Dear Blossom Families,
Things got wild this month as we began studying Oregon animals, prepared for the Leprechaun, and welcomed Spring!
The students became very good at identifying animal and bird tracks, learned about the life cycle of the salmon, and went fishing from the loft! They created leprechaun traps and collected a significant amount of leprechaun gold, both in the classroom and on the playground. And we rescued Ms. Tammy from the leprechaun when he locked her in the closet!
We used boxes to build a bear cave out of the loft, a bird nest, and a den for wolves or other Oregon animals the children wanted to pretend. Miss Madelyn helped the students make a beaver dam out of sticks outdoors!
The following week, we were excited about salmon and their life cycle. We always love hearing new vocabulary words and concepts, as well as trying out new art materials and projects. While learning about salmon, we engaged in a fun and focused salmon-themed yoga session.
Next, we studied birds, practiced birdwatching, made bird nests out of dough, and observed a bird nest across the street that had been converted into a squirrel’s drey. We learned fascinating facts about falcons, eagles, and other birds found in Oregon. And we made our little owls with a pinecone.
Many fascinating facts and stories about river otters, the gray fox, whistle pig, porcupines, owls, reptiles, coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, and other predators were shared. We examined photos and videos, listened to sounds, and read nonfiction books to help round out our understanding. It was fun to see the students pretend to be various animals during their free play outside and incorporate facts and features they had learned in class into their play!
We also notice signs of growth and “blossoming” in our Blossoms! They are gaining new self-regulation skills, communication, prosocial behaviors, and building solid friendships and bodies! We have seen them caring for one another and our classroom, taking responsibility for their messes and things, and working together to play and engage with classroom materials and activities. We are so proud!
This April, we will begin our building study. Every day, we enter buildings! Some buildings reveal their purpose at a glance; others are so impressive that they inspire us. But what makes a building a building? How are they made, and what are they made of? This month, we will explore buildings worldwide and those in our local community. Preschoolers can build with almost anything, and this month we will! As you surely know, your Blossoms are particularly curious about the world directly around them. Please let us know if you have any ideas, materials, or expertise to share! Materials shared in the past have included large shipping boxes, old house and building plans, and clean, recyclable materials like cereal boxes, caps, towel tubes, and newspapers.
We look forward to seeing you for Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday, April 18th! Growing Tree will be closed that day. Our favorite part is sharing with you all of the fantastic things our students have brought to our classroom and how hard they have been working!
Thank you for sharing your exceptional learners with us! Ms. Stephanie, Miss Madeline, and Mr. Keegan
