today was one of those smiley happy days...

athough ky and i are recovering from e flu, we all woke up cheery and  i set about tidying the kitchen b4 e homeschool playgroup arrived. e mums had time for a chitchat b4 class started, while e kids watched a short cartoon.  always nice....

class was a winner today... mb it was e combination of activities:-  definately worth remembering... :-)

we started off feeding a little lion that i'd transformed from a small square box. they each had to correctly count out 5 then 10 flat pebbles/ "lion food" ;)   they enjoyed this tremendously, esp when i gave a big roar each time, saying the lion was still hungry. it was so amusing... they just *had* to imitate me!  i  encouraged them to speak up loudy while they counted so they cd more easily be heard.  then the quietest little boy said a few of his numbers so loud that it actually made me jump! and kynan jumped too! so funny, we both looked at each other in delight, hardly beieving such a big voice cd come from such a little person!!!

-finger-painting pictures of vegetables followed, and they learned to trace and write the letter "v".  two little boys were happy that there were brushes on hand so they wdnt hv to dirty their fingers ;) awww... 

-then we went on to do an action poem about planting seeds in soil, and how they are grown, harvested and made into bread. a very very sweet rhyme... i'd love to video the kids next time cos they did such a good job of saying the words and doing e actions at e same time.  it was so so sweet!  one of those memories that will last a long long time...

-afterwards i asked them if they liked to eat 'kang kong'. they did...and were very excited to hear that they cd plant their own organic hydroponic kang kong seeds. (thank you so much aunty E for giving us these!)  when they heard that they cd take them home once the leaves were growing, litte A clapped his hands with joy, while little M did a happy dance!  they followed the pictures on the instruction sheet and each had a turn to help at every step. it was amazing to see how something so simple cd hold their attention so deeply.  things of nature really are something special for kids....

-we then moved on to decorate laminated mealtime picture-prayers.  they used markers to draw their own pictures on the backs and put in pretty borders ard the edges of the front. voila!... a new table-placemat to take home, and mom n dad can help them recite e simple prayer at mealtimes...

-as we were doing 'v' for vegetables...what better time than to go vegetarian! each child made their own luchtime pizza using tomato & mushroom base with cheese and herb topping. some were even brave enuff to add crushed black pepper!  they looked and smelled amazing! on the side we all had fresh organic baby carrots, and yummy apple wedges.  they also decided to each save half for their big brothers to try. i thought that was very sweet...

-while cutting up their pizzas, they learned halves, quarters and eighths.  it qt amazed me that even the youngest understood the concept...

-after lunch they dissappeared to e entrance hall to do some free play cookery..... pots and pans, fruit n veg, plastic crockery and cutlery, chopping boards, washing bowls and strainers, muffin-pans, cooking shelf, the works!   they spent the remainder of their time together at this spot until their mummies needed to leave... and what's more they even tidied up nicely all on their own! :)

chinese class followed and kay decided to take a break. she used the time to pl;ay with her friend I's little sister F, and of course hv a little milk snack. (in a carton of course ;))

we were happy to hv Aunty L and her 2 littlies come over for dinner and some painting. it was a real treat to end the day in calm and pleasant company!  thank you Aunty L, I and F for making our day extra-special... the kids and i sure hope u can come and play again some time soon!... ;b