It has been a "Double S" week in the ELC... Snow and Salmon have captivated our interest! We have had fun talking about what we each did on our Monday snow day, and are planning what we'd like to do the next time it snows. We learned to fold coffee filters into quarters and then snip them with scissors to make snowflakes. Afterward, we hung them in the windows and this morning they worked their magic... Imagine the flurries of excitement when we saw big white snowflakes swirling out of the sky! The children conjectured that their handmade snowflakes had beckoned to the real snow to fall again. Alas, the snow shower was short lived, but the thrill lasted through the morning... and the excited pace continued into lunchtime.
We have been talking about the stages of a salmon's development, and what a salmon needs at each stage. The children are so interested in the many changes that happen to salmon and the various habitats in which they live during their life journeys. Today we're sending home a pamphlet and note with pictures featuring life cycle stages and how we can work to improve the environment for salmon habitat. We encourage you to use the materials to stimulate conversation about salmon and to reinforce your child's understanding. We are learning so much about this amazing species that has deeply shaped the ancient and modern cultures of the Pacific Northwest!
Remember that it is Salmon Spawning time in the Skagit River! If your family desires a day long adventure, the Skagit River Interpretive Center in Rockport, WA offers weekend presentations and information on the overwintering bald eagles that feast on the spawned out salmon. The center is open from 10-4 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with special programs continuing through Feb. 18. To contact them: Phone: 360-853-7283, email: www.skagiteagle.org .There are also eagle viewing stops along the highway, set up by volunteers with spotting scopes and binoculars. These places are close enough to view but far enough away so as not to disturb the eagles. This is a special opportunity to witness and learn about the circle of life in the natural world... as Long Claw might explain, those who swim becoming those who fly...
Snow and Salmon...Whatever you do, wherever you go, breathe the fresh cold air deeply and enjoy! Judith
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
We are reveling in cultural richness, as we explore experiences of people within our own country. We have been singing songs from the civil rights movement as we have learned about Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the many thousands of people who bravely worked to change unfair laws. Keeping the discussion developmentally appropriate for three and four year olds, we have focused on the courage to be peacemakers, integrity to stand up for what is right and the truth of living what you believe. Big topics, even for adults, yet all the children had thoughts to contribute!
This week, we are exploring the lives of the indigenous Northwest Coastal peoples with Long Claw, Ronn Wilson. I hope that you had an opportunity to stop into the multipurpose room to see his amazing art: masks, paintings, carvings, baskets, clothing, drums, tools, whistles, implements... all of which the children could carefully touch, handle and experience with their senses. In museums, this would all be behind glass... and these pieces are museum quality. He created art for each class to take part in, and it is all authentic and original. (And protected by copyright... so please don't photocopy it!) Long Claw has shared stories given to him from his beloved Grandfather, songs and dances passed on and given to him from various Clans and Native Elders. He has taught us about the circle of life through stories and games, built bridges between our very diverse cultures, as well as the old and the new, as he shares ways we are the same and ways we are different. What a powerful and deep experience this has been, one that I hope our children will remember for a long, long time!
This week, we are exploring the lives of the indigenous Northwest Coastal peoples with Long Claw, Ronn Wilson. I hope that you had an opportunity to stop into the multipurpose room to see his amazing art: masks, paintings, carvings, baskets, clothing, drums, tools, whistles, implements... all of which the children could carefully touch, handle and experience with their senses. In museums, this would all be behind glass... and these pieces are museum quality. He created art for each class to take part in, and it is all authentic and original. (And protected by copyright... so please don't photocopy it!) Long Claw has shared stories given to him from his beloved Grandfather, songs and dances passed on and given to him from various Clans and Native Elders. He has taught us about the circle of life through stories and games, built bridges between our very diverse cultures, as well as the old and the new, as he shares ways we are the same and ways we are different. What a powerful and deep experience this has been, one that I hope our children will remember for a long, long time!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
January 15, 2008
Last week slipped by so fast that I forgot to add to the blog! My apologies to all of you who so eagerly checked after I sent out the Monday note telling you about our early learning center journal. However, diving into this week, we already have lots of news!
We splurged over the holidays and ordered a new rug to use for group times... After resetting the velcro circle about a thousand times, it was obvious that there were better ways to solve the problem. The oval rug has all the continents of the world at its center, each of which is a different color. These just happen to be the exact same color as our wooden puzzle map of the world, which makes us guess that it must have been designed by a person influenced by Montessori education! Around the map are children of the world, dressed in appropriate clothing of their climate and culture. At the feet of each international child is a colored stripe, which corresponds to the color of the continent that is home for him or her. The stripes form the outer border of the large oval. Our new rug is beautiful, educational and promotes the peace and justice overview of our classroom community! Please stop in to admire it, sit on it or join us for a sing-a-long!
In harmony with our study of Kwanzaa this week, we used the principle of Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and the idea of doing "Big Jobs" (work beneficial to the community) to introduce the rug to our room. The children gathered round and helped to pull the plastic off of the rolled up mysterious tube of fiber. They repeated the motions with the tight plastic binding around the middle. We moved it to one end of the open area and the children unrolled it, then helped to flip it over. What a delightful surprise... so much oooing and aahing! No child has yet noticed that the rug map matches the puzzle map. (The day someone does will bring new sounds of spontaneous amazement!) Then we celebrated by having our first birthday circle of 2008 for our classmate who was born on New Year's Day, four years ago! What a fun beginning to the second half of our school year together!
More news next week.... Be well, Judith
Last week slipped by so fast that I forgot to add to the blog! My apologies to all of you who so eagerly checked after I sent out the Monday note telling you about our early learning center journal. However, diving into this week, we already have lots of news!
We splurged over the holidays and ordered a new rug to use for group times... After resetting the velcro circle about a thousand times, it was obvious that there were better ways to solve the problem. The oval rug has all the continents of the world at its center, each of which is a different color. These just happen to be the exact same color as our wooden puzzle map of the world, which makes us guess that it must have been designed by a person influenced by Montessori education! Around the map are children of the world, dressed in appropriate clothing of their climate and culture. At the feet of each international child is a colored stripe, which corresponds to the color of the continent that is home for him or her. The stripes form the outer border of the large oval. Our new rug is beautiful, educational and promotes the peace and justice overview of our classroom community! Please stop in to admire it, sit on it or join us for a sing-a-long!
In harmony with our study of Kwanzaa this week, we used the principle of Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and the idea of doing "Big Jobs" (work beneficial to the community) to introduce the rug to our room. The children gathered round and helped to pull the plastic off of the rolled up mysterious tube of fiber. They repeated the motions with the tight plastic binding around the middle. We moved it to one end of the open area and the children unrolled it, then helped to flip it over. What a delightful surprise... so much oooing and aahing! No child has yet noticed that the rug map matches the puzzle map. (The day someone does will bring new sounds of spontaneous amazement!) Then we celebrated by having our first birthday circle of 2008 for our classmate who was born on New Year's Day, four years ago! What a fun beginning to the second half of our school year together!
More news next week.... Be well, Judith
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