Letter Hunt

Music began this morning with instrument free play, which soon led into clean up and our group circle singing of Jambo. Following our weekly routine, Keisha introduced a new song, Hop Old Squirrel. 

First, friends kept a beat on their knees in the circle and did call and repeat. Then, Keisha gave the sign to stand up so we could start the movement section of class. Keisha and friends sang Hop Old Squirrel and intertwined different words and movements, such as hopping, tip-toeing, walking, twirling, clapping, and marching. The Sparrows had to be aware of where their bodies were in space and in relation to their friends and instruments, follow directions, and listen to the tempo. Keisha played the xylophone to keep a soft beat. 

Next, friends participated in a new favorite, which has been heard throughout the classroom since Keisha taught us last week, Tata Ti. Friends made a drum circle and took turns keeping the beat on drums. If it was not a friends turn on the drum, they kept the beat on their legs. Sparrows took turns rotating throughout, singing and playing the drum. Friends used their hands to tap on drum, as well as finger tips, and then gently scratched on the drum. Friends did a great job with this, keeping the beat, singing, and following directions and order. 

Next up, Ponies. Friends started out galloping, and then when Keisha sang,“All tired out,” the "ponies" went home and went to bed. Friends' task was to match their feet and movement to the beat. 

Lastly, friends participated in Jack in the Box. Keisha tapped on her drum and when she would say, "Will you come out?" The Sparrows responded with, "Yes I will!" and would bounce around the room. When the beat slowed down, friends knew to slowly and quietly go back into their "boxes."

To end our time together in music, we circled back up and sang our goodbye song.

Back in the classroom, we had morning meeting, choice and snack.

Today's snack: pita with hummus and/or cheese, and apples/oranges.

Later this morning we went on a Letter Hunt. Friends each got a clipboard with a grid of the alphabet. The Sparrows broke off into small groups and walked around the school in search of letters. If a friend spotted a letter, they crossed it out on their sheet! On the grid were uppercase letters. Some friends made uppercase and lowercase connections. The letters were in order, so if a friend was unsure of a letter, they were able to sing the ABCs to help them problem solve. Impressive, Sparrows! Something about holding a clipboard just brings great joy!

Ask your Sparrow to find a letter or letter(s) around the house or in a book!

PAJAMA DAY IS TOMORROW, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST!

Let your imagination run wild!

Weekend News

Lincoln- I watched a movie in the car. We were going to drive home and watch the movie. When we get to our house, we are going to turn off our movie. It was a funny movie. I do not remember the name of it.

Thea- I got more chocolate milk and we played a game outside and we made the game up. The game was called I Love You. We had to pick a ladybug, then we played something else called Pompom.

Jaylen- Mackayla's brother came to our house for Mackayla's birthday, and her dad came. There was cake and mac 'n' cheese and there was applesauce. There was balloons and there was a big ginormous unicorn outside, and a medium unicorn inside. A unicorn cake and unicorn toys. Mackayla had a unicorn horn.

Jessica- My tooth was loose first and then it got looser and looser. I played with AJ, but I kept bumping into things. Cora came over and we made a mess. We ate dinner and we played with mommy and daddy.

Henry- I watched a movie, Spider Verses. I watched it at the movie theater and it was about all different Spiderman's. There was a white Spiderwoman. I went with mommy and daddy. I went back home.

Gracie- So I scooted on my new scooter. I have a new scooter from mommy! It's blue! I want to bring it some time. I just scooted with it.

Natey- I go to the doggy place with my daddy and my mommy. I go to see Lily. Her's a puppy. Her was Sammy's color. Her still a baby. I pet her and her was so soft. Her lick me in the hair.

Asha- Played with my family and played with Savi. We went to Costco. It's a big store. I sit in the cart and daddy pushes the cart. Just me and daddy, that's all.

Zev- Mommy made pancakes and mommy didn't have one of the ingredients, and Mayla did. Mommy called her and Mayla said she was five minutes away from home. Then we got the ingredients and in a couple more minutes mommy said, "It's ready!" Then I came down but I didn't know mommy was going to let me watch iPad for that long. The video I was watching was More Full.

Vivian- On the first day, I went to the dog vet with my daddy. We went 'cause Franklin needed a shot. On the second day, I was at swim class and grandma came over and then she got to take me to her house and then we went to old Mcdonald's and then we went to the market and we buyed some toys and then we went back to her house and made brownies and then I came back home and that's the end.

Dylan- I just stayed at home and I don't know what I did.

Choice time pictures below!

Taking "family photos."

This morning we brought a very large and deconstructed box into our classroom. Friends observed the extra large cardboard and pondered what it was doing here. Following choice time, we gathered on the rug to share our thoughts and ideas on what to do with the extra large cardboard pieces. The Sparrows let their imaginations and creativity run wild. Take a look below to read about their ideas! 

Zev- A safari truck for all of us to be in.

Asha- We can make it into a big safari house.

Natey- We can make it like a cave.

Gracie- We can make a jeep! We can live in it! Even make the houses! When we drive in the car, when those animals are lost, we can ride in the truck. We can make the whole savanna in Africa.

Dylan- Paint it in a circle.

Jessica- I was thinking that we could make a jeep and we could make the whole savanna and we could paint it like the one Carolina drawed. We could draw on it, markers, anything you want and the teachers will help you if you want to draw a acacia tree or baobab tree. You could put a ladybug on there and some grass to eat.

Henry- Build a skyscraper or a building or maybe a blank paper. A baobab tree!

Thea- Make it a school or a house, and we can make a submarine to paint it blue.

Jaylen- Firetruck 

Vivian- We could make it a big savanna. We could lay it down and make some animals and we could draw them on there and then we could draw a baobab tree, and acacia tree. 

Lincoln- Make safari humans that live in the houses, like the one we saw on the video. Also, the baobab trees.

The Sparrows noticed similarities and drew conclusions from our discussion. Friends noticed that a good amount of friends shared ideas of creating a safari jeep/truck, house, and acacia and baobab trees. Tomorrow we will take a poll as to see whether our box will become a jeep or house. Stay tuned!

Following our group discussion, we broke out into an impromptu dance party!

Soon we got dressed to go outside for some outdoor fun, before the arctic air sets in this week! Outside, friends baked cookies and chocolate pancakes, played family, and chase and monster.

Back inside, we watched a brief video about the African savanna. Some key facts the video covered and we discussed were as follows:

1. What is a savanna?

2. What is a herbivore?

3. What is a carnivore?

4. What does it mean to camouflage?

5. Why is an elephant's trunk important?

6.What is a group of lions called?

7.What is the biggest bird in the world?

Ask your Sparrow any or all of the questions listed above!