Vegetable Proteins

Here at daycare, we eat mostly vegetarian.  With the exception of some tuna or deli meat from time to time, it's veggies for us.  But where's the protein?  Lisa Leake, author of the blog 100 Days of Real Food said it best, in regards to the meals she packed for her children's lunches,  when she said "no one's ever heard of someone having protein deficiency."  Why?  Because there are lots of ways to get protein without meat.  Here's her full opinion on protein.

Ok, so feeling better already.  But still having trouble when making meals that are well rounded? Here's how I plan our meals.  I think of a main dish I want to make.  Then I think, does it contain protein, grain, dairy or vegetables?  If so, cross those off the list.  If not, add a side.  Then add some fruit and a glass of milk or water.  Voila!  Easy balanced meal.

Remember that some items are both proteins and dairy like milk and cheese.  Or both vegetables and proteins like broccoli or legumes.  Items can be dairy in one meal and protein in another meal of you want.  Shoot for half a plate of fruits and vegetables, 1/4 a plate of protein and 1/4 plate of grain plus a glass of milk.

So what else besides peanut butter and cheese count as a protein?  Here's a great list of proteins found in plant food:

Some of my other quick go to proteins are yogurt, egg, cheese, hummus, and nuts (though be careful to chop or grind nuts for smaller children.)

Have fun with your meal planning.  I hope this makes meals easier for you and your child as well as quicker and less costly.  It's been said that making just one family meal a week vegetarian can do great things for you health, immunity and even weight loss.  

Enjoy!

Book Review: The Smiley Book of Colors

I picked up this book at the library for a colors and rainbow unit.  I skimmed it and didn't fully read it until I got home and I just fell in love with the words of this book!  Such a great message about happiness.  I think I'll add it to our Emotions unit too.  We like to read it twice.  Once with the words  (I love that it rhymes) and then again with only the color words.  The smiley faces in the book encourage us to look for smiley when we're out and about.  I'm for sure putting this book on my wish list for our future classroom library!

Here's the Summary from Amazon:

This unique book, which grew out of the popular website Spontaneous Smiley, will appeal to kids and adults. Who can resist the wacky, cute smiley faces to be spied in photos of colorful found objects? Young readers will enjoy learning their colors as they're identifying what the smileys are made from—an electrical outlet, a hubcap, even a piece of toast—and readers of all ages will appreciate the witty rhyming text, and its inspirational message about choosing happiness.

And here's a bit about the author:

RUTH KAISER is a mom, an artist, an actor, and a teacher. Her Internet-based Spontaneous Smiley project is made up of thousands of people photographing and posting smiley faces they find in everyday objects. (This was started long before the recent American Express ad campaign featuring similar images.) In August 2009, Spontaneous Smiley began a partnership with the charity Operation Smile, which funds surgeries for children around the globe with facial deformities. A smiley upload earns a $1 donation to Operation Smile.
Spontaneous Smiley, which has recieved well over 13 million page requests, has been used in high-school art projects in New Jersey and Washington State, and for a Girl Scout troop in California. It has gotten lots of press globally—including China—and it was recently featured on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Have Printer....Will Teach!

Thanks to all the super people out there who make tons of Montessori-style printables and cards, we have lots to learn.  The best part?  All I have to do is print them out!

Here's my secret system 

to one of the easiest and cheapest 

ways to teach:

1. Three-Part Cards

• First find what you want to teach (parts of a bird, types of flowers, planets, etc...)  Then use internet images to make three-part cards (picture and name, picture alone, name alone)
• Here's a template  that I use.  It's so easy!  Don't forget to store a copy on your computer in case you need to replace a card piece.
• Laminate for durability if desired.  You can use clear shelf liner contact paper or laminating pouches
• Cut apart

2. Control Cards (File Folder Games)

• Use a glue stick to attach the picture and name card (control card) to a colored or plain file folder.  Think about the layout.  (If you know a song about the continents, put the cards down in that order.  Place planet cards in order by which is closest to the sun.  Place life-cycle cards in a circular shape on the file folder...)
• Laminate for durability if desired.  You can use clear shelf liner contact paper or laminating pouches
• Punch closed file folder on folded edge with a three-hole punch.
• Store file folder games in a three-ring binder

3. Cardstock Storage Folders

• Take a single sheet of colored or plain cardstock and fold it into a small pocketed folder following the tutorial (click on above image from Montessori Printshop.)
• Laminate for durability if desired.  You can use clear shelf liner contact paper or laminating pouches
• Attach velcro dots or large paperclips for closures if desired
• Label top edges and file in a box

4. Power Point Flash Cards

• Now use those same images to make a simple Power Point slide show (flash cards) to go along with the cards.  We go through the current cards twice a day for two weeks.

5. Related Toys and Books

• Now put any related toys or books out that week. (Learning about Animals of Africa?  Take out Manacala, African print fabrics, toy animals, globe, books on animals or Africa, put grass clippings and sand in the sensory tub.....use what you have on hand!)

That's it!!!  So Easy!!!

Let's review:

1. Print / Make Cards
2. Make File Folder Game (Control Cards)
3. Store Cards
4. Make Power Point Flash Cards
5. Take out Related Toys and Books

Now how to use them:

• Match the picture cards to the control cards
• Match the picture and name cards to the control cards
• Match the name cards to the picture cards (check control cards after for self-correction)
• Match 3D items to the control or picture cards
• Match The name cards to a poster, puzzle, book or just about anything
• Line up or sort the picture cards by attributes
• Use the cards as discussion starters
• Match related cards to control cards (animals to continents, vehicles to community helpers...)

That's just a few ideas.  

Here's a couple more creative ways to add to your teaching:

• Use the file folder control cards and the picture cards as a bingo board
• Use the file folder control cards and sound effects on the computer as a sound bingo game
• Make doubles of the picture cards for matching or memory game
• Mix and match cards to make a new set (Africa= continent card, cheetah card, lion card...)