Finally the Sunbeams blog gets updated sorry it has taken so long!

We had a great christmas party with lot of food, puppets and fun to end last term. We are now back into the swing of things even though there was still a lot of snow today. We did meet up which was great especially as I want to get my little one out of the house!

Here are some new photos for you to enjoy, please join us soon...

More animal craft at Sunbeams!

This term we have been enjoying our craft activities, here are some photos for you to see! This week we start on our christmas crafts, how exciting!

Sunbeams is back on!

Hi there, Sunbeams has been meeting again for the last two weeks it has been lovely to see old faces missed over the summer and meet new ones. We are learning about Noahs ark and each week we hear a story from the bible involving a different animal. Here are some photographs of our different crafts;

Missing Sunbeams

Hope you are all having a lovely summer break and not missing Sunbeams too much! Just to let you know we will be re meeting on Thursday 11th September, looking forward to seeing you...

Here are some great photos of Sunbeams this term and all the fun we have been having.

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the long time since the blogs last update. Sunbeams has been lots of fun this last term and on Thursday 10th July we are visiting Finkley Down Farm before our summer break.

For information you can visit the website, www.finkleydownfarm.co.uk The farm is just signposted off of the A 303 and it takes about 45 mins to get there. For all those planning to join us we look forward to meeting you in the carpark at Finkley Down at 10.00am. If you have any questions you can always call Becky on 01252 875113 or 07754697071.

See you there!

We hope you all had a very happy Easter weekend! At Sunbeams last week we made Easter cards, learnt about the Easter story and sang lots more songs together. Please come and join us next week we would love to see you.

Sunbeams is glad to be back on following half term. We all had fun on Thursday making our craft and listening to more stories about Jesus.

Lots of fun!

Theme for the Term
This term we are going to be looking at stories from the life of Jesus. This will include Parables (stories that Jesus told) and things that Jesus did. The stories will all be told using puppets which hopefully the children will enjoy. The craft each week will be linked into the story.
In addition there will be an activity sheet available for your children to take home each week which will relate to the morning.
If you have any questions please speak to Becky or one of the other members of the team. Also, if you have any suggestions we are always happy to hear them.

This week we learnt about Jesus blessing children. We had lots of fun with the puppets, singing our toys and craft.

Sunbeams 2008

We have started meeting again this new year, enjoying ourselves with lots of craft, singing, puppets, toys and new friends.

More updates and pictures to follow.

We're back on....

Thursday 13th September!!!
I know for those of you without school children it is another week to wait but it gives those who do have children at school or just starting a week to ease into the routine!

Just to let you know as well Becky had her baby a lovely gorgeous boy called Isaac, weighing in at 10lb 10z (don't you just love that one extra ounce!!) Mother and baby are doing really well and I'm sure will make an appearance but is not able to help as much straight away.

Also, Hayley who was helping last term has gone back to work until baby number two comes next year so ANY help would be appreciated especially with set up.

THANK YOU so much for all those of you who helped last term with set up it was really appreciated!!

See you all soon!!

Sunshine or rain...

Well if we like it or not the summer holiday period is here and we have children to entertain so what do you do?

Here are some suggestions for outdoor activities that you made. I will add some more when I have time. Please let us know if you go to any and what they are like!!

Park/Animals
Trilakes, Yateley
Alice Holt Park, Farnham (parking costs)
Sandhurst Memorial Park, Sandhurst (free)
Yateley Green Park, Yateley
Lookout, Bracknell
Fleet Pond, Fleet (free)
Wellington Country Park, nr Arborfield
Frensham Ponds and Little Frensham Ponds, Farnham
King George V Park, Farnborough (free)
Beale Park nr Reading
Lightwater Country Park, Lightwater (free)
Paultons Park nr Southampton
California Country Park, Finchampstead
Finkley Down Farm, nr Andover
Birdworld, Farnham
Fishers Farm, nr Guildford
Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood (free entry, parking fee- max whole day £8)
Seaworld, Portsmouth
Marwell Zoo, nr Winchester
Butterfly World, London
Frimley Lodge Park, Farnborough (free)
Boulters Lock, Maidenhead (free)
Indoor Play Areas
Fizzy Kids, North Camp
Runabout, Farnborough
Rushmoor Gym, Aldershott (12:45 -1:45 Summer Holidays timetable £1 per person)
Swimming
Coral Reef, Bracknell
Carnival Pool, Wokingham
Indoor
Haslemere Natural History Museum (free)
Natural History Museum London
Intech, nr Winchester
Milestones Museum, Baisingstoke (great for little ones, dressing up and post office)

CONGRATULATIONS to John and Louise!!!!!

John sent this message....

Louise will be returning I am sure sometime soon. She has got her hands full as we now have another boy!
Luke James Piper was born on the 26/6/07 at 5:09am! Mother and baby
doing well, Father pretty tired!

So pleased for you both we were all wondering when your new arrival had come. Hope all is well. John it was lovely having you part of the group and Louise we look for ward to seeing you again. We start back in September but if you do feel like getting out join us at Runabouts this Thursday at 12 noon we'd love to see you.

EVERYONE ELSE: if you can help with toy cleaning come at 10 am and everyone else see you at Runabouts...
Sue sorry you can't come have a lovely holiday!!

Where did June go?

I hadn't realised how busy June was until I looked at the website and saw I hadn't posted since May. My apologies!!

Well this week is the last week of Sunbeams until September....I know what are we all going to do all summer. Well I was wondering if we could all pool our ideas. So come along on Thursday with any ideas for things to do...places to go..the more mad the better! Then I will put these up on the website.

If you missed out the last few weeks our craft has been definitely on the messy side. We have been letting the children just explore with paint and glue. This is something they really enjoy and is important for them to do. If you don't like getting paint out in your house why not make the most of the summer months (if we get them!) and let your children paint outside and on themselves (just wash off in the paddling pool!)

The paint we had last week used soap flakes mixed with warm water and paint. You then whisk it up until it looks like meringue. Then get your fingers in and paint!!

Next week (Thursday July 19th), to celebrate the end of term we are going to meet up at around lunch time at Runabout in Farnborough.

Here's to this year..

we have played,

read stories

dressed up,

jumped,

created,

made tea

and most of all made friends!!!

Rockets and Trips

Hope you enjoyed making the rockets on Thursday. if you missed out here is what we did...
I printed out a rocket template from DLTK (I did have to adjust it slightly) and then use lots of different shapes of pasta to stick on with LOTS of PVA glue.

This activity is aimed at 18 month + and is *child lead*. This means there is lots of scope for your child to do what they want without too much help from you. Things you can do to help them is to asking questions like...

"Which pasta is straight/wiggly/round/bumpy?"...this helps your child to begin to recognise different shapes.
"What shapes would make good windows etc?"

Children love gluing and having the *bumpy* nature of pasta on their picture. Why not find some other pictures to stick pasta onto or you could cut out a shape like a butterfly, a flower or a car.

Other things that are fun to stick are lentils (red or green), split peas (yellow) or rice. Rice can also be coloured by adding a tiny bit of food colouring to it.

Go on let your child have fun expresssing themselves without you doing it for them!

NEWS
Half term is the 31st May so there will be no Sunbeams that day.

Becky will be taking her maternity leave from the Sunbeams Team from after half term. This means there will be one less person to help set up and clear away. If you can help even just once or twice please let me know as it is SO much easier if there are more people. We generally start setting up at 9:30.

Thursday 7th May is our trip to Finkley Down Farm (we will not meet this week at the Leisure Centre) If you bring the money on the 24th June (this week) I can get a group discount and we will also buy a bag of food for each child in the group. Adults are £5.50 Children 2-14 are £4.50. (non group rates are Adult £6 and children 2-14 £5) Feel free to invite other members of your family as well and we can include them in the group booking too.

We will be meeting at 10:15 am at Finkley Down Farm. We have to go in as a whole group so if you are going to be late please text me. I will give out contact details this week.
Hopefully it will be really nice weather like last year because we all had a lovely time.