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Kindergarten Fall Units:

 Sunshine and Shadows:

 By the end of the unit, students will:

• understand that a shadow is created when an object blocks the flow of light from a light source (the sun, a flashlight)
• understand that their shadow changes depending on what time of day it is and what month it is
• have been exposed to the fact that their shadow changes on an hourly basis because of the earth’s rotation and on a weekly/monthly basis because of the tilt of the earth on its axis. (These concepts are pretty abstract for children this age and I don’t expect them to fully comprehend these ideas. I simply want to lay a foundation to come back to when the children are older.)

 Myself and Others:

 (Myself and Others is a curriculum developed by the Education Development Center, Inc. © 1997, 2003 by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company)

 From the Introduction to Myself and Others:

            “In the Myself and Others learning experiences, children look at themselves and their classmates; they gather information about characteristics such as height, eye color, and hand size; and they explore their similarities, differences, and variations. These learning experiences help to create a positive, supportive atmosphere in which children can realize and appreciate that although each one of them is unique, they all share many similar characteristics. They become aware of the many ways they are similar to children whom they may see as different because of physical characteristics such as skin color. They also realize how they are different from those they see as similar. At the end of the module, they turn their attention to the concepts of growth and development as they think about themselves in the past, the present, and the future.

      This module also provides an opportunity for children to use a variety of science thinking and process skills. As children explore, they are encouraged to observe closely and to use rich descriptive language to share experiences and perceptions, and to clarify ideas. Children organize their observations as they measure, compare, and classify, and they record these observations and thoughts on graphs, murals and in their science notebooks.” (p. I-2)

 By the end of the unit, students will understand:

• There are many similarities and differences in the physical characteristics of people.
• There is variation in physical characteristics such as height, hand size, eye shape, hair length and skin color.
• Variations in physical characteristics make each person unique.
• People grow and change from babies to adults.

Teaching science as inquiry for young children means:

• Less teacher talk; more child to child talk.
• Less emphasis on memorizing facts; more emphasis on creative thinking and problem solving
• Less emphasis on books as sole sources of information; more emphasis on books as motivation, complement to first hand experience*
• Less emphasis on science talk as show and tell and sharing what happened; more emphasis on science talk as discussion, debate, sharing thinking*
• Less emphasis on individual activities and demonstrations; more emphasis on inquiry and investigation*
• Less emphasis on weekly science themes/topics; more emphasis on weeks-or months–long investigations of developmentally appropriate concepts*

The Inquiry Learning Cycle*

Engage: explore, notice, wonder, speculate

Design and Conduct Investigations: determine question, predict, plan investigation, collect and record data, organize data, interpret data, analyze and reflect on data, raise new questions

 Draw Conclusions: analyze and synthesize data, make claims based on evidence, explain

 Communicate:

write, present, defend, debate

 (*starred items taken from presentation by Karen Worth, Physical Science in Early Childhood, © 2009 Education Development Center, Inc.)

Middle and Upper School Highlights

3 Weeks: 10/4 -10/24

Mon, Oct 4

3:30pm Varsity Girls’ soccer versus Academy Home PPU 5:00

Tue, Oct 5

Student Photos by Ogden Gigli

8:15am Trustee Visiting Day – tentative

1:45pm Nature’s Classroom visits Grade 5: Homeroom

3:00pm Farm Team Intramurals

5:30-7:30pm: Secondary School Night, Fitzpatrick gym (not required for BCD faculty but mark calendars for Thursday, Oct. 28^th for Discover the 9^th Grade)

Wed, Oct 6

Student Photos by Ogden Gigli

8:05am MS Morning Meeting, Grade 6 leads

9:00am Tim Joncas from Westminster visits

3:15pm Faculty meetings – MS/US mid-term review: Order is 9, 8, 4, 5, 6, 7. Please bring work to P5 and we will call teachers into P6 as we (rapidly) go through each class. Complete the midterm google docs so that we can expedite the process. Thank you!

3:30pm Varsity Boys’ soccer versus MT Everett AWAY PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 2 p.m.)

3:30pm Varsity Girls’ soccer versus IMS Home PPU 5 p.m.

Thu, Oct 7

8:05am US Morning Meeting, Grade 9 leads

Fri, Oct 8

Grandparents’ and Grandfriends’ Day

8:15am Jeff Pilgrim from Emma Willard visits

1:30pm

Midterm comments due – B3-9

Mon, Oct 11

No School – Columbus Day

6-8:00pm  Master Facilities Planning Workshop with Centerbrook Architects

Tue, Oct 12

Trip Week for Grs 5 and 6

Wed, Oct 13

Trip Week for Grs 5 and 6

8:15am Head’s Chat – Middle School parents

11:20 John Ettore from Westtown Friends visits

3:15pm Faculty meetings – full faculty

3:30pm Varsity Boys’ soccer versus Steiner AWAY PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 2 p.m.)

3:30pm Varsity Girls’ soccer versus Steiner AWAY PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 2 p.m.)

Thu, Oct 14

Trip Week for Grs 5 and 6

8:05am US Morning Meeting, Grade 7 leads

3:30pm Fourth Grade Soccer versus Pine Cobble PPU 5pm

Fri, Oct 15

Trip Week for Grs 5 and 6

6:30pm Parents’ Association Movie Night

Mon, Oct 18

Tue, Oct 19

8:15am Head’s Chat for New Families

3:00pm Farm team Intramurals

3:30pm Varsity Boys’ soccer versus Pine Cobble HOME PPU 5pm

Wed, Oct 20

9:00am Admission Open House

3:15pm Faculty meetings – departments

3:30pm Junior Varsity soccer versus Steiner AWAY PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 2 p.m.)

3:30pm Varsity Boys’ soccer versus Academy HOME PPU 6pm (dismissal 2pm)

3:30pm Varsity Girls’ soccer versus Mt Everett HOME PPU 5 p.m.

Thu, Oct 21

11:25am Grade 5 Lunch Bunch

11:25am Grade 9 Lunch Bunch

3:30pm Fourth Grade Soccer versus Pine Cobble AWAY PPU 6 pm (dismissal 2pm)

Fri, Oct 22

Pizza Friday

8:05am MS/US Combined Morning Meeting: Student Council leads

2:15pm Assembly: tentative

3:30pm Varisty Boys’ Soccer versus IMS @ BCD

Sat, Oct 23 Varsity Girls’ soccer tournament @ BCD

Sun, Oct 24

3:00pm Major Donor Reception

Hi Everyone!

The rainy weather this week allowed for some extra time to explore the classroom.  The childrenhave continued to enjoy painting at the easel and building with the big wooden blocks.  We have also introduced Cuisenaire Rods, magnetic shapes and the “Wooden Stir Fry Slicing Play Set.”  Since many of the children really enjoy building puzzles, we have found the need to rotate our puzzle collection every week. 

On Monday, the children made apple bread and played Alphabet Bingo.  Miss Bannon and Miss Guerette helped them wash the apples and cut them into pieces with plastic knives.  They also helped mix all of the ingredients and pour the batter in the pan.  It smelled so good as it cooked!  After lunch everyone got to have a piece.  Yummy! 

On Tuesday, we celebrated Margaret’s Birthday and Star Day.  Her mom, Priscilla, and dad, Joe, joined us for Morning Meeting.  Margaret also has an older sister, Lucy and a niece, Mia.  Margaret came to her family from Guatemalawhen she was three months old.  Her Star Board was decorated with photos of Margaret when she was a tiny baby and as she grew bigger and bigger.  One picture is of Margaret sitting in front of pumpkins at IokaValleyFarm.  She also has a dog named “Moo!”  When she was a baby, Margaret liked to play with her “Baby Gym.”  Now that she is four, Margaret likes to read books, grow and pretend she can fly like a butterfly.  Priscilla read, “The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctors”, by Stan & Jan Berenstain. For a special treat, Margaret shared strawberries, brownies,  juice and popcorn.  Thank you and Happy Star Day and Birthday, Margaret!

Take Care of Ourselves

Take Care of Each Other

Take Care of our World

We will then post these rules in our room and we will refer to them as needed throughout the school year.  We will also reflect back on our Hopes and Dreams, to see if we are accomplishing them. 

On Friday, we had our first finger-painting experience.  This is always a messy and fun activity.  When questioned, the children said that it felt good, gooey, squishy, slippery, wet, and mushy. The mixing of 2 colors was a fun experiment for the children.  They found that mixing yellow and purple make brown, and yellow and red make orange, along with other combinations.

On Wednesday, we met “Clever Cat” from Letterland.  Clever Cat likes to sit near the Letterland Castle and have a cup of cocoa, while working on her crossword puzzle.  She also likes to cook carrots, cauliflower, custard and cake.  She is very clever and she likes helping her friends solve problems.  We also discussed the fact that when “c” is followed by “h,” it makes the sound /ch/.  For fun, as some of our friends leave at 12:30, we say “Ciao!”  Next week, we will meet “Dippy Duck.”  Instead of “quack-quack-quack,” she says “d-d-d!” 

In addition, next week we will talk more about autumn and begin exploring our “Self-Awareness” unit.  We will talk about and celebrate how we are alike and how we are different.   

A HUGE thank you to all the families who participated in our first book order.  We earned 30 books and thousands of bonus points that will help us  increase our class library.  Your children are getting the gift of literacy; early exposure to books of all genres has been shown to increase interest in reading throughout life.  Our next order will be in November, with books arriving in time for holiday gift giving.

Some of the books we read this week were:

The Berenstains’ B Book

One Fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, by Dr. Seuss

The Wind Blew, by Pat Hutchins

Many poems from Treasury of Children’s Poetry

This Friday is a very special day at BCD.  As you may be aware, Friday, October 8th is Grandparents and Grandfriends Day.  Parents should send lunch and beverages for all of the children and grandparents in the morning.  Please remember to send in a separate snack and beverage for your child (ren) for earlier in the morning at our 9:35 am snack time.

Grandparents and Grandfriends will be escorted to the Pre Kindergarten and Beginner Three classrooms at 10:30am.  Pre K students, Grandparents and friends will go to Library at this time.  After Library, Pre K and their guests will return to explore the PreK classroom.  Lunch will begin at 11:45am.  At 12:15, we will all go to Fitzpatrick Hall for a special choral presentation in Fitzpatrick Hall.  Grandparents will be dismissed at 12:30pm. Let us know if your child will depart with his or her Grandparent or Grandfriend.  Parents may pick children up at the wall at 1:00pm.

Some Guests will have more than one grandchild or grandfriend to visit.  Our time together will be exploratory and informal.  These families have a number of options.

• Families with multiple Grandparents and multiple siblings may choose to divide their time equally, between different siblings’ classes, and then join together (preschooler included) in the oldest siblings’ classroom for lunch.   In this case, grandparents should return to the Preschool classrooms to collect the Preschool child and have lunch with the older sibling in their designated lunch area.
• Some families may choose to have one grandparent stay with one child and another grandparent visit his or her sibling.  For lunch, everyone can join together in the oldest student’s classroom. 

Please let us know ahead if your child’s guests will be in need of any special accomodations.  We would like them to be as comfortable as we can.   

Thank you so much for helping us coordinate this very special day.  If you have any questions, please let us know.  We’ll be happy to help!