It's Fall!

Thursday of this week was the official first day of fall and we were lucky enough to eek out some dry hours for our field trip to Chapin Orchard! To prepare for this adventure we spent time learning about how the apple tree changes through the seasons, as well as the life cycle of an apple from seed to fruit.  A classic book called The Seasons Of Arnolds Tree provided this inspiration for this art/literacy activity:

At the orchard, we had a fabulous guide named Kathy who tapped into all we had been learning about. She asked for a little help from some of the grown ups who were with us to crank the cider press and...demonstrate the role of a pollinator!  Miss Molly made an excellent bee.

Back at school the learning continued about apples via a taste test on Friday morning.  Which do you like best- red, red, or yellow apples?

Okay, so mouths full may not be the best time to take a picture!

Here's how the children looked while playing a new math game called Break It.  It's all about the combinations that make 5.

All in all, a fabulous week!

First Full Week

We really did pack a lot into our first five day week! The pictures I selected are meant to give you an idea of the different modalities of learning that children are engaged with throughout their days.

The hours spent in my garden over the weekend yielded a treasure box from the fairies that we took to the courtyard.  Building in some additional outdoor time is a must while the weather is mild.

Again I couldn't resist using our celebration time for extra playground time, (though there was a strong suggestion for PJ day).  I assured the children that PJ day is even more fun when it's cold out and there will be one in our future. But for now...

This week we made the second re-readable, predictable book for our keep boxes.  This one is called Shape Monster and the children had fun tearing little corners out of the shapes to look like a monster had a nibble.

In the middle of the week we used pattern blocks to fill in designs and then we recreated the design with paper shapes that could be glued and taken home. You may have seen one come home in the Friday Folder.

We also played our first partner game in math.  It's called "Blastoff" and it involves collaboratively filling in the hexagons with trapezoids, triangles and rhombuses.  When the whole shape is filled in, partners countdown from 10...blastoff!

Explore time continues to be a great way to end our day.  The children follow their own lead and sometimes, after so much interaction, the easel is just the thing.

Shapes are Everywhere!

 It's the second post of the year and I'm hoping to give you a feel for the balance between self directed and teacher lead learning times that make up our day.  As the children build up interest and stamina for academics, I am busy learning about them!  

To help us recognize all the personalities, preferences, languages, and cultures that make up our classroom community, we read two wonderful books: Karen Katz' The Colors of Us and We Are All Alike, We Are All Different by Cheltenham Elementary Kindergarteners.  Our "paper selves" are now on display in the  hallway outside our room. 

With shapes as prominent focus in Math this month, we went on a shape search around the school.  So many signs and features of the building are made of shapes!

Back in the classroom we constructed shapes on geoboards with rubber bands.

Later in the week we took out "the math tubs" for some student initiated sorting and designing.

To end this post, I'll leave you with a look at our Peace Corner.  We've been building it together with tools for comfort and calming as we learn about The Zones of Regulation, positive self talk, and taking breaks to reset.

Welcome to a New Year

Hello and happy back to school! I maintain this blog mostly for parents because it's one way I can offer a glimpse into the goings-on of the classroom. Throughout the week we spent time getting to know names, routines, how we use certain materials, and how much fun it is to learn and play together. The children have been to all their Integrated Arts classes and already decided that they LOVE recess, but these pics will show a bit about what on in our room. I did my best to capture a variety of our activities.

Making apple name tags...

Structured use of materials like sequence and opposite cards as well as patterns with pattern blocks...

Snack time...

Open ended play in with playdough, sand, and in the pretend area...

Forming connections- literally with puzzle and building pieces, and also with classmates!

Moving with Miss Smith, our Health teacher...

Staying in touch with nature- inside the classroom and out.

I hope you check back weekly to see how our learning deepens- we're off to a great start.