WOW Words

Our literacy focus this week was on finding rich, descriptive words in different text. I chose two books about autumn to read to the class and we worked to find examples of WOW Words. In the story, Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber the children found words such as flutter, vivid, and broad. In The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger, we chose soar, amber, and scarlet. The children were placed into small groups and each given a task: find the word on a photocopied dictionary page, highlight the word, read the definition, write the word on an index card, record a kid-friendly definition, and share your findings with the class. Each student also drew a picture of the word they learned about to help them remember it's meaning. We will work to use these vivid words in our writing and daily conversations.

Current Themes

We completed our insect unit last week and are now beginning a year long study of communities for social studies. The children will examine how different communities work, starting with our own classroom community then examining the school community, the community of Montpelier, our state as a community, and so on. We are looking forward to several walking field trips throughout the year including the fire station, police department, state house, and other local businesses. In science this month, we will be examining the scientific method through the study of bulbs. Students will plant bulbs this week, observe and record bulbs inside and out and make predictions about when they will emerge in the spring. We will also be discussing the theme of "Autumn" through read alouds. Next week, students will be listening to stories about fall and identifying descriptive words. We will define these words and try using them in conversations and our writing.

ECO

Last Thursday we were lucky to be able to be outside all morning on such a beautiful fall day! We joined Heather Bates' class to review ECO routines, continue our insect study, and learn about "sit spots". The children explored the field, participated in an insect relay race, and created insect models using materials found in the woods. We also harvested two sunflowers that we had planted as kindergartners to bring back to school for drying and collecting the seeds. The highlight of our morning was creating "sit spots" in the woods. The children chose a place in the woods that appealed to them and started to work to make it their own. Some collected sticks and began building a "fort". Others founds stumps for chairs, a branch with leaves for a broom, and pine cones for "food". The purpose is for the children to feel comfortable in the woods, develop a love of nature, and build a desire to take care of the earth. We closed our morning with a "Thanksgiving Circle" and each share something we were thankful for from our day in the woods. Each child thoughtfully told something they were thankful for and most mentioned their sit spots. The children are very eager to return to the woods and revisit their sit spots!