March 25 - 29

This week, we began learning about spring! On Monday, I introduced our 5 senses chart for spring. Over the next few weeks, I will be collecting observations from the children about what spring looks like, feels like, smells like, tastes like, and sounds like. These observations will be added to the chart as they are collected. On Tuesday, we watched a short PBS video about the seasons which summarized weather patterns, clothes that are worn, and the things that animals do during each season. We also voted on our favorite season and learned that the most popular season in our class is summer! On Wednesday, we read a book called “North Country Spring” which features beautiful paintings of animals waking up to greet the spring. On Thursday, we celebrated my birthday and spent a lot of time outside in the beautiful spring air! On Friday, we read a story called “Hopper Hunts for Spring” about a silly bunny who looks for spring thinking it is an animal like him. We also spent some extra time outside and collected a lot of observations for our 5 senses chart! Next week, we will continue learning about spring and the wonderful things that it brings!

Spring 5 Senses chart

Knee-skating on our icy playground

Having fun on the see-saw

Collecting pine cones

The Hulk

Proudly sharing his finished research project about Mars! 

Magnatiles in the block center 

Making some birthday cookies for Ms. Rice 

Puzzles and dress-up! 

Hugging his skyscraper 

Fun with pattern blocks 

Hard at work on the letter puzzle 

Exploring magnets 

We got a visit from the Joslins’ dog, Chelsea! 

Making a river in the ice

March 18 - 21

This week, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, birthdays, and Holi, and we read books about real artists! On Monday, we came to school to find empty chocolate wrappers in our leprechaun traps, gold coins scattered around the room, and a note from Lucky the Leprachaun! He told us that our traps were very clever, but we didn’t catch him. He thanked us for the chocolate and left us 20 gold coins! We also got to make green oobleck with Ms Alexia! On Tuesday, we read a book called “Maybe Something Beautiful” which tells the story of a little girl named Mira who lived in a grey city and loved to make art. She met an artist, and together, they brought the whole community together to create a beautiful mural which brought color and joy to their city! On Wednesday, we took a field trip to the library to have a special birthday story time! Not only was it Cooper’s birthday that day, but it was also Mrs Samantha’s! We read birthday stories, made Paw Patrol masks, played birthday games, had a dance party with balloons and bubbles, and ate a special birthday snack! On Thursday, we learned about Holi, a Hindu festival of colors celebrating spring in India, Nepal, and some other parts of Asia. The students thought it sounded like a lot of fun and wished we had colored powder to throw on each other! We also read “The Art Lesson” by Tommy De Paola which tells the true story of Tommy’s first art lesson at school. Next week, we will begin learning about spring!

The note and coins from Lucky the Leprachaun

Making oobleck

She drew a dinosaur and named in Bert :)

Walking to the library

Story time

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed

Paw Patrol masks

Balloon dance party! 

Shaking her “tail” 

Playing air guitar to “The Final Countdown” 

Cupcake face! 

“Animal hotel” 

Block tower 

Magnatile structures 

A very cool castle! 

Some silly builders 

March 11 - 15

This week, we learned about illustrators who use collage to make their art. On Monday, we read books by Lois Elhert and began creating our own collages using many different kinds of paper. On Tuesday, we read another Lois Elhert story along with a story about Henri Matisse, one of the most well-known artists who used collage. We also continued making collages during choice time. On Wednesday, we began reading stories by Leo Lionni and comparing his collages with Lois Elhert’s. On Thursday, Mrs. Chris came in to make leprechaun traps with us! Each student got a shoe box to decorate and engineer into a trap for a leprechaun. Some students made holes in the top of their boxes for leprechauns to fall into, while others propped the boxes open with popsicle sticks and lured the leprechauns in with messages like “free gold” and “welcome.” On Friday, we read more stories by Leo Lionni and spent a lot of time outside in the warm air and wet playground! Next week, we will have a Saint Patrick’s Day surprise,  learn about various artists, and take a trip to the library!

Making a collage

Making collage binoculars

Showing me his “police stick” and police face 

Proud of her telescope

Our new bulletin board

Making leprechaun traps

So excited about his new tiger 

A “ninja” and his puzzle 

Playing in the lake that took over our picnic tables!