Pop Goes the Weasel

For Flowering Baby this month we are singing Pop Goes the Weasel. It struck me that I did not know the words and also I did not understand what it meant! So I thought I would do a little research. It seems it dates back to the 1700's. The verse is derived from Cockney Rhyming slang. The Cockney's were suspicious of strangers and dislike of the police (and still are). Cockney's developed a language of their own based roughly on rhyming slang. It was difficult to understand and often the second noun was dropped. Apples and Pears means stairs but was abbreviated to just apples e.g. watch your step on the apples. To Pop means to pawn i.e. sell. Weasel and stout means coat. It was traditional for even poor people to have a suit for Sundays. When times were hard they would sell their coat on Monday and but it back before Sunday!

Up and down the city road, in and out of the eagle refers to The Eagle Tavern which is located in Hackney, London. It was an old pub that became a Music Hall in 1825. It was purchased by the Salvation Army in 1833. It was then demolished and became a pub in 1901

Shadows

Today was a beautiful day. The spring sun has come out, the daffodils are blooming and the sky was blue. As we walked to school the sun was behind and it created the best shadows. This led to a game of trying to jump on our shadows. The best bit was when James had to try and jump on my shadow head and I had to go "ouch that hurt" in a silly voice. I ask James where the light had to be to create a shadow and he said behind us. What a wonderful way to teach all about shadows! I think we will be playing this game again!

Runaway Bunny

We are gradually rowing Goodnight Moon. I love the fact that we can dip into the row as we are able and still enjoy in in a fresh way as we come at it at a different angle. Today we read the Runaway Bunny and on the page where Mother Rabbit is sitting in the living room with Little Rabbit we chatted about whether we thought the Little Rabbit was the same one as in Goodnight Moon. James said he thought it was because the picture of the Cow jumping Over the Moon. He then said Good night was on day and Runaway bunny was on the other day! Hannah loves the Runaway Bunny book as well as Goodnight Moon. her favourite page is when Mother Rabbit is a tree - she laughs and laughs at this page!

We have been regularly also reading an Usbourne Fairy Tale Book which both children absolutely love. James' favourite is Sleeping Beauty and Hannah is totally in love with Goldilocks! I am not sure if she associates herself with the fact the book says that Goldilocks is naughty! Both children know Hey Diddle of by heart now which is so sweet.

I have now set up the Sensory Box which Hannah has already taken to. James is stil interested but not for as long as Hannah. he tends to enjoy finding all the little toys than feeling the actual medium. I used black turtle beans for this - James said did that mean they came from turtles. I told him I did not know! According to my Google search which I have just done they are succinctly called black turtle beans because of their shiny, dark shell like appearance. I also read that they are very good for colon health - I wonder what you can cook with them!

I have also set up the cardboard house for this week complete with washing line and little pegs. I will be interested to see if Hannah is interested in this. We continue to read go-along books and have found a great Usbourne Book about going to the Moon. James has asked to go on a night walk this week so we will do that Friday. We are going to the park to check out his hedgehog nest and see if there are any animals. I hope and pray it is a clear night!