The Gazette
April 2015
As I prepare this month's newsletter I can hardly believe how quickly the last few weeks went by. There was a hive activity throughout the school, preparing for spring! Children and staff alike, were delighted to spend more time outdoors and talk about our changing environment. In the classroom, through literature, we highlighted the first signs of spring. Children enjoyed reading about birds, nesting and exploring different types of gardens (wild, planned and imaginary!). An example of one book the children particularly enjoyed reading was, 'The Curious Garden', by Peter Brown. Peter Brown was inspired by the High Line in NYC and created a children's book to illustrate how an abandoned garden, when nurtured can flourish. In this book, a young boy discovers a small garden growing on a deserted railroad. The boy is inspired to care for the garden and in the end creates a less dreary city. The children were surprised to find out that such a place did exist when we shared some pictures of the High Line. This type of story was also a nice reminder that nature is everywhere and with a little imagination, one can turn something that seemed 'undesirable' into something beautiful.
Learning about Birds
Nomenclature about birds
Making a book about the Parts of a Bird
Parts of a Bird
Setting up Nest View Bird House
Discussing items birds use from the environment to build their nests
Handing out items: hair, cotton, grass, hay.
Children take turns, choosing 'materials' for the nest.
Children looking for desirable 'materials' that a nesting bird might need.
Children placed items along the window sill near the Bird House.
Location for Nest View Bird House
Using the Light Box to explore birds through art
Upcoming Projects
Snack
Thank you again for all the healthy and various snack choices you select. I would also like to remind you to please include paper goods with your snack choices. Many families have been forgetting to bring in cups and plates. When we don't have enough supplies we have to borrow from other classrooms. Teachers are very generous in sharing their supplies but we have to leave the classroom which isn't convenient once our morning has begun. Thank you for keeping this in mind when bringing in snack.
Art Show & Baking
This week, we will be preparing the children for the Art Show. We will talk about what it is like to visit a museum or an art exhibit. This will be a pertinent exercise in Grace and Curtesy.
During the Art Show, there will be a Bake Sale. If any parents are interested in contributing a baked good for the Bake Sale, please let me know. All donations are welcome! Thank you as always for your support.