Mapping and Tulips

We took a break from our regular schedule, and spent the morning building classroom maps. We used blocks to build a model of the classroom together, then broke into small pairs to create student versions including a map key. In the afternoon, we began our investigation of tulips by observing and asking questions about the bulbs, then planting and recording our observations and predictions. Next, we will look inside a bulb! Ask your child to tell you more!

Worms and Fire Hats

The kids had a day full of discovery with our Four Winds lesson and fire station visit.  We observed worms and learned about their role in our ecosystem, then learned about our community fire fighters and the jobs they do! We also reviewed fire safety. Does your child know how to call 911 using a cell phone? Does your family have a plan in case of a fire? The firefighters gave the kids “homework” to talk with you about a meeting place outside if everyone had to evacuate the home, and to practice just like our fire drills at school. We left wearing our fire hats, and were declared honorary fire fighters!

ECO

Ken and Zac from North Branch Nature Center joined us for our science lesson this week.  We continued to practice the routines and expectations of using an outdoor learning space and walking in our community.  We also had a pretty neat deer sighting!  In the forest, we used planning, cooperation, flexible thinking and collaborating to begin to create a trail in the woods to allow us to safely navigate the hill and prevent erosion.  We also used natural materials to create leaf insects with all of their correct body parts, or leaf mandalas.  Ask your child to sing you the "Head, Thorax, Abdomen" song!