Hello Branch Families!
Another month has come and gone in the Branch classroom, and might we say how quickly the new year is flying by! We wish we could slow down time, but as we like to say in the Branch room, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun!’ Trust us, we’re having a great time! We explored and studied our teeth because February is National Children’s Dental Month. When we do this study, we get a lot of feedback from the Branchers, which we always welcome and appreciate. Many children discussed which foods are healthy versus unhealthy for their teeth, their upcoming or past dental visits, which teeth they use when eating, and how they brush their teeth. We were delighted to hear that our Branchers have taken such an interest in their tooth health and knowledge!
We started the month by exploring our teeth, learning what they do, how to keep them healthy, and why we brush them. In each monthly study, the Branchers expand not only their knowledge but also their vocabulary. This month, the Branchers learned that we have three types of teeth: incisors, canines, and molars. They were quite impressed by how quickly they picked up this new vocabulary! We discovered that we have eight incisors in the front of our mouth, four canines, and eight molars in the back. We asked what we use our teeth for, and our Branchers shouted, “Eating!” They were right on target! We also discovered and discussed how each group of teeth has its own specific jobs. Incisors are for biting down on food, canines are for ripping food, and molars are for chewing.
After identifying the types of teeth, we focused on understanding what is inside our teeth. We discovered a hard, white surface called enamel on the outside of each tooth. Enamel is known as the tooth’s armor because it is strong and protects the tooth. Beneath the enamel is dentin, which helps protect the tooth by covering the pulp with its soft, cushioning layer. The pulp is essential because it contains blood vessels and nerves that keep each tooth attached, healthy, alive, and thriving. But what can we do to keep our teeth healthy? By brushing and flossing, of course! The students learned that it is very important to brush their teeth because it fights against plaque and harmful bacteria.
In each study, we enjoy creating and offering fun, hands-on, creative activities for the children. We love brainstorming various activities and sharing them with our Branchers! This month, we decided to turn the ‘home station’ into our own ‘dental office’, and it proved to be a hit! We provided the children with clipboards to take notes, phones to book appointments, toothbrushes and teeth props, and scrubs to look the part! We loved observing how detailed each Brancher was in their discussions and play. They took their work seriously!
One of our favorite activities during the month was our ‘egg-cellent’ science experiment. During this experiment, we asked each Brancher to make a ‘prediction’ on what would happen to our teeth if we ate and drank too many sugary products. To test their hypothesis, we used our imaginations to pretend that an egg was the enamel of our teeth. We then submerged one egg into sugary soda and one into drinking water. With just a few hours of soaking in each type of liquid, we observed that the egg in sugary soda had begun to change color… from a bright white to a dirty, dingy brown, while the egg in the drinking water remained the same bright white. (We also added a bonus egg submerged in Fruit Punch) We then concluded that if we drank too much soda or sugary drinks and didn’t brush our teeth properly, our teeth would become discolored and could quickly create cavities.
This month wouldn’t have been complete without artwork! Art activities are a great way for each Brancher to practice fine-motor skills, which can be tricky to master. Our art projects are often multi-step, detailed, and very student-focused. Each part of every art project we do is completed by the child, which can often be time-consuming, but in the end, each art masterpiece is worth the effort! By taking their time, each Brancher receives one-on-one guidance, helping to promote their fine motor skills. Throughout the month, we did just that—from drawing our monthly self-portrait, cutting and lacing teeth, cutting half hearts to make whole hearts for a garland, gluing together marshmallow smiles, to building a tooth diagram.
February brought us not only Groundhog’s Day (which we’re not convinced Phil was correct about with his prediction) but also Valentine’s Day! We enjoyed celebrating this fun holiday in the Branch classroom. We think it’s fair to say that each Brancher felt the L-O-V-E! A big round of applause to all of the Brancher families who went above and beyond to make this another successful holiday celebration in the books for our Branchers!
-Ms. Heather & Ms. Gracen
