Inquiry Presentations/May Day/Extraordinary Botanists
We have just completed two very exciting weeks of learning and our celebration of May Day. As the end of the year approaches, the children are busy reflecting on their growth, preparing portfolios, putting finishing touches on Inquiry presentations, presenting book projects, and learning amazing things about plants. It has been a great year, so far!
Inquiry Presentation Date
The children and I invite you to attend our Geography and Botany Inquiry Presentations on Tuesday, May 22, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. We hope many of you will be able to be here. The children are very excited to share what they have learned about the continents and countries they have researched and to show you a wonderful collection of artifacts, money, and clothing from many parts of the world. Mark Hines from the Upper School Technology Department came in to teach the children how to create PowerPoint presentations with a program called Keynote. The kids love it and even work on their presentations during Free Choice!
Our interesting Botany experiments will also be on display that day. Your children are discovering that they have very “green thumbs.” They are proud of their little garden and tend it with loving care.
May Day
Wow! What an incredible performance! We were delighted to see so many parents and grandparents in attendance. A special “mahalo” to Mrs. Eng and Ms. Graves for their help with lei-making. The Engs brought loads of extra flowers that Mr. Eng had picked at his work place, so we were able to make lots of beautiful, fresh lei. And a special “thank you” to all the parents who helped get the children ready for the performance: Mr. Cutter and Mr. Nakashima, who patiently pinned, wrapped, and rolled the boys’ lava lava; Ms. Ching, Mrs. Yoshida, Mrs. Kaichi, Mrs. Cutter, and Mrs. Hayashi (MH’s mom), who lovingly styled the girls’ hair, pinned on pineapple crowns, and helped them into their costumes. We were blessed to have our two former OP students, Miss Cassandra and Miss Brianne, come in to help, as well. They adore your children and just keep coming back! I especially appreciated all the lovely lei from the children. Mahalo nui loa, for making it a May Day to remember.
Mrs. Napoleon’s Portugal Presentation
Mrs. Napoleon taught us about how her ancestors emigrated from the Madeira Islands of Portugal to Kauai and became lunas on the plantations long ago. We learned that they were the first folks on Kauai to have a telephone. She shared her family’s Portuguese customs and like so many presenters, was surprised by how much she learned about her family and ancestral roots by preparing her PowerPoint presentation. Mrs. Napoleon served us Portuguese Bean Soup and Malasadas. Yum! We all agreed that her soup was the best ever. She has promised to share her recipe with us. I will send it on to you.
Nature Walks and Seed Searches
Thank you for taking time to enjoy a nature walk with your child and to collect some very interesting seeds. The children are sharing their experiences with each other, and we are using the seeds for our continuing seed study. Many parents told me they had learned a lot, too, from the experience, and that they particularly enjoyed the interaction with their child. This was perfect “homework!”
Seed Study and Fraction Fruit Salad
The children have been learning all about seeds in class, too. I brought in many kinds of fruits and vegetables, and we cut them open and counted and graphed the number of seeds. Did you know that a single papaya can have more than 500 seeds? Have you ever seen a banana’s seeds? Just ask your child to show you! Your children bravely tried such taste “treats” as green pepper, avocado, mango, artichoke, peas, kiwi, and peaches. As a part of our fraction study in Math, we used the fruits to make a delicious Fraction Fruit Salad. By the way, your children are really good at fractions!!
Book Projects
Book Projects are due by the last week of school. Several children have already presented, and we are all amazed by their confidence and maturing presentation skills. They have the pages they want to share marked with Post-its, and it is easy to see they have practiced at home a few times. Thank you, parents, for all the help and support you give them.
Excursion
Our class will be attending the HTY production of The Magic Bird on Monday, May 14, at Tenney Theatre. The play is based on a Filipino folk tale, so it fits right into our study of other cultures and countries. Please see the Notification for details.
Spanish Students
On Wednesday, May 9, five Spanish students from the high school came in to share their original, illustrated stories written in both Spanish and English. The children even spoke a little Spanish with them.
Captain John and the Manu Kai
Captain John is currently sailing across the Pacific Ocean on a big, fast catamaran, the Manu Kai. The children are learning about latitude and longitude and plotting his positions on a chart of the Pacific. We will soon begin to estimate his time of arrival in Hawaii. Captain John is able to write e-mails via satellite phone, so ask your child to read them to you as they are sent home. They also write to him and ask questions about what it’s like to be out there and the wildlife he sees.
Your children continue to delight and amaze everyone who comes in contact with them. Rejoice in their excitement about life and learning. As we approach the end of a very exciting, productive school year, we are daily celebrating accomplishments, caring hearts, and the joy of learning together.
Be sure to check out the photo gallery this week!
Posted on May 10, 2007 4:47 PM | Permalink