Friday, December 12, 2014
Winter Math Games
Kindergarten Clay
The kindergarten artists were thrilled to begin working with clay in the art room. We began with an exploration of clay during our "Clay Play Day," in which the students could test out the material. The students learned that clay is actually a special kind of mud mixed with water and comes from the earth. This time of open-ended exploration allows young artists to learn about the flexibility of a material, how they can manipulate it to make different shapes and forms and make observations about what happens to the clay's consistency when water is added or removed from the material. They made imaginative turtles, snowmen, snakes, castles, pancakes and much, much more!
In our next art class, the kindergarteners were introduced to the ancient technique of making coil pots. They started out forming a ball of clay which they then flattened to create a "cookie." Using smaller pieces of clay, they created "snakes," "worms," or coils to attach to their cookie. The students learned that a mixture of water and clay called slip works as the glue for the clay. They carefully added slip with a sponge between coils. As they added height to their coil pots that also added "funky snakes" or decorative coils to add visual interest their pots. Some students even created lids and handles for their pots. We can't wait for the pots to dry so that we can add beautiful colored glazes!
Outdoor Play
We are getting closer to winter, and it is getting COLD out there! We ask that you send your children to school with everything they might need to stay warm, because we still like to go outside whenever possible. Being outside has many benefits for children and adults alike. Not only do we get fresh, oxygen rich air that infuses our system with new energy, but we also experience a shift in the way that we perceive and experience the world around us. As soon as we step outside, our senses have to adapt instantly to a significantly more expansive environment. We experience a heightening of awareness in the auditory and visual realms, and especially for children, we experience a different set of possibilities for movement in the open space. Our outdoor playscape lends itself well to imaginative play, running, connection to nature, gross and fine motor development, and numerous opportunities to cooperate and compromise with friends.
Colonial Craft Day
Fourth grade's year long study of Philadelphia has progressed to the Colonial Era. What better way to discover things from the past than to do it through experiential learning? We spent an entire day over at the Meetinghouse, inside and out, exploring what life was like for children during the colonial era. We started the day with everyone making their own corn husk doll and doll clothes as well. We then spent the rest of the day rotating through craft stations that included candle making, calligraphy with quill pens, silhouette making, embroidery, time in the kitchen cooking Johnny cakes, and learning to play outdoor games such as The Three Graces and Blind Man's Bluff.The students had the opportunity to learn about the history of each activity while they participated in it, and they came away with a greater understanding of life back in the 1700's. They had delicious snacks at the end of the day that were comprised of authentic sweets and bread from the time period, and afterwards we sat together and reflected on our experience. The students had the opportunity to share what they enjoyed and discovered during the day. Based on their responses, which ran from utter shock in how long it took to make a candle, to being mystified as to how anyone wrote anything that was readable if it was written with a quill, it was an extremely successful Colonial Craft Day.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Important December Information
December 9, 2014
Dear Families,
Happy month of December! We have much going on these next two weeks. On Friday, December 12 at 3:15 we will be hosting our annual gift -wrap party in our Extended Day spaces. All are welcome to help create wrapping paper and wrap the gifts that have been donated. For more information, check the Lower School News and Notes blog entry.
Next week, on Friday, December 19, our incredible Lower School students (EC through 4th grade) will present the Lower School Winter Program, A Winter’s Tale. The performance will begin at10:00 a.m. in the Muller Auditorium. It is a good idea to arrive early to allow time for parking and getting settled in your seats. Seats are not assigned, nor should they be reserved. The performance runs approximately an hour. Lower School will be dismissed at noon on that day. There will be no buses available at noon, nor will there be Extended Day. Please make sure arrangements for your child’s pick-up have been made. It is fine to take your children home immediately following the program, but please be sure their teacher knows. With regard to student attire for the program, please HERE for specific information.
A really important note about parking:
As some of you are aware, the fire alarm recently went off after school due to an issue with the kiln in our art room. I’m happy to say everyone evacuated the building quickly and safely, and we managed to make sure no one got too chilly. In order for the fire department to access our building, it is necessary that they park in front of Lower School on the circle. No unattended vehicles may be parked on that circle as it truly does present a safety hazard for our school community. Please, if you need to park and leave your vehicle, park in one of the lots or on the far side of the circle. We cannot overstate the importance of this as was so recently demonstrated to us.
Progress reports will be mailed home on December 19. If you have questions about your child’s report, faculty will be glad to talk with you upon their return to school the first full week of January. School will reopen on Monday, January 5. If you are planning to send your child to Winter Break Student Care, please make sure you have submitted the form no later than this Friday so we can arrange for appropriate coverage.
When return from break, we will begin preparing for our Martin Luther King Day of Service. We will be collecting used books and clothing in the weeks leading up to the Day of Service on January 19. This is a great opportunity to clear out unwanted items to benefit others. More information will be sent home after break.
Many winter celebrations will be occurring over the next few weeks in the homes of our families, and for many, gifts will be exchanged. We truly feel each of our students and you, their families, are a gift to our community. We wish you a season of joy and peace.
With Love,
Andrea, Jason and Paula
January Adult Book Club!
Lower School
Book Club
Join us for our next Lower
School Book Club for adults led by Ann Botel-Barnard, our Language Arts
Specialist. We are excited to come together to share a love for a great story!
Book: The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
Location: Lower School Library
Date: Monday, January 12, from
8:00-9:00am.
Enjoy
a light breakfast and great conversation as we discuss what we loved about the
book, what we had questions about and what we could connect to. Feel free to
join us even if you have not read the entire book. You will still have a lot to
contribute and the discussion will enhance your reading of the book. You are
welcome to bring adult friends and relatives that are also interested in
discussing this book.
In
an interview with Edan Lepuki as a finalist for the 2013 National Book Award,
Jhumpa Lahirir relays the intent of her book. “To
me it was always the story of a family, and how that family is affected and
altered by the loss of one of its members. The story grew out of the
characters, but was inspired by a violent event that is at once political and
personal. I wanted to understand how history shapes and determines certain
individuals.” http://www.nationalbook.org
El estudio de los pájaros en 2º grado (Bird Study in 2nd grade)
The second graders’ Bird Study continues to soar during
their Spanish Language experience. We learned the Spanish words that describe
the basic parts of a bird and played games to help us reinforce the vocabulary.
Additionally, we read storybooks, observed short videos, and conducted craft
activities that introduced us to a variety of species.
One storybook we read was Leo Lionni’s, Pulgada por pulgada (Inch by Inch). In this story, there are
several species of bird mentioned as an inchworm goes around measuring these
lovely feathered creatures.
el petirrojo (robin)
el flamenco (flamingo)
el tucán (toucan)
la garza (heron)
el faisán (pheasant)
el colibrí (hummngbird)
el ruiseñor (nightingale)
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