Hi Everyone,
Could it be true? Is spring really around the corner? If the weather this week is any indication, it is! On Wednesday, we took a spring walk. The children noticed many things that have been changing on our campus. We discussed how more of the grass is showing through the snow; there’s a lot of mud and we even saw some new plants poking through the ground! We also discovered that someone is tapping the maple trees at BCD. When we got a close up look, we could see the sap dripping into the bucket! We also took a look at the calendar and discussed when the first day of spring will occur later this month. Did you know that there have been nine lamb days and only three lion days this month? Feel free to track lion and lamb days with your child when you are on vacation.
The highlight of our week was going to the Berkshire Museum on Tuesday. The docent, Curtis Asch, for our Preschool program, Math In Motion, did a wonderful job of talking to the children about how we can use math and science to learn about the world around us. Using a Nerf ball, a Super High Bouncy Ball, a balloon, Slinkies, a can of snakes, a Match Box car, crayons, a ramp and a balance, we explored the concepts of gravity (and Sir Isaac Newton,) force, inertia, energy, momentum, friction, volume, density, greater than, less than, guesses and estimates. WHEW! Curtis shared a lot of information and he was quite entertaining. After we ate lunch with Kindergarten, we visited the Aquarium and saw snakes, turtles, lots of fish, a tarantula, a scorpion, a blue tongued skink, frogs and a chameleon. We also visited the Dinosaur Room and the Berkshire Backyard Room. Please be sure to take a look at the pictures I posted earlier this week.
On Monday, we explored a collection of combs and a collection of mirrors. We talked about how each of these tools helps us take care of ourselves. We also introduced new hand held and battery powered hole punchers to the Art Shelves.
On Wednesday we celebrated Charles’ Star Day and his fifth birthday. His mom, Deb, and dad, Warren, joined us for Morning Meeting. We learned that Charles was born in South Korea and came to be with his mom and dad when he was four months old. Warren showed the children a video of Charles when he was just a baby arriving at Logan Airport and when his mom and dad gave him their first kisses! When he was a baby, Charlie liked to jump in his bouncy seat and drive his John Deere tractor around the house. Now that he is five, he loves to play with his Thomas the Trains, along with playing and listening to music, doing crafts and gardening. Last fall, he harvested twelve big pumpkins! Charles’ favorite thing to do when he is on vacation at Ogunquit Beach in Maine, with his parents and Auntee Gail, is to jump in the waves! Deb also read us the story, Horace, by Holly Keller. This is a very special story about a family of large cats with stripes who choose a very special cat who has stripes to be their own. Charles’ showcase included a Korean flag, a beautifully embroidered pouch that holds special good luck beads and a special outfit called a “hanbok,” which Charlie wears on his birthday. We also enjoyed fresh berries, cheese, crackers and chocolate cupcakes for a special treat. Happy Star Day and Happy Birthday, Charles!
Also on Wednesday, we listened to stories from our Second Grade Peer Readers and we used sandpaper on real pieces of wood. In the afternoon we watched a play named “Mythapalooza,” by the Fifth Grade students.
On Thursday we glued wooden pieces onto our pieces of wood and we worked on the pages of our Dr. Seuss book.
While visiting Letterland this week we met two new friends, “Sammy Snake” and “Talking Tess.” Sammy the Snake likes to visit the Letterland swimming pool and splash in the pool with his Letterland friends. He is always very careful of the sun and he wears sunscreen, a sun hat and sun glasses. He often takes a snooze while sitting in the sand by the sea. He also enjoys sandwiches and a yummy sundae for dessert. Talking Tess fixes all of the telephones and televisions in Letterland. She is always talking on her “mobile” (or cell) phone. To get around Letterland she often takes taxis and trains. She is sure to have a cup of tea every afternoon. When we return from our Spring Break we will meet “Uppy Umbrella” and “Vicky Violet.”
Books We Read:
- My Apron, by Eric Carle
- Polka Dot Pox, by Jim Jinkins (a gift from Jolie)
- Bagel Books…Counting…I’ll Take a Dozen, by Mark Shulman
- Mouse Count, by Ellen Stoll Walsh
- Math in the Bath, by Sara Atherlay and Megan Halsey
- Clever Tom and the Leprechaun, by Linda Shute
Our BCD playground stays fairly wet throughout the spring. Please be sure to send boots and snowpants in with your child when they return after our Spring Break.
Reminders:
- If you are sending in something to be warmed in the microwave, please be sure it is in a container that can be microwaved. Anything with tomato sauce should come in a glass container.
- Please send needed flatware with your child’s lunch.
- Update and replenish your child’s extra clothes.
- Bring Library books on Fridays.
- Please remember to remove wet shoes or boots before entering the Preschool rooms.
- Please wash rest items over break and remember to return them on Tuesday, March 30th
Dates to Note:
Have a Wonderful Spring Break!
Ellie
