This morning, we joined in a Meeting for Worship on the rug. The Cardinals were invited to visualize and think about fall, trips to the market, or other activities they might be engaging in with their families. We ended our time in silence by learning a new song "Teaching Peace". The children showed a growing cognitive ability in recall as they were able to recite the lines after hearing the verses a few times. Next, Paula shared with the children how the teachers have been faced with a few dilemmas in the T-shirt making process for our festival. The children were intrigued to learn that their teachers encounter issues that they need to resolve as well. We discussed how we talked with each other and more teachers and parents to brainstorm new ideas for our shirts. The children even shared their thoughts and we realized together that solving a problem always works best when you stop to think about a solution before getting overwhelmed with emotion! Together, we came up with the idea of using paint on the shirts to create a cardinal from an outline Shannon had created. Also, Paula showed the children the beautiful feather stamp given to us and created by Lauren, Wyatt's Mom. The group is excited to begin the process of painting and stamping on their Fall Festival shirts.
Next, we headed to Music with Jason. This is quickly becoming one of our favorite stops during our week at school. The children eagerly arrive greeting Jason with a smile and asking questions about what we might be singing or doing that day. Today, we began by singing "The Shaker Song" which allows us to show our awareness of directions such as up, down, behind and around. Next, we used the shaker instrument to keep the beat as we sang "The Hello Song". The children enjoy dancing along and freely sway their bodies as they have already become very familiar with this song. After becoming reacquainted with Music, Jason knew we were ready for something new! He introduced us to the Glockenspiel, a scale instrument that you play with mallots. This percussion instrument is similar to a xylophone. The children followed Jason's lead, striking the different keys on the instrument, noticing the sounds that each played. They practiced striking one key and then created a Glissando, which is when you slide the mallot up or down the scale. During a rendition of a new song, "Fish in the Ocean", the Cardinals became aware of the letters on each key of the instrument. Jason then challenged us to play the "C" note! But, there's more...there was a big C and a little c. Jason showed us how the pitch changed as you switched from playing the big C to the little c. The children showed patience as they listened and watched Jason play each note and then identified the corresponding note on their own instrument to play. This music class created a growing connection to literacy as the children even extended the idea of a C to the sound the letter makes and how the word Cardinals begins with a C.
After Music, we headed to the lower playground and explored the equipment that the older children explore and climb on. The children quickly began to figure out ways to get themselves on top of structures or to challenge their bodies in a different way. Take a look at all that happened:
After our outdoor time, we gathered inside on the rug and welcomed Trace back to school who had something exciting to share from his vacation. He showed us a dried piece of coral and the teachers started a discussion by sharing with the children how this used to be a living, breathing animal that grows in the ocean. The children began asking many questions such as, "Is it still alive?", "Is it white because it was there for a long time?" and "Does it move?" The teachers answered many questions but also invited the group to think about how we could learn more about coral. We decided we could look in books, ask Gwen, the Lower School Librarian, or even look on the computer. As we began our research on the computer, Christina found a time-lapse video of coral growing under the ocean which the children watched eagerly noticing how the coral changed as the time went on.
The children demonstrated their growing curiosity throughout the morning as each new activity led to a great discussion and many questions. The children's awareness of the bigger world around them is expanding through their everyday experiences with each other and their own connections they make. Today was a wonderful display of how this happens in the Cardinal class.
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