Families:
We have been wonderfully busy learning and developing community. The students are making more and more connections between academic subjects, grade levels, and real life applications.
We are studying sand. For Grandparents’ Day your children performed “The Story of a Grain of Sand”. There were readers, dancers, and musicians. We took the audience through the progression of a boulder to cobble, to pebble, to a grain of sand, which was left on the ocean floor. It was very well received. We looked at sand through micro lenses and compared salt to sand. The children made sand paper, both coarse and fine. We noticed that sand poured like liquid but is still a solid. The children made fantastic sand designs using colored sand and glue. We continue to learn about the history of salt. We read today that the Great Wall of China was subsidized by money made from the sale and trade of salt. The discovery that salt preserved food was one of the greatest events in history. We did an experiment today with sand, soil, and clay. We used water, filters, glass jars, and a timer.
Ask your child about the results of the experiment.
Children in the colonies had to do many chores before school. We read that they started the fire, picked up their beds, made and served food to their parents, collected fruits and vegetables, chopped wood, churned butter, made bread, fed chickens, and the list goes on. Then, after chores, they went to class. They were able to play with friends only on Sunday. We compared chores now with chores then. OH MY! If there was ever a moment that you would want to add a chore or two to your child’s day, now is the time. One day our chore at school was to make butter. We made it in less than 5 minutes with a jar, a marble, and cream. Everyone tried the butter and some even tried the buttermilk. We read a book about making a coat out of wool. Starting with the farmer and the sheep, it took 7 different steps: shear, wash, card, spin, dye, weave, and sew. The children were given sheep’s wool, which they carded and then tried to felt a small piece for a bracelet. It took more than 40 minutes. They are beginning to see and understand how different it may have been in Colonial Times.
When papers come home please take the time to go over them with your child and ask questions about what was expected. It helps to solidify learning when they are asked to explain the process. Then return the envelope empty. We were hoping the visiting grandparent would have taken home their story but some got left behind. Please help us by getting the story to them. Thank you.
Next week we have Mountain Day on Thursday, October 23. We will leave by bus at 10:00. A note will go home on Monday with specifics about what they need to bring. Basically they dress for hiking and carry a lunch in a backpack. Look for the note. October 24th is Pizza Friday!
A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Gabi, Ben, Libby, and Mrs. Allentuck!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Fondly,
Ms. Milani