Mealtimes are a celebrated part of human culture and a major part of our day. We strive to help children develop mindfulness around eating, courteous manners, and tidy habits. We insist that children sit down while they are chewing food, and chew and swallow before talking. Please help us encourage mindfulness and safety around eating. Please do not let your child eat food while walking into the school building. If your child has some breakfast they haven’t finished, you are welcome to send it with them in a container (wrapped in a paper towel is fine). We will help them find a place to sit, and they can eat while they are sitting down. Thank you!

There are some rhythm songs the children love to play! We bring out maracas, tambourines, egg shakers, and hand drums, and explore rhythms and musical patterns. Our favorite rhythm songs are “Going to the Circus” and “Shake and Stop!”

One of our favorite poems also uses our bodies to create rhythms and sounds:

Rainstorm
At the beginning of a rainstorm, first we hear the wind
(rub hands together)
Then the rain comes, lightly at first (snap lightly)
Then harder (slap knees lightly)
And harder (slap knees more strongly)
Until finally, we hear the thunder! (stomp on the ground)
Then, the thunder dies away, and we hear the rain
(Slap knees strongly)
And the rain gets softer (slap knees lightly)
And softer (snap lightly)
Until finally, all we hear is the wind (rub hands together)