Spanish, Safari and Sun

The Sparrows began their morning in Spanish class. But first, before Alicia arrived, the Sparrows "hid" and surprised her!

Alicia and friends greeted one another, and then settled for "un momento de silencio." Once friends' bodies were quiet and calm, Alicia shared that since we have been learning the Spanish words for snack foods, it is important to know the word for snack! Snack is "merienda."

After learning "merienda," the Sparrows reviewed some of the snack items we have been working on.

Orange-naranja

Red apple- manzana roja

Green apple- manzana verde

Cheese- queso

Cream cheese- queso crema

Banana- banana o platano

Ask your Sparrow how to say any of these words!

We played Matamoscas, and with the supersize ones at that! Before using the swatters, Alicia went over how to safely and properly use them to play the game.

To play, Alicia called out a snack item in Spanish and friends gently tapped the item called. Two friends at a time played, while the rest of the group cheered them on. Alicia asked friends "listo?" and if they were ready, friends replied with "listo" or "si."

Once each Sparrow was done their turn, they were asked to pasalo la matamosca to the next friend.

To end our time together, we sang Adios and Dylan squeezed la vaca.

A common game that the Sparrows like to play in the classroom is "Cheetah." Friends organize the play where there is a family of cheetahs and they go on some type of adventure. To further explore this topic and friends' interests, we thought why not learn about cheetahs and other African wildlife. We made a slideshow for friends to watch and to see if while watching that this topic still sparked their interests. Indeed it did! We deem this study "Sparrows on Safari."

The Sparrows were giddy with excitement, sharing all types of ideas and what we could do. Along with animals of Africa, we will learn about climate, trees and plants, location, music, language, what a safari is, and more! We are very much so looking forward to this topic of study, and all of the wonderful ideas that already have and will emerge.

When asked where to find more information, and to share their thoughts, the Sparrows gave these responses:

 -At the zoo

-Africa because the animals live there

-Explore the classroom

-Library

-Look things up on the computer and iPhone

-Maybe the teachers could be the explorers and the kids the animals

-Make cardboard animals and paint them like real animals and do a show on stage

Following all of the excitement of deciding on our study, we had snack then soon went to explore our campus. Along the way, we stopped in the upper school where we saw Thea's dad, Brian, who invited us into his classroom. Friends even got to sit in the "big kid" desks and experience a brief Spanish class as an upper schooler. Thank you, Brian!

We went to the soccer fields and tennis courts, and saw our friends the Cardinals! Friends ran around and played games, and got to play with soccer balls, and tennis balls over on the tennis courts.

Thank you Mr. C for lending us the soccer balls!

Bead Bowls and More!

Weekend News

Natey- I go to pumpkin picking. I have three pumpkins. I only decorated one. I play with Jonah and Reesey. They are my cousins. I watch Big Foot.

Vivian- I went to my grandma's house. I ate doughnuts. It was so chilly.

Henry- I went apple picking and saw Grayson when I was going apple picking. I went with mommy and daddy. They don't have ripe apples for since a week. I played with bumble bee.

Thea- I played outside. I played soccer with mommy. Me and daddy kicked the ball into the goal. I ate pancakes for dinner.

Asha- I went to my cousins house.

Gracie- My mom got new clothes for me. She got me Eagles shirt! Mom also got me another shirt. I went to a playground with daddy. We played at the playground. We went to the store and buyed some food and goldfish and I found a beanbag on the ground. I love beanbags! I love my dad, and my mom, and my brother, and myself! I also go to dance class.

Dylan- Daddy and me went to Target and we got some Lego sets. Mine was a Spiderman one and Barrett has a policeman one. 

Lincoln- We wake up and have breakfast. I had a bagel with cream cheese. We went to the cousins and play Mario.

Jessica- We went to the playground and played with Elsa. Then, we went to the supermarket. We got a flower and it blows. My birthday is October 3rd.

Millie- I was playing with my stickies. You throw them and zap them with the zapper. 

Zev- Gigi and poppy came over. They played with me. I played outside on my bike. My bike has a red button on it's right. You press the red button and flashing red lights flash on. They work better at night.

Rather than on Wednesday, we had art class today! The Sparrows were A-OK with this schedule change.

When we arrived in the art room, the Sparrows took their seats and got ready to listen to Amanda's instructions. Amanda explained that we were going to paint but not using any paintbrushes! Just like a couple of weeks ago, friends used an alternative method.

First, friends squeezed the paint on it's "belly" two times into the bowl. Then, friends gently dropped beads into the bowl of paint. Friends added two drops of paint and two beads at a time. Friends were able to use various colors.

Friends mixed and swirled the beads in the bowl. Friends noticed the more beads they placed in the bowl, the louder noise it made when they shook it.

Amanda told the Sparrows that we are going to let the beads dry in the bowl of paint, and next week when they are dry we are going to make necklaces.

Ask your Sparrow what paint colors they mixed in their bead bowls.

Following art, friends came back to the classroom to put their free draw drawings in their mailboxes and line up for outdoor play.

Building ships

Playing teacher

Chase

Today we journaled. Last week, we worked on the letters L, F and E. Continuing with this work, the journal question was "What word starts with L?"

Each Sparrow received a journal paper and their journal jar, and then went off to find a comfortable spot in the classroom to journal.

While journaling, friends listened to classical music.

It was neat to watch friends put their ideas down on paper. Some friends took a more literal approach to their drawings, while others more an abstract. When asked about their journal drawings, each friend gave a clear and detailed response about what they drew and why.

Journaling helps to foster friends' fine motor skills and muscle development, as well as imagination, creativeness, independence, and pride in themselves and their work.

Ask your Sparrow what they drew in their journals today.