We’re off and rolling with a new inquiry!
Last week we began a new inquiry on the solar system. (If you would like to offer yourself or books, etc. as a resource for our inquiry, please let us know.) We began by asking the children, “What do you know about the solar system?” Then we asked them, “What do you want to know about the solar system?” As always, the children come up with amazing and interesting questions. This week, the children will have the choice of working with friends who have similar questions or working by themselves. The students asked questions that can be grouped into the following categories: sun, black hole, planets, Earth, moon, and space. We can’t wait to get started!This week for math,
investigations center on making observations, describing what we see, and
repeating patterns. We begin with an observation walk and encourage students to
look carefully at their surroundings and describe them in pictures and words.
We will then look at buttons and attribute blocks, focusing on missing items
and similar/different characteristics. Then we will look at cube trains, noting
patterns and non-patterns.
Journal writing is focused on a
specific topic. A question is always asked in the daily morning message. That
may be the journal topic, or a focused inquiry question may be the topic. We’re
working on lengthening our entries, adding details to our pictures, and writing
as many sounds as we hear.
If you have any recyclable
items we can use in our art center, please send them with your child. Items
need to be stored on a shelf in our classroom, so please, no bulky items.
Suggested items include paper towel/toilet paper rolls, styrofoam pieces, and
fabric/wallpaper squares.
Everyone looks forward to the Guest Reader on Friday afternoons. If you
are interested in coming into the classroom to read to the children, please
contact Sabrina Ako.
Parent volunteers are such a help and blessing to us, especially when projects
arise. If you are able to volunteer your time (no skill or experience needed, training
provided), please contact Sabrina Ako.
We hope you enjoy your first set of Family Learning
Activities.
Remember, these activities are optional; please enjoy them as your family’s
schedule and available time will allow.
Remember, our 100th day celebration is scheduled for
January 29. Thank you to the four parents who have volunteered to run a
station! Everyone is invited, so please let us know if you would like to
attend, as we will need to inform campus security of the extra cars on campus.
Beginning in February, we will highlight two Students-of-the-Week. Both students will have an
opportunity to bring in pictures and other items that show who they are as
unique individuals. Parent volunteers for the week will help the students
assemble their bulletin board “showcase” which will be up in the classroom for
a week. During the week, the bulletin board will be used as a sharing tool as
we celebrate the Students-of-the-Week. Also during this week, the next students
will begin to bring in their items.
The following dates show when the new bulletin boards will be
assembled for display. The initials of the Students-of-the-Week are listed
after each date.
2/6 – GA, RB (Items may be brought in from 1/30)
2/13 – EC, IC (Items may be brought in from 2/6)
2/20 – SC, WC (Items may be brought in from 2/13)
2/27 – JD, KF (Items may be brought in from 2/20)
3/12 – AG, ZH (Items may be brought in from 3/5)
4/9 – BH, DJ (Items may be brought in from 4/2)
4/16 – RJ, GK (Items may be brought in from 4/9)
4/23 – JM, TS (Items may be brought in from 4/16)
4/30 – LY (Items may be brought in from 4/23)
Posted on January 14, 2008 9:50 AM | Permalink