Happy Holidays from River Class!
What a fabulous time we've had! One of our students shared a holiday duet with her dad (as pictured above). We've also enjoyed holiday singing with our music teacher, Joanna, before settling-in this week.
River students enjoyed sharing their creations from their Interest Groups. Children had made books and a variety of holiday decorations from the many craft Interest Groups offered this time.
River students joined the rest of the Lower School to watch the wonderful Kwanzaa performance by a group of enthusiastic fourth year students. Our very own Dee choreographed and led this exciting holiday event. We all shared a lovely snack of fruit and nuts after the performance.
This week in math the children played Dreidel. We divided the children into groups of 3 and they took turns to spin the Dreidel.
The Dreidel has 4 symbols (as pictured). Each child began by having 6 counters and placed one of them in the pot in the middle. The players then took turns to spin the Dreidel. When the Dreidel stopped the appropriate action was taken.
After we had played Dreidel a few times we recorded our results in our math journals (as pictured below). Children worked in teams to record the number of spins, specifying how many times the various symbols were landed on.
We ended our time as a whole group and recorded the teams' results using tally marks. Each student took a turn to record one of their symbol's results on the board.
Children worked in teams to play Dreidel.
Sink or Float?
Our last water theme activity involved the children working in small groups to build a boat. They collected materials in their team's box and proceeded to talk about how they were going to make a boat that would float. When they were ready they began to build.
River students came up with some very cool designs using paper filters, cardboard, plastic lids, scissors, tape, and other supplies. The next step will be to test each team's boat to see if it will FLOAT!
Our latest water experiment was to make water music using glasses filled with water.
River students once again worked in cooperative groups to answer the questions.
Students took turns to pour water into the glass and then tap it.
We gathered as a whole class to share our findings.
River students prepared veggies as part of their contribution towards our shared Thanksgiving snack.
We had Meeting for Worship outside at our Stone Circle around a camp fire.
We then enjoyed a delicious feast with food and beverage contributions from each Lower School classroom. The menu included popcorn, various breads, veggies and dip, and freshly made apple cider.
Middle School students' sugar skulls as well. We also reviewed colors, numbers and shapes by playing BINGO, which the kids really enjoyed. We are just beginning a unit on parts of the body, weather, clothing, and seasons. They will have some new songs to share with you over the next few weeks to practice their vocabulary while we continue to listen to stories and participate in lots of fun activities that engage them in learning the language.
Our first birthday celebration for August through December birthdays was a great success thanks to all involved. We celebrate every child's birthday in River Class. We typically hold three group birthday parties in order to honor each student and to minimize sugary treats.
One of our language group activities this week was Leafy Writings. Language students went outside to collect leaves.
We began our lesson by brainstorming "leafy" words. These words included color, size, texture, and movement vocabulary. The students wrote a collaborative poem. They then chose their leaves and did their own individual leaf rubbings.
As we wrote the poem we talked about rhyming patterns, using only essential words, and making a word box as a tool. Each student from Ruth's and Dee's language groups will produce their own leafy poem and leaf rubbing.
Our center time is a lot of fun! We have some very creative builders, who choose to make some wonderful constructions whilst collaborating nicely.
Some students decide that it's time to decorate the classroom ready for Thanksgiving!
Other students choose to silent read in the loft.
The MS dance class, Dance and Words, performed for the River class. Dancers chose poems about nature and explored combining speaking and moving. They added props and music in a variety of ways. The Lower School children shared ideas that the dancers improvised to and were part of a question and answer session afterwards. It was a magical afternoon that left everyone with a favorite poem and dance!!
Happy Holidays from River Class!
