Dear Branch Families,
What a marvelous month it has been! There has been so much GROWTH in the Branch room, figuratively and literally! The warm weather was the perfect opportunity for us to grow our knowledge and grow some plants!
We like to take a deep dive into gardening during May because, as the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers!” This is always a fun and exciting study for both teachers and students. It allows us to see the growing process from start to finish and get our hands dirty! Plus, the results at the end are always beautiful!
We began our study by learning about seeds and examining various types of seeds. We compared the size and color of the seeds and discussed how we can even eat some of them! Like the little white seeds in our lunch, watermelon or sunflower seeds. Then we worked together to gather supplies from the greenhouse to start planting. We filled the two big pots outside with potting soil and placed them in a safe, sunny spot. The Branchers got to have a turn placing either a green bean or a pea seed into the pot. After that, the Branchers did an excellent job watering our seeds and singing songs while we were outside, helping our seeds grow big and strong. Finally, after waiting patiently for a few weeks, we are starting to see some sprouts! We can’t wait to continue watching them all summer and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
During circle time, we read Jack and the Beanstalk. All the Branchers loved the story, but what they loved even more was a fun, storytelling song about Jack and the Beanstalk. After learning about Magic Beans, we got a few magic beans ourselves. What made our beans so magical is that they could grow WITHOUT soil! So we placed each bean into a ziplock baggie with a damp tissue and taped it to the window. After a week or so, that bean began to sprout! Some of the beans grew so big they came out of their bags! It was interesting to see their roots and how a bean grows out of its shell.
When exploring the various parts of a flower, we put on our lab coats and got to work by performing our very own Radical Rainbow Blooms! We conducted a color test using white carnations. Each flower was placed in a vase with a specific food color. As time passed, we watched as the flowers drank the water and began to turn the colors in which they were placed. This gave us a great visual of how a flower’s stem can be used as a “straw” to soak up water and bring it up towards the pistil and petals of the flower.
No month would be complete without some beautiful art created by the Branchers! As for art this month, we enjoyed reading Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed. So we tried to create some art inspired by Eric Carle. We loved the texture of his artwork, so Branchers mixed paint colors together using texture rollers to create a beautiful print. After the paint had dried, the Branchers practiced their cutting skills and cut out the different parts of the flower: a stem, leaves, a center, and petals. We assembled all the pieces and created a beautiful wall of flowers! Next up are self-portraits. This month, we made Poppy Portraits! Each Brancher drew themselves in the center of the poppy, and we used tissue paper to make the petals go around their portrait. They’re self-portraits are continually improving and becoming very detailed.
Next, we discussed veggies while reading “My Secret Vegetable Garden.” When we finished reading, we did our vegetable taste test, including broccoli, purple cauliflower, cucumber, and celery. We had a great time discussing how different fruits and vegetables grow: on the ground, on a tree, or on the vine. We love to incorporate mathematics into our activities, so we decided to take a vote on what everyone’s favorite vegetable was and then make a vegetable graph. The Branchers were quick to notice that corn was a favorite! We also saw Branchers excited to try new foods at the table and focus on eating healthy foods to help their bodies grow.
Next, we discussed veggies while reading “My Secret Vegetable Garden.” After finishing our reading, we conducted a vegetable taste test, which included broccoli, purple cauliflower, cucumber, and celery. We had a great time discussing how different fruits and vegetables grow: on the ground, on a tree, or the vine. We love to incorporate mathematics into our activities, so we decided to take a vote on what everyone’s favorite vegetable was and then make a vegetable graph. The Branchers were quick to notice that corn was a favorite! We also saw Branchers excited to try new foods at the table and focus on eating healthy foods to help their bodies grow.
Can you believe June is upon us already? Bring on the summer weather, sunshine, and insects… That’s right, insects. Our upcoming study is on Insects and Arachnids!
Happy Fathers Day, Branch Dads
Heather and Gracen
