Setting sail.

The children were interested in seeeing what items from the class and the nature table would float or sink and helped to record this information.  Why do sea shells sink and acorn caps float? Why did the large pumpkin float and the small bunch of pipecleaners slowly, slowly sink? Someone noticed that certain shells could be boats, but only if the water didn’t get inside.

Categorizing and recording.

We made pink play dough and after thinking about the life cycle of butterflies many tiny caterpillars and butterflies emerged along with long snakes and cakes and cinnamon buns.

Pink play dough!

Everyone was thrilled to open the box from Carolina Biologicals and meet the tiny caterpillars in their cups of food.  Everyone looked closely and drew what they observed: “He got lots of fuzz”  “I see stripes and stripes on his tiny body. Look!”

Caterpillars!

We began our first foray into chapter books, reading The Velveteen Rabbit and Owl at Home. We discussed how some books have words and our minds have the amazing capacity to create their own pictures when we hear those words. Each day we tried to remember what had happened and what might happen. “The rabbit and the horse are friends.”  “The horsey is nice to the rabbit.”  “The rabbits with legs make the other rabbit feel sad.””The rabbit going to enjoy some tea with the boy.”  “The rabbit going to be happy.”

In honor of Poetry Month we also listened to poems and shared the pictures they created in our minds: “Balloons!”  “I like balloons.”  “My name is Isabelle, too!” “Mommy give me a plum too for my lunch.”  We wondered, what makes certain words poetic? “Poems is short.”  “Poems got words you listen to.”  We will continue to explore these ideas.  I include our poems and play dough recipe for your enjoyment and wish you all a beautiful and transformative Spring!

All the best,

Sarah

 PS- Thank you all for sweet birthday greetings and gifts that made me smile and feel so grateful to be teaching these children.

Happy birthday wishes.

 

 

 

 

in Just-

 

by: e.e. cummings – 1920

 

N Just-

spring when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame baloonman

 

whistles far and wee

 

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it’s

spring

 

when the world is puddle-wonderful

 

the queer

old baloonman whistles

far and wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

 

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

 

it’s

spring

and

the

 

goat-footed

 

baloonMan whistles

far

and

wee

This Is Just To Say

  by: William Carlos Williams -1962

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

Playdough recipe:

Combine:

3 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. salt

3Tbsp. oil

1T cream of tartar

2 c. boiling water

Food color if desired

Stir until the mixture comes together in a nice lump

Take out and knead adding sprinkles of flour if necessary