What a beautiful September we have had in the Cherry Blossom class! We have enjoyed warm, sunny days outside and so many fun activities in the classroom. Our Monarch butterflies hatched from their chrysalis and we set them free as they begin their long migration to Mexico. Blossoms have learned about Living and Non-Living things this month, as well as their 5 senses. They have used those 5 senses as they explored apples and pumpkins, ending the week with an amazing trip to Ramseyer Farm! And we wrapped up the month by welcoming the season of Fall, and learning about the four seasons.
Practical Life/Sensorial
We were able to use all of our 5 senses within the classroom this month, especially in the Sensorial area! We used our sense of sight for sorting and building from biggest to smallest. We used our sense of hearing with our sound cylinders. We used our sense of smell with our smelling jars. We used our sense of touch with our thermic tablets, rough and smooth boards, and fabric box. And we tasted tested sour, salty, sweet, red apples, green apples, and apple cider!
Math
Our Math lessons range from one to one correspondence as the children count quantity, to counting by 10s with our Tens Board, to filling in Ten Frames, and Kindergarteners are working with the Addition Strip Board and recording the sums of their equations.
Language
Our sweet Blossoms are working hard in the Language area as well. Our youngest children are working in the Pre-Language area as they practice What Does Not Belong or Opposites. Older preschoolers are working with Sound Pouches as they are introduced to letters and the sounds they make. Kindergarteners are isolating ending sounds in words or even working on blends in words!
Handwriting
There are so many different ways we practice our handwriting skills throughout the day! Chalkboards, dry erase boards, sand trays, and paper and pencil!
Cultural
You’ll see hints of our whole group Cultural lessons sprinkled throughout our classroom. Whether the children are working on Parts of a Pumpkin books, or Four Seasons art, or Parts of an Apple books, or even a pumpkin patch and an apple orchard in a child’s sketchbook!
What are the Kindergarteners up to?
My favorite part of a mixed age classroom is observing students teach lessons to other students. Our Kindergarteners practiced math skills with some preschool students this month. Why do we do this? Many reasons! Working together practices communication skills. Teaching a skill to another person strengthens the understanding of the concept. Learning from another person opens up new ways of understanding.
Learning is SO MUCH FUN!
Ms. Kelly has been working with the class on feelings and calming techniques. We have been practicing yoga and different ways to breathe. Here the class is practicing Lotus pose and taking five deep breaths.
Here’s a peek at some of our days! Worm weather, the excitment of finding the picture you’re looking for while sorting, the smiles that apple cider brings, and Cherry Blossom trees with Pink Tower and Brown Stairs!
A Peek Into October!
October will be a busy month as we dive deeper into Fall. We’ll be studying trees and leaves, as well as beginning our Animal Classification unit – a classroom favorite every year!
Important Dates:
Friday, October 11 – No School/Fall Break
Friday, October 25 – Trunk or Treat (more info coming soon!)
That’s all or now!