This Week in Review - November 12 - 16

     

               "We do not give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks."

We spent a fair amount of time this week exploring what it means to feel gratitude, and to have a thankful heart. On Monday, we did a mindful exercise called “Thank the Farmer,” in which children are taught what goes into creating a simple snack like a slice of apple. On Thursday, we read several beautifully illustrated picture books about all of the things to be grateful for in nature and the world. Both first and second grade classes then worked together to create a long and lovely thankful chain – each link an expression of something that they are grateful for.

Our leaf haiku projects our finished – each child created a beautiful haiku poem and a leaf rubbing art project. While most of their haikus do not strictly follow the 5-7-5 pattern, I think they evoked a sense of wonder of the natural sweetness of the season.

Phoebe and Miles were our special readers on Monday, and did a wonderful job sharing their fun selections. We also read and illustrated a very fun and silly poem this week from Shel Silverstein called Warning (always a kid favorite). Other routines included spelling lists and lots of quiet and shared reading.

In math, we started each day with some quick warm-ups using our 100 boards – more mystery number puzzles. Then, after workbook time, we learned how to play the simplest version of Place Value Yahtzee. We are finding this really fun, and it takes understanding of place value, what digits mean, logic, and luck!

In science with Shan, children are working on their research projects on bees. Based on their own preferences, they were grouped to learn about a certain aspect of bee conservation. There are four different groups, each of which are working on posters to educate others about:

·     *  bees are our friends – people should not be scared of honey bees

·      * buy local honey – support your beekeeper

·      * read to feed – give money raised to donate bees to other communities

·      * don’t use insecticides – protect bee habitat

We went to the Westgate Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library on Thursday morning. While there, each child got an opportunity to check out some books using their library cards. Our librarian read to us, and shared the many things that one can check out at the library – it’s not just books anymore! We had an informative and fun time exploring the children’s section.

On Friday morning, we completed our Environmental Super Hero project for November. We talked a bit about why some people may make choices to not use animal products or eat meat/dairy. Then each child made their own mini-loaf of vegan pumpkin bread, in time for Thanksgiving.