Thursday, September 30, 2010

What a great morning ... with Chocolate cake too!!

Hi Everyone - What a great morning we had at Playgroup!  Thank you parents for making the effort to come along on a rainy date ... we had FUN ... we danced, sang, signed a little and played a lot!

As requested here's a copy of the Chocolate cake the adults ate for morning tea (along with one or two children too - YUM YUM!).


Chocolate Cake

1 cup all-purpose white flour (sifted)
1 cup white sugar
½ tsp salt (to taste)
½ tsp baking soda
2 oz (2 squares) unsweetened chocolate squares - melted (I sometimes use the Baker's Premium 70% dark melting chocolate squares ie 1 square = 1 ounce)
½ cup oil (canola)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce (smooth and not too thick – at room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs (lightly beaten – at room temperature)

Heat oven to 350oF.  Generously grease with butter (not oil) and line, with parchment paper, the bottom only of an 8 or 9 inch square pan.

In a bowl combine all the above ingredients (in the order listed is fine).
Stir until well blended. 
Pour batter mixture into prepared pan.

Bake at 350oF for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.  (I have a hot oven so I bake at 300oF/150oC for 40 minutes).

Ice with your favourite chocolate frosting.  Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.

See you at the next playgroup on Thursday, 14 October - THEME: COLOURS


Monday, September 20, 2010

Programme Highlights : 2010-2011

Here are some highlights of playgroup activities for Shining Stars since the group's inception!

2010

September 20 - You are my Shining Star!
Activity: Paper plate handcrafted stars, including a photo of each child

October 14 - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? (signing colours)

October 28 - Old MacDonald Had a Farm (identifying and signing farm animals)
Activity:  Paper bag hand puppets

November 25 - Hands, Hands, Fingers, Drum (tapping to a Drum beat)

2011

January 27 - Let's Celebrate

February 10 - Let's meet some Zoo Animals (Zoo Animals by Rod Campbell)

Febuary 24 - Colours, Shapes and Puzzles

March 24 - We're Going on a Bear Hunt (lots of improvisation and movement)

April 7 - The Wheels on the Bus

May 2 - Five Little Ducks

June 9 - Tea Party

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Alphabet in American Sign Language (ASL)

Click the Weehands link via Youtube for the Alphabet in American Sign Language (ASL).



Also try Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? (we'll be reading and signing this book in October for teaching colours).

Have fun!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Looking for the words of a children's song?

Try this link to kididdles sent in by Vivian.

There are a wide selection of traditional songs, some with accompaniment, plus an activity sheet to download.

Enjoy!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Music for moving to the beat ...

A selection of children's music by Kids Music Co will begin our playgroup series music sessions with the following:
  • Greeting song (eg shaking hands, saying hello)
  • Identifying body parts (eg patting our head, clapping our hands, stamping our feet)
  • Marching together 
  • Large motor movement
  • Counting
  • Stretching way up high, down low
  • Playing and stopping
  • Relaxation
  • Rest
Parents are welcome to recommend their child's favourite song from their own CD collections at home.

Also included in 2011 will be listening to music from Love to Sing New Zealand (click to down a free song of one of their latest cd's).

More great resources include the following international groups (founded in New Zealand) from
mainly music (located in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and many more countries).