Sustain
find your sense of place
Thank you to the families that met with me last week for your support and inspiration.
Here is a little gift of some pre-assessment work with Kindergarten before we began to discuss recycling. We gathered their knowledge about the subject and it is amazing to listen to their thinking!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KTj8zhEZUY&feature=youtu.be
Also, please let me know if this is your first newsletter, not everyone was on the email list so I would be happy to send you the previous newsletters. Look forward to reading about:
- student work and curriculum
- wild places to visit locally
- ecological wisdom
- educational articles
- mind and body wellness
- local educational events and resources
I am hoping this will bring you a source of inspiration to take care of yourself, our students and the community.
Be well,
Kirsten
Breathe
Mindfulness and Sustainability are very interconnected. I’ve lately had a lot of parents ask me about ways in which you can practice mindfulness at home with your children. Mindfulness is the art of being fully aware in the present moment. As you practice being mindful, you become an observer to your self, others and your surroundings. It is important within our busy, urban lifestyles to take time to slow down and model this for our children. When we take time to slow down we notice the beauty that surrounds us amidst the chaos of everyday life. We make more conscious decisions and have a greater sense of wellbeing.
Here are some ways you can practice at home:
• Just before leaving the house in the morning, before opening the front door, stand together and take three mindful breaths.
• Go for a walk with your child and pay attention to what you both notice around you, what you see, hear, smell and touch.
• Before bed, share something that you are grateful for that happened that day – something that made you happy. Have your child do the same. Then continue with some mindful breathing!
Explore
One of my favorite places to explore is Green-wood Cemetery. It comprises 478 acres of rich history, nature, monuments, sculptures, the highest point in Brooklyn and a population of monk parakeets.
Green-Wood’s main entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street operates on a seasonal schedule. From now through September 30, the hours are 7:45 AM to 7:00 PM. From October 1 to the first day of Daylight Savings, the hours are 7:45 AM to 6:00 PM. After Daylight Savings, the gates will be open 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM all winter long. The gate at Fourth Avenue and 35th Street is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, seven days a week. Entrances at Fort Hamilton Parkway and on Prospect Park West are open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekends only.
http://www.green-wood.com/2010/visit-on-your-own/
Map of the Cemetery
http://www.green-wood.com/html/wp-content/uploads/apdf/green_wood_map.pdf
Create
http://violetpaperwings.blogspot.com/2012/02/ecojar.html
http://www.jesihaackweddingsblog.com/2013/01/yarn-baby-shower/
http://www.onceuponanartroom.com/2012/11/african-necklaces-paper-plates.html
http://www.agirlandagluegun.com/2014/05/rock-painting-summer-survival-kids-crafts.html
Learn
When I Am Among the Trees
Poem by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
This week we took care of our classroom community by cleaning and taking care of the plants. We delved into hands-on explorations such as sorting and identifying types of shells, creating fairy homes, building with legos, mixing soil and planting seeds, playing with bottle caps, inventing with magnets and drawing around the room. It was an amazing week of engaging activities before the holiday break.
Next week we will begin two new units:
Kindergarten: "What is a Family?"
First Grade: "How Does a Living System Meet it's Needs?"
I look forward to sharing all of their learning experiences.
Gratitude
These were a sampling of some of their ideas:
magic
trees
Compass
people
everything in the world
the Earth
grandparents
families because they make good stuff happen
other countries
the world
houses
toys
a dress
space
art
nature
fire engines
fashion designers
ninja turtles
my dog
100 dollars
Oak trees
myself
pigs
games
the mall
electricity
friends
picking apples
lots of LOVE
air
mom
animals
food
water
foxes
hearts
monsters
penguins
kittens
presents
giving things away
helping others
helping people
the elephant stuffed animal at my grandmas
everything in the world
construction, scaffolding and buildings
stars
flowers
the Earth because I love everything