Dear Families,
Our caterpillars continued their incredible transformation, crawling to the top of their cup and hanging in a “J” shape as they gyrated and twisted to split their old skins to create a new self inside the protective case of the chrysalis. Some students noticed that the chrysalis is shiny, touched with gold, “It is a real, real magic thing.”
Caterpillar in a book.
Caterpillars in our cups transforming.
Drawing caterpillars for our science notes.
We watched again a time lapse videos of the life cycle of Painted Lady butterflies. The children were thrilled to see the sped up version of what we have been so carefully observing for weeks now.
We began exploring tools on our woodworking table: hammers, nails, drills, measuring tapes and saws. I asked everyone to think about what they might like to create and draw up a plan or a blueprint. This was a difficult problem – imagining a finished product before it had been made visible. We will draw another picture when the works are complete and compare the two.
Thinking of what to make.
Attaching a drill bit.
Marking.
Sawing very carefully.
On Friday we baked bread and read a story that we revisit again and again, The Little Red Hen. Although everyone agrees that the cat, mouse and dog should help the little red hen and it is not fair for her to do all the work, everyone invariably thinks she should still share her ‘cake.’ The children empathize with all the characters, but their own desire for cake seems to win out over the concept that she might be teaching her friends a valuable lesson by denying them a treat. I so enjoy hearing the children listen to one another, exchange ideas and really engage in a great literary, ethical and philosophical discussion! I also enjoy that at this point in the year, the children are very familiar with the steps of bread making and sharing turns and I intervene very little as they remind each other of the sequence of steps and notice the transformation of water and flour into warm, delicious bread. I pointed out to them that unlike the little red hen’s friends, they were all very helpful and very deserving of their ‘cake!’
Stirring and pouring.
Thank you all for your many thoughtful gestures during the week – Delicious food, time to enjoy it, beautiful art and pictures and lovely sweet smelling flowers! How nice to feel so loved and appreciated!
Thank you!
Please remember that we have a field trip on Monday to Hancock Shaker Village. We will have an early snack and bring a paper bag lunch to eat outside if the weather is nice!
All the best,
Sarah
