The Navigator Dispatch
Sun Edition
October 14, 2016
Our Noteworthy Week in a Nutshell
The teachers put up big giant wall-sized maps in the hallway, and then we explained to each of our classes that we would be working together to create a map with the other rooms. In each room we had the students construct the different items and then add them to the map. They painted black roads, used wavy rollers with variations of blue for bodies of water, collected leaves on a nature walk to symbolize trees, and then decorated individual houses for themselves. Their creativity and design really make the map unique! Next to the AM map is the PM map, so it is also interesting for both sessions of students to see the other, and it generates good comparing and contrasting conversation.
I am not including pictures of the maps so that you can come and take a look yourself during conferences next week!
The students were thrilled that the easel was open to paint. Since opening the discovery table to practice cutting, many students have gotten much more comfortable cutting. This was helpful when they were working roads, rivers, lakes, and ponds for the map.
In the other centers, maps remained. I kept them engaging by adding different sets of vehicles, people, and animals to explore the maps and towns in different ways. Students seem to deepen their understanding of map keys, and using maps to "travel." You'll hear about their application of these skills during cooking and conversation, which was really amazing to observe!
But as you'll see below, sometimes maps just make you crazy and you need students to ask you to pretend to be a potato head.. Happy to oblige ;)
A Word From our Specialists...
Cooking and Conversation with Ms. Gerber
This week in Cooking & Conversation we continued our investigation of maps. The students used maps of the classroom to locate the hidden ingredients necessary for a trail mix recipe. To do this, the children worked in small groups to interpret the map key to identify different furniture and areas of the classroom and then hunted for their ingredients. In completing this task the class reviewed the some of the newer vocabulary such as map key and birds eye view as well as spatial concepts such as next to, in front of, behind, and across from. The Young Explorers really seemed to enjoy this week’s activity and did a great job using their new map skills.
Caring Community with Ms. Gurwin
The Second Step theme of the week is following directions. We started our lesson by practicing our listening rules song and discussed that the students are following directions by using their eyes to watch the teacher, their ears to listen to the information, etc. We also did the hokey pokey to practice following the directions in the song. The students learned that they follow directions all day!
Music
Next Up!
Snack
Isabel's Family
I will have a sign up at conferences for the upcoming weeks. After next week, every family will have brought snack at least one week, so we can sign up for the next 8, or if you each sign up for 2 weeks, we can cover the next 16 weeks.
Mystery Explorer
Need-to-Know Dates
Conferences October 19 & 20
Friday October 21st
Monday October 24th
- Sherpas will need to be checked into the office by 9:00 AM
- We should be returning to school around 10:30 or 10:45
- Lauren Walker, you are the first Sherpa! If for some reason you cannot join us please let me know and I will reach out to the next on the list.
Monday October 31st
- All parents welcome!
Halloween Room Party from 10:50 to 11:20
- Party Stewards are Maureen Guziec, Gloria Yang, and Angela Anetsberger
- These are the only parents allowed to attend the party
Next Week: No Motif!
Time to Reset
Hint: Time to think more globally...