Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine's Day Deferred

Overtaken by a horrendous stomach virus, I was forced to stay home and miss Valentine's Day for the first time in my teaching career.  Someone at school joked (I hope!) that I had stayed home on purpose, but I've always got big plans for Valentine's Day.

So we celebrated together today, when I was finally healthy enough to haul myself (and my many bags of teapots, tea, electric "water hotters," scones, muffins, whipping cream, lemon curd, plates, napkins, flatware, tablecloths, baskets, serving pieces, bowl, whisk, tulips, and of course books) to school.  Big plans, I tell you!


As one child pointed out, "Today was an unusual day"--with my assistant out sick, picture day, an assembly for a fundraiser kick-off, and three volunteers from a local high school . . . and then I added tea party, on top of that!

The children organized our desks into one long table, laid out tablecloths, and set the table with plates, flatware, napkins, and teacups. (Yes, our napkins should have been on the left side of the plates.)  Our Beautiful Classroom Manager arranged flowers in vases to decorate the table. Children washed their hands and assembled baskets of scones and muffins.


 










Another group of children took turns whisking cream into whipped cream.  (Boys helped, too!  They just didn't happen to be standing still when I was snapping photos.)

We had a short lesson on manners, types of tea (white, green, and black), and the regions in which it is grown. To the amazement of all, we watched a tied ball of white tea “bloom” into a flower when hot water was added. We then sat down at the table, napkins in laps, and passed baskets of scones and mini-muffins, along with whipped cream and lemon curd, from left to right. Our lovely high school volunteers poured three different kinds of tea: white “blooming tea,” Moroccan Mint green tea, and Coconut Assam black tea.

Children were invited to use tongs to add one sugar cube to their black tea. Those first moments when everyone settles into his/her cup of tea and scone are always so lovely and peaceful!

 







Then the children, along with our very dedicated (retired professor) volunteer, helped to clean up! 



If these teacups could talk . . .

They would tell you that photographs are far quieter than our classroom really was. 



Yes, it was an unusual day, and this tends to discombobulate some of my little people.  Fortunately, we had the helping hands and energetic, patient souls of our very dedicated reader-listener volunteer and the three lovely high school students (Chloe, Anna, and Mireille).  We couldn't have done it without them!



There's a Book for That!
Emma Lea’s First Tea Ceremony by Babette Donaldson
Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson
A Valentine for Norman Noggs by Valiska Gregory

Tea in the East by Carole Manchester
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