Our Own Menorah Factory!

Last week the Tel Aviv class worked hard to create their very own, creative, one-of-a-kind menorahs! Each child took either a wood or tile base and then crafted it with additional wood and tiles and then added color through markers and acrylic paints to create a product that they really felt connected to. We worked for a few days and saw that there are SO MANY ways to make menorahs! After the menorahs were dry from thick layers of paint we added nuts with hot glue to put the candles in. Each child counted out 9 nuts: 8 for the candles plus an extra for the helper candle! After we had enough counted out we used the hot glue gun together to make sure that they were each in the right place. We finished the project by wrapping them up in tissue paper and writing cards for our families wishing them a happy Hanukkah! It was neat to watch each child bring to light their creative ideas and to see the uniqueness in each process as well as product. 

We hope you are enjoying using them at home!

Happy Hannukah!!

So Many Ways to Build!

The Tel Aviv class has been talking about the passover story and pyramids! Introducing pyramids has been a neat way to add a setting to the passover story and explore different kids of shapes and blocks. Today we had Jenga blocks, colored cubes and mosaic tiles out so that kids could experiment with different types of building materials. On the art table we are continuing coloring and cutting out bricks to add to our classroom pyramid! One of the neat things that the Tel Aviv class has discovered is that even though a pyramid is a triangle shape they are made out of rectangles or squares. Playing with these blocks and designing these shapes are teaching about balancing and creating a great number sense for understanding that pyramids are bigger on the bottom and have few blocks in each row up to a single block on the very top. By the end of the week these guys will be pyramid experts and we are excited to watch the curiosity and enthusiasm continue throughout our study of Passover.

A Project for the Rainbow Parents

The parents of the Rainbow class worked hard at describing their hopes and dreams for the future of their children, and naming some of the qualities that they hope to see in them as they grow. It was great to meet the parents and have a chance to discuss our goals for the first weeks at school. We're all looking forward to welcoming the children for orientation tomorrow morning.

We Love our Mommys!!

The Scientists have been working hard on our Mother's Day surprises for our mothers! The final product includes a flower pot complete with a current picture of each of our students, and Impatients! Today we finished our prsents by making beautiful handwritten mothers day cards!

Happy Mother's Day!
Love, The Scientists

-Alison Simpson

I have an announcement!

Lauri called the children to attention for Mia's announcement.  "OK.  Everyone.  It's my mom's birthday tomorrow.  You can make a page for the birthday book I am making.  I have everything set up over on the table."  Aden and a few others quickly headed to the table to contribute to the project.  Observing the scene, I found two elements interesting.  First, after only a month of school, that the children are so grounded in the class tradition of making a birthday book that Mia would think to extend the concept to apply to a book for a family member.  Second, that the children feel comfortable and see themselves as fully competent in initiating and leading a group project for their classmates.  From idea to product, even our four year olds are fully capable of real and meaningful work.