Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
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kristacecilia
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 8:26am | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

I have heard several people mention themed learning they do with their little ones that seem to revolve around the seasons. I would love to know what some of the themes other people do are!

So far we started a theme about birds when the birds started coming back a couple weeks ago. We have been taking our first forray into bird watching, bird identification, listening to bird songs, etc. I also am getting some library books on birds.

I have also thought of a few more spring themes: baby animals, seeds and seedlings, and butterflies.

Would anyone else care to share?

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guitarnan
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 9:01am | IP Logged Quote guitarnan

We did a bird unit when my dd was 6 or so - it was fantastic - we also got a bird DVD (my cats loved it, LOL!) from the library and found some bird coloring pages to print out.

Spring is also a good season to study weather (water cycle), as is summer. It's fun to cloud-watch when the weather is so pleasant.

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JennGM
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 9:07am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

Krista,

It's just keeping a eye and ear out for the changes and reflecting that in what we read and discuss and observe.

Gardening is a big theme -- so your seeds and seedlings go right along with that. Planning a vegetable garden, flower garden.

Bees -- since they are buzzing around.

The birds is such a big theme in our house, continuing all year 'round. Now we're seeing the birds return, building nests, waking us up with their songs. I had posted our favorite bird books with the bird calls.

It has been so wonderful to see how enthusiastic even a 2 yo can be identifying birds and their calls.

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JennGM
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 9:19am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

I'd also add that at least for the Northern Hemisphere, the Liturgical Year's seasons often reflect the changing natural seasons.

Lent means spring, and Easter celebrates new life. The symbols of the resurrection have so many signs of spring in them: lily, egg, butterfly, peacock, swallow.

The bee and beeswax, tied in with the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil and our Paschal Candle. Peter of Capua called the Risen Lord apis aetherea (celestial bee).

So this is just an example of tying in symbolism and liturgical seasonal themes also back to nature's cycle.

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ekbell
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 4:06pm | IP Logged Quote ekbell

We've been looking at buds with the aid of an old _I Want to Know About_ book called Buds:Surprise Packages by Dr. Helen Ross Russell.

I was called over to see the opening buds on our Lilac bush today :-)

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Angie Mc
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Posted: April 07 2010 at 4:25pm | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

Spring Music

Spring Poems

Spring Books

Let us know what you all enjoy!

Love,

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violingirl
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Posted: April 08 2010 at 9:23am | IP Logged Quote violingirl

I look to our surroundings for our themes- so we're watching as the bushes and trees in our yard change, and we're learning a little about cardinals and blue jays since we've had a few hanging around in our trees.

We'll also learn more about plants as our garden gets going, and learn again about caterpillars changing to butterflies.

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kristacecilia
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Posted: April 08 2010 at 3:19pm | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

violingirl wrote:
I look to our surroundings for our themes- so we're watching as the bushes and trees in our yard change, and we're learning a little about cardinals and blue jays since we've had a few hanging around in our trees.

We'll also learn more about plants as our garden gets going, and learn again about caterpillars changing to butterflies.


This is what I am trying to do, too, and just write down what I see going on around us to make an interesting theme about. I have a nice little list going so far.

It also makes it easier since I have to pre-order all our library books- I know what should be coming up soon.

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Mackfam
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Posted: April 08 2010 at 6:10pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

kristacecilia wrote:
violingirl wrote:
I look to our surroundings for our themes- so we're watching as the bushes and trees in our yard change, and we're learning a little about cardinals and blue jays since we've had a few hanging around in our trees.

We'll also learn more about plants as our garden gets going, and learn again about caterpillars changing to butterflies.


This is what I am trying to do, too, and just write down what I see going on around us to make an interesting theme about. I have a nice little list going so far.

You've got it, Krista! This is exactly what I do here! We observe...something interests us, or I anticipate something, and I set out a few picture books and begin to collect a few ideas. Voila! Little theme! How fun! I'm always so excited to see where a little theme takes us...down what roads? What will we wonder about? Where will our questions take us? Hope you have such delightful fun enjoying these times...and making fun lists!

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