At music this week we started off with some songs and warm-ups that the children enjoy when we visit the music lab. We were then introduced to the bells. These bells were of varying color. The children learned that each color made a different sound. They learned the words “piano” which means quiet, and the opposite of that is “forte” which means loud. They were able to shake the bells using piano and forte. The listening skills were superb. Maestro had the children listen to each direction and they listened carefully and then followed the direction. He called out each color, and when the children shook their bells in order, they realized they had played, “Twinkle, Twinkle.” We can’t wait to visit again next Monday to play the bells more and see what songs we can learn.
This week we introduced two letters that have the same sound, “Cc and Kk.” We had a discussion about the sounds and the lines we use when we write them. The children stood up and showed the movement of the sounds and they noticed they were the same. They were given clues for the pictures to put up next to the letters on the board. They were interested in the fact that they started with different letters but had the same sound. The children noticed the vegetables on the counter that we had cut and tasted from last week. They added water to them last week and left them to get the sun next to the window. A few children noticed that some of the vegetables started sprouting. They were interested that some sprouted roots and some were sprouting from the top. They were having conversations with each other about how it looked and why some were growing, and some were not. Some said, “Why is this one bigger than that one?” “This is so cool! They all look so different.” “Things are happening to each of these and I can’t wait to see them grow bigger.” “This would be cool to plant into the ground and watch it grow.” We joined together in a large group and did another lesson from the USC Bridge Curriculum. We talked about describing words and how we sort items. We put a bunch of items on the rug and the group sorted them into small, medium and large objects. They then built a structure using those materials and others. One group got to work by talking to each other to plan what their structure would be and why, and the other group seemed to all start building their own structures independently. The group that started their own started seeing that it wasn’t big or tall or a structure at all and kept falling and they didn’t have enough materials. We stopped both groups to look and see what both groups did, and they had a discussion about their structures. It was interesting to hear from both groups and how they thought their building was successful or not. Here is what both groups said. The first group said, “We took the cups and we built a cup structure and used a machine and connected it to make a structure.” “We made a wall behind it.” “We built a haunted house using a big flat item under the plate and then it was standing.” “We used the bridge to hold the book and we also used spoons to make it look like a hat on top of it.” “We used cups to make a building.” The next group said: “We made a dice tower.” “It went a bit wrong because it kept on falling over because there were too many heavy things on the plate.” “That looks like the inside and the two plates on the outside were the bun.” “We put a car under it, and it knocked over. There was the plate on the bottom, and it made it fall over.” The children continued the lesson of building and sorting the next day when they walked in. They found new mediums around the room on their own to add to what was already available. They not only understood the sorting and vocabulary, but they learned problem solving skills and how to work together in a team. It is interesting to see them use these skills at other times of the day as well. We have been discussing the upcoming holiday of Tu BiSh’Vat, first by asking the children what they already know. A lot of them talked about trees and taking care of the earth and our community. A week or so ago one of the small groups was taking a walk around campus. A few children noticed how much trash was laying around. They were disturbed by how people don’t throw trash away and it is blowing all over our school. This began many mini discussions about how we can make sure our school stays clean. This then brought up not only our school community but home, city and world communities and how we can make sure we keep the earth clean. A few children stated, “We need to start at our school and help keep it clean.” For Tu BiSh’Vat we have decided as a class to start by taking care of our school community. We walked around campus picking up trash. We discussed how we can make sure others keep the school clean as well. They decided maybe if we made signs it would remind people to throw their trash away in trash cans. We will be making these signs in the next few days and putting them around our school. Shabbat Shalom, Rachel and Linda Reminders: -Shabbat family Friday, February 7th, Emmie. Please bring a challah and a plant. We start at 10:30 in the classroom and continue in the sanctuary at 11. -NO school Monday, February. 17thin observance for President’s Day. -NO school Tuesday, February. 18th for Teacher Professional Development. -Especially on days we have PE (Wednesday and Thursday), please have your child wear closed toe shoes. -Please NO nut products in our lunches. We are a NUT SAFE school. Thank you. Shabbat Shalom, Rachel and Linda
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