The Lower Grades spent the week with Times and Divide Gnomes. We began the week with our times tables for 10’s, 5’s and the 2’s. All year, the children have been skip counting through movement activities during morning circle. This is the base for learning multiplication tables. During this week, we used bean bags and other movement activities as we learned the tables themselves (10=10x1, 20=10x2, etc.). We used the gnomes’ gems and together made equal groups which we then skip counted. Finally, I wrote the various tables on the board, we looked for patterns within the tables, and the students copied them into their Master books. It was wonderful to see them making the connection between our skip counting games and multiplication! We also divided gems into equal groups and as we learned more about division and remainders, finally dividing a pan of brownies equally among us (which, really, was the best lesson of all and certainly, the tastiest…just ask them 😉). We also spent time estimating how many gems were in containers of various sizes and then, as a class, we counted them to see how close we were to the actual amount. Next week, we will continue to work more with estination, the four process and also on drawing basic geometric shapes.
Last week, we painted wooden pegs the same colors as the math gnomes and this week we began sewing hats for them using the blanket/quilt stitch and felt. We will continue working on them next week as well. The children are continuing knitting, working on hats and now flute cases for next year. The pride and ownership they take over their handwork projects is lovely to see! If you happen to have an extra skein of yarn to donate, that would be great. We go through yarn faster than water! We aim for natural blends, but we are flexible given our yarn appetites. 😊 The Middle Grades are working hard in the garden and each class now has their own garden bed. The Lower Grades planted strawberries this week and also each student brought home basil seeds to plant and to give them a start at home. Spanish and Mandarin classes are moving right along with their games, songs and activities.
As we enter spring (I think it might be here for real now?!), please send your child ready for muddy, wet play. Even if they think they won’t want to join in wet playtime, that feeling often changes when they are with their classmates outside. Your child may leave their rain gear at school as we have our backpack “shed” and can leave items over the weekend. Finally, please be certain your child has a labeled water bottle daily. It’s getting hotter in the afternoons, we stay busy, and hydration promotes learning and wellness. Thank you!
Warmly,
Ki Melissa
The Lower Grades enjoyed our second week of our math block. We met Plus and Minus gnomes as all as King Equals. The students worked with both operations adding or subtracting 1, 2, and 3 (or 10-13) from numbers through 100. We used gems, number lines, our fingers and mental math skills as we learned. Being able to solve equations in a variety of ways with a variety of tools allows us to become more flexible in how we think about and work with math equations. The children enjoyed the on-going story as well as working on their skills with number. This coming week we will work with both multiplication and division.
We also modeled cubes into boxes and worked on both drawing and painting mountain scemes. The students really enjoyed the process of laying colors on their paper with crayons. We mixed red and blue paint to create purple mountains, and then red and yellow to create a sunset (or sunrise). The children are enjoying both Spanish and Mandarin and the many songs and games in both classes. Ki Sonya has kept them busy working in the garden and exploring our campus during nature study.
Please remember to join us for our upcoming Media Lite talk on March 22nd at 10:00. Bring a friend!
Warmly,
Ki Melissa
