Well, March is drawing to a close, and we think it might be going out like a lamb. We will hopefully be going outside with MUCH more regularity. Please, keep sending your children in weather-appropriate gear! We will not go outside when it rains, but if the ground is wet from a previous rain, rain boots may be a good idea.
Recently, our friends have begun expressing a desire to bring in things for Show and Tell. We love Show and Tell, and we have some guidelines so that it is a meaningful activity for all children. Since we have talked to the children about the ways in which they are unique, we ask that the things they show be unique as well. We found out, by surveying everyone at circle, that all of us have stuffed animals. We all have toy cars. Show and Tell items should something from nature, or a book, or something that we can learn from. Hopefully, a Show and Tell item can relate to an experience that your child can then share with us. Of course, this also helps us stick with our rule about no toys at school. We thank you for your cooperation! In the last two weeks, we have been working on our nutrition unit. Last week, we had food tasting for all food groups. From the fruit group, we had kiwi; dairy group, ricotta cheese; vegetable group, tomato; protein group, sunflower seeds; and grains group, tortillas. We learned that seeds and beans are a good way to get our protein serving, if we don't eat meat. It was also a good time to remember our "polite bite" rule. If we think we won't like something, even if we remember not liking it, we take one "polite bite." One little friend, who didn't "like" tortillas, found out that they were just like bread! We have also been learning about the history of the pretzel. Legend goes that a certain Brother Giovanni, a long time ago, twisted bits of dough to resemble the way children crossed their arms over their chests when they prayed. If the students said their prayers correctly, they received a "pretiola," or "little reward." Pretzels were a popular Lenten treat, for their very simple ingredients, and the three holes came to represent the Holy Trinity. This week, we are practicing our prayers, so that we can have a pretzel party on Friday! Next month, we will review all of the classes of animals we have learned over the year. As many children will be coloring eggs, we will learn about colors and color-mixing. After Easter Sunday, we will celebrate the coming of Earth Day by recycling paper. And toward the end of the month, we will hopefully be able to use the newly-repaired incubator to hatch some baby chicks!
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Well, life is full of surprises! Miss Rachel got the eggs, and put them in the incubator, which was warm and had the right humidity.....but the turner wasn't working. Now, in nature, hens keep their eggs warm, but also move them around periodically, so that the chicks do not stick to the inside of the eggs. So, Miss Rachel showed us the inside of a fertilized egg, the tiny spot on the yolk that would grow into a chick. And when we get the incubator back, fixed, we will try again!
Report cards are going home on Thursday, March 16. Please read it over, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Ms. Teresa at 716-435-5783. If it's a question that needs more discussion, we can always schedule a conference. Likewise, Ms. Krista and Ms. Teresa may ask for a sit-down conference. Otherwise, there are no schedule conference days for this trimester.
There is no school on Friday, March 17, due to a teacher professional training. While we have several St. Patrick's Day-themed lessons on the shelf, we are not celebrating the day with a party. We have been learning about the legend of St. Patrick, as well as Ms. Rachel praying with the children every day during Lent. This week, more exciting news! Ms. Rachel is getting chicken eggs, and we will be incubating them for three weeks in our room. The chicks are expected around April 4, although the exact time and day is up to Mother Nature! Hello, and Happy March! As we begin this season of Lent, we are talking about the ways that our children are unique children of God. We have asked all of our students the ways in which they feel special. Our discussions include not material possessions, but what is in our hearts, where God can see. We will send home a short questionnaire (1 question, I promise!) about what makes your child unique. Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss's birthday, so we will create Seuss-inspired crafts and make Seuss-themed snacks! We will also take the time to read some of his beloved, quirky stories that never fail to make us smile! We are also learning about sea creatures and fish this month. We've added the category of fish to our animal classification work, and the Niagara Aquarium is coming to visit our school on March 6th. Our nutrition unit will be introduced this month, in which the children learn about the MyPlate configuration of food groups. We will have food tasting from every food group. Some of our students who buy lunch will recognize the MyPlate design, as we use those plates from the cafeteria! Of course, March is the month of spring and St. Patrick's Day, so we will learn about these days as they happen.
Next month, our focus will turn to how we can keep our living Earth healthy. |
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Ms. Teresa is just one of the three fantastic teachers in St. Mary's Montessori Children's House! |