This Week in Motion

Theme of the Week

ABC's

Books of the Week

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Eating The Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Music & Movement - Song of the Week “Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom”

Activity - Letters

1. 1 letter per day

2. brainstorm (with child) words that begin with that letter sound

3. Magnetic letters on fridge (“Find the letter…”)

4. Foam letters for bathtub (“Find the letter…”)

5. Blank paper and crayons (“write the letter…,” “circle the letter…”)

6. Cookie tray with salt, practice letter formation then shake it out (“Find the letter…”)

7. Wikki stix to make letters (“Form the letter…”)

8. Bath crayola crayons in tub (“Write the letter…”)

Development

Magnetic Magna Drawing Doodle Board 

Recipe of the Week -Yummy Alphabet Soup*credit: sallysbakingaddiction.com

Description

This alphabet vegetable soup recipe is easy, homemade, and satisfying. It freezes wonderfully and keeps perfectly for lunches all week. Add your favorite spices and use your favorite vegetables. Alphabet pasta is really fun, but any small shaped pasta works!

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup chopped yellow onion (1/2 of a large onion)

1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

*3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

8 cups beef, chicken, or vegetable broth3–4 cups frozen, canned, or fresh vegetables

*1 medium potato, peeled & chopped (1 heaping cup)

1 bay leaf

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 cup dry alphabet pasta

*Instructions

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a 5 quart (or larger) pot or dutch oven. Add the garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, thyme, and pepper. Stir and cook for 5 minutes as the onion softens.Add broth, vegetables, potato, bay leaf, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then add uncooked pasta. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf.Serve soup warm and top with fresh parmesan cheese, if desired.Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week. To reheat, simply pour into a pot over medium heat and cook until warm. Feel free to add more broth to the leftovers as it cooks if it is too thick. (It thickens in the refrigerator as the potatoes and noodles soak up the liquid.)