Spring Break begins Thursday, March 23!

Spring Break begins on Thursday! We wish all in the Lower School community warm sun and a wonderful spring break!

Matemáticas en 2º Grado / Mathematics in 2nd Grad

In my continuous commitment to connect the Spanish language experience to curricular studies, opportunities are often provided for all students to practice their habilidades matemáticas (mathematics skills). Games and active, hands-on experiences to develop age-appropriate mathematical understandings are regularly integrated in class routines such as counting each other when seated during start of class meeting and “adding” or “subtracting” those that are not present. From our youngest learners in EC to our Lower School líderes (leaders) in 4^th grade, all students are provided with experiences in their Spanish class to help gain increasing competence in the area or numeracy.

In second grade Spanish, the students have been practicing counting by 10’s to 1,000. To help review the learning, we first played “Number Bingo by 10’s to 100” and then “Number Bingo by100’s to 1,000.” Bingo is an incredible fun game that all the students love to play. Because everyone enjoys the thrill of finding the last item on the board, in Spanish class we keep playing until all friends get bingo. So, as to not distract the ones that are still playing, a celebración silenciosa (silent celebration) is encouraged until all can join in.

After the fun-filled games of Bingo, the second graders were invited to solve numerical equations. They solved simple and some complex addition, subtraction and multiplication calculations. First, we reviewed the words for mathematical symbols + (mas), - (menos), x (por) and = (son). Then, números and símbolos were called out in Spanish and the students would write it on their individual dry-erase board. Once the mathematical problem was calculated, the students were encouraged to respond by stating the full equation in español. For example, when asked in Spanish what is 70 + 30, the student would respond by stating setenta mas trenta son cien. Or, when questioned what is 8 x 5, the second grader replied ocho por cinco son cuarenta and 90 – 10 was answered as noventa menos diez son ochenta. The greatest joy was watching students of all levels of understanding and comprehension working together and supporting each other. ¡Que maravilla!

Second Grade: More Egypt!

Over the last few weeks, second grade has been fully immersed in everything Egypt! Recently, we took a trip to the Penn Museum. It was an absolute fabulous day! The UPenn docents were very impressed by the wealth of understanding that the students had! The second graders absolutely enjoyed the opportunity to view the many different aspects of Ancient Egypt that we have been learning about up close and in person. 

STAY TUNED for our upcoming event, Egypt Night! The second graders have been gathering a slew of information over the last few weeks about Ancient Egypt to share with their families! 

First Grade Hero Study

Our first graders have been deeply invested researching the heroes that they each chose to study.  Information is being gathered at home with their families as well as here at school, reading books, watching videos, and using internet resources.  We have been so impressed with how much they are learning about each other’s heroes as well as their own!

The students recently had a chance to share their hard work with their fourth grade partners.  It was inspiring to listen in and hear them share what they had discovered about their hero and in turn hear who their partner had researched when they were in first grade.  The students were filled with pride sharing their writing, drawing and hero portraits.

One aspect that each student undertook was finding a quote from their hero that had meaning to them.  These were shared with their classmates and are now on display in the hallway outside of Susan and Janmarie’s classroom.  Please be sure to stop by and be inspired.

We were all inspired on our visit to the National Liberty Museum in Center City, Philadelphia where the focus is to “live like a hero.”  Throughout the museum there were quotations and images of every kind of hero and amazing artwork that represented liberty.  Our guides provoked interesting and thoughtful conversations from the students relating to specific heroes such as Helen Keller and Wilma Rudolph.  They engaged deep thinking around diversity and liberty using artwork and story. When our guide asked what the students learned during their visit, some responses included: “We know about more heroes than before we came here. Fire and freedom can be the same thing; they can be good or bad. We can each do something to make a difference.”

The museum is a fascinating and inspiring place to visit. It would be wonderful destination for a family outing. You can check it out online http://www.libertymuseum.org/

Kindergarten Artists

Outdoor tree cookie sculpture

Our kindergarten class has been interested in art since the beginning of the school year. Drawing, painting, building, and sculpting with clay and play dough have been favorite kindergarten experiences without fail. The unusually warm weather has us spending even more time outside and the students have been noticing the ways they can continue to create outside. Wood chips, rocks, tree cookies and chalk were interesting materials to work with. Taking their cue, we ventured to the Philadelphia Art Museum to expand upon their growing interest in art and how it connects with nature.

Building, a favorite kindergarten activity

Painting with wet chalk

Visiting the Philadelphia Art Museum

Sketching nature images from paintings

Sharing individual sketches

After our art museum trip, we asked the students, "What is art?" Answers varied from "when you make something" or a type of art was named like painting or drawing. We saw a path that we could take with the class, a study about what art is and a deeper look into the art they were interested in exploring. The list below is what our class would like to focus on:

• carving
• clay
• sculpting
• watercolors
• building
• fairy houses
• weaving
• drawing

The class-created list is an interesting mix of art that can be created individually or as a collaborative effort. It is our hope that after our art study that the class will be able to develop a class definition of "What is art?" and try some favorite types of art as well as take a chance and try something new! The following pictures are just a few of the art forms that the class has already begun to try out due to interest and/or already developed skill.

Collaborative chalk mural

Group chalk mural

Collaborative wood sculpture

Collaborative shell sculpture inspired
by the work of environmental
artist Andy Goldsworthy

Finger weaving

Super hero cutouts for a comic book

This study will provide many opportunities for the integration of mathematical skills as we look at shapes and lines and develop more spatial awareness. Higher level thinking and problem solving skills will be strengthened as ideas are planned out, then implemented, along with flexibility as trials and errors force adaptations. Scientific skills of observation and the love of nature will continue to be nurtured as we incorporate the outdoors into our study. History and culture will also be explored as we look at a variety of artists from around the world, both from the present and from the past.Social and emotional skills will be enhanced as the kindergarten artists work individually and collaboratively on projects of their choosing as they build creative confidence and voice in their expression.

Kai, an 11th grader, sharing her ukulele and singing skills

Recently Kai, an eleven grade student at AFS, shared her singing and ukulele talents with the kindergarten students. The children were entranced and even had requests for songs from Hamilton! This musical experience was not only a wonderful way to connect across the grades but also served as a reminder of the many gifts that we all have. It was an important reminder that art can be found in many forms, from visual, to dance, to literature and music. After Kai's performance, our class wanted to add song writing and poetry to our art list to try out! If you have any art resources or have an artistic hobby or interest that you would like to share with kindergarten, please expand our growing artistic interest and knowledge by connecting with us. We welcome the gifts of our community and the students love home and school connections as well.