Brilliant Mornings

The Pizza and Poetry Club stop a robbery, learn how Germany moved into a prosperous season after WWII, share poetry, help a dying butterfly population and learn what it means to be an arrow shot into the future!  It’s a full episode with an interview from Mr. Chris from Germany and some closing thoughts from the memoirs of Heinz Meyer.  Enjoy music by Vivaldi (Italian); Bach and Beethoven.  This w...

Spring - it’s a time of new beginnings.  Today be prepared to hear the raw experiences from the memoirs of Heinz Meyer, my grandfather, who was a boy living in Germany during World War II.  He eloquently recounts his stories from during and after the war - and interestingly he did an amazing job comparing the end of the war to spring!   You will need: 1. An orange and a pencil or pen to push throu...

Today we begin exploring the seasons, with a collection of classic works, enjoying the concerto Spring by the Italian Vivaldi, the poem "Spring" by the English William Blake, and the beginning of the seasons of Germany's history. Number of the week: 18 Reading Lesson of the week: Long Vowel Recognition You will need: Print or write out the first stanza of this poem so children can r...

The Renaissance gave birth to new and revived forms of art, architecture, inventions, and ideas!  Today, we explore Martin Luther's world-changing ideas as the Pizza and Poetry group chase a thief through Central Park to retrieve a suit of armor from Martin Luther's time. You will need: 1. Math manipulatives (17 of any type of counter that can be used to count and create math problems) 2...

Grab some math manipulatives and get ready to sing and smile (do you know how many muscles you use when you smile?)! Today we continue with the months of the year and counting to 17 for preschoolers, math problems for K-1st grade, and the Renaissance invention of the PRINTING PRESS by Johannes Gutenberg.  Also, solve three mysteries:  Micah's Mystery Creature The theft at the NYC MET The Myst...

This week, we invite you to explore the stages of the butterfly's life cycle - you can even order a kit in which you receive caterpillars and watch them form cocoons and become butterflies! Number of the Week: 17 Poetry: Haiku (17 syllables);  Concept: What is a syllable?  Find out how many are in your name!  You will need: 1. (Optional) Butterfly Kit 2. Math manipulatives (counters): if you...

What was childhood like in Poland in the mid-20th century? Today we learn about growing up in Częstochowa fifty years ago, and we finish the mystery story which traces Copernicus' path (and secrets) around Poland!  Number math: sums that equal 16 Reading Chunk: AI Calendar: Months of the Year Note on Story: We strive to be historically accurate in all accounts; however, the idea of Leonardo d...

Who is hungry for a blueberry pierogi? This special episode features interviews with family members who remember some challenging times in the history of our mystery country.  Join us as we celebrate this amazing nation!  You will need: 1) Math manipulatives for counting 2) Hands-on activities for children to play with as they listen to the fascinating story that spans 1000 years! 

Sometimes we need to show true bravery! Today we welcome a guest who will tell her story of bravery when she found a mouse in an unlikely place! The Pizza and Poetry Group travels today to the mystery country and is introduced to its cuisine, a glittering town, a mountain range and wildlife.  You will need: Write down the following rhyming words on a blackboard, whiteboard, or on separate cards: p...

There are many ways to be brave! Today we will hear about one man who had to be brave enough to go against an idea that most of the world believed. His new idea was called heliocentrism.  The children in our mystery story will make a model of our heliocentric solar system using round cookies.  Today we continue to learn about the special number 16 and the “ai” chunk.   You will need: Math manipula...

This week we will hear stories of people who displayed true bravery!  We will read a poem about bravery to apply to our lives.  We begin with our Months of the Year Song, encourage a Months of the Year Clock craft, then dive into the numbers 12 and 16, both multiples of 4. We'll hear the "ai" chunk in use and learn new map skills (lines of latitude) to try to locate our mystery coun...

Where did the Indian civilization begin? Why did they need to win their Independence? Who was Gandhi? Today we wrap up our fun activities with the number 15, counting in 5's, Fibonacci's Sequence, the pr- blend and understanding love!  You will need: 1. Counters 2. Any pictures/books to provide visuals and familiarize yourself with India and Mahatma Gandhi. 3. Activity: Try eating a blan...

Today is our Mystery Country Reveal!   As we continue thinking about Fibonacci's Sequence and his number patterns found in nature (see the Brilliant Mornings Instagram for a fun video on how to draw the famous spiral) we will discover a colorful land which also produced mathematic geniuses!   You will need: 1) Counters (Math manipulatives) 2) Optional, to go further: Research tools (books/Int...

A musical and poetic feast awaits listeners today as we move from a mystery creature, to counting by 5's, to personification with a special guest, to a detective investigation, wrapped up with a new musical interpretation of our positive quotes from 1 Corinthians 13.  Enjoy! You will need: 1) Math counters!  Ten group manipulatives (ten sticks/beads/other objects) for counting and adding 2) N...

Time to catch those thieves!  Learn about Fibonacci's number sequence as we work with detectives in Pisa, Italy.  Find these special numbers all around you! You will need: 1. Paper and instruments for writing 2. Nature journals 3. (Optional) A way to view Instagram (BrilliantMornings) to find a tutorial video by our math expert, and helpful visuals to understand the Fibonacci sequence. 4. Mat...

This week we begin to explore patterns - in numbers, poetry and nature - as we introduce Fibonacci - an Italian mathematician!  Our number of the week is 15, and our blend is PR.  You will need: 1) If possible to find or purchase (even if it arrives later in the week) - the book Blockhead: the Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'Agnese, illustrated by John O'Brien. (You may omit some name-call...

Today we wrap up one adventure and chase down some thieves after discovering Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel!  You will need: 1) Manipulatives with which to play while listening to the story. 2) A picture (online or printed) of the Creation of Adam - a portion of the fresco painted by artist Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel - and any other pictures of the Sistine Chapel fresco. Discuss what i...

Join your friends at Brilliant Mornings as we introduce the mystery country and some of it's most amazing minds!  It looks like the Pizza and Poetry Group has crossed the Atlantic Ocean for an adventure...stay tuned!  You will need: 1. Math manipulatives (for counting/adding) 2. Paper and pencils for drawing 3. A special sketchbook dedicated to nature exploration drawings 4. Any books or reso...

Today we dive into the meanings behind certain the days of the week - which were named after the sun, moon and planets - and learn a song about the planets.  We continue with our number 14-centered math activities and the -ay chunk.  Parents are encouraged to use this day for exploration - reading about the planets, discovering great inventors, and encouraging their children to spend time sketchin...

Today we begin a mystery story that includes many opportunities to recognize -ay chunks and work with addition and even multiplication concepts, while focusing on the number 14.  Parents can listen to the episode with their children, providing hands-on manipulatives (puzzles, toys, kinetic sand, etc.) for the younger ones who can play and absorb what they hear simultaneously.  You will need:  1) 2...

Spice up your Monday morning as we introduce our number of the week - 14; chunk of the week - ay; mystery country clue and much more! This episode includes activities for a variety of ages - the target ages being 4-8, as it’s a family-style meeting with a little something for everyone.  Children four and under should have coloring or quiet toys available for them so they can play while listening t...