend!
Miss Sue

Oh Say Can You See?

Today we started our study of the good old USA flag. In honor of Flag Day, June 14th, our children have been making flags that we will distribute to the Vets down at the hospital. According to our sources at the hospital, we need 100 flags for the patients. We can't wait to do our parade and hand out the flags to our deserving vets.

Enjoy,

Miss Sue

The Official Cherub Child Care Website

Jellyfish Dance Picture and more

Please check out our regular website at cherubchildcare.org

Here is an sample of the jellyfish dance!

See you next time,

Sue

Let's Do the Jellyfish Dance again!

Hello! Today brought us our last day of the ocean, fish, jellyfish and more. We did the "Jellyfish Dance" this morning and went "fishing" this afternoon. Ask you child how to do both....

The Summer Schedule is out and we have tons of fun planned for your children this summer. Who wouldn't like to participate during Western Week when we have 2 ponies come to visit for a photo shoot and pony rides, sing around a (pretend) campfire? How about Music Week when we learn about all kinds of music from around the world and the instruments that make the sounds? What about learning everything there is to know about bugs and butterflies or animals that live in the jungle, zoo, jungle or at our homes? We have several "Community Helpers" who will come visit us and show us how they help our lives be more liveable Don't miss "Transportation" weeks when we'll ride a real Amtrak train to Sacramento to tour the train museum. To end our summer, don't fail to come to the "Cherub County Fair" where we'll have games, more water fun and more!

Enjoy the photos!

Giggles,

Miss Sue

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Hello Cherub Followers!
We have a busy day here at Cherub...this morning we made blueberry muffins. Each child took a turn mixing, pouring, placing the muffin cups in the muffin tins, counting the number of eggs, stiring in the blueberries and more to get our muffins made. Then we baked them and will eat them this afternoon with the rest of our left over butter from last week.

We are also making 3-D stuffed fish from the collaged paper we colored on yesterday. We are cutting out fish shapes and each child can stuff them, then are stapled closed. Look for them in the next day or two on the bulletin board.

We need HELP this Saturday for 1 hour starting at 9:30 a.m. loading trash, garbage into trucks that will go to the dump. Can we count on you? Let me know if you are available even for the 1 hour! Thanks!

Hugs,

Miss Sue

Welcome to our Blog

Hello All Cherub Followers!

Today is the first post and first day of our blog! I thought this might be a good way to get the latest news out to you regarding what your children are doing every day here at Cherub!

The day seemed dreary on the outside, but not so inside here at school. We enjoyed singing songs, learning the "Bunny Hop" (part one of many steps) and continuing our theme of the ocean, fish, sea life and more. Today we made blue jello aquariums/oceans with goldfish crackers in it. It was fun to mix the hot and cold water together, pour the jello into clear cups, wait for it to start to jell and drop in our fish!

This afternoon, we'll be working on making some paper stuffed fish, putting together a fishing game.

Your feedback and "follow" is appreciated!

Smiles,

Miss Sue