Newsletter: September 27, 2012

Dear Families,

We've been busy this past week exploring Mother Nature. Last Thursday the kids grabbed containers and we headed outdoors to collect caterpillars, beetles, worms, frogs, butterflies, and whatever else we could find. The kids had a great time peeking into bushes, digging under rocks, and dipping into the pond. The critters we caught came back into the classroom for more careful observation. Using our science journals, we created sketches and recorded observational data about their physical and behavioral attributes. Afterward, the animals were released back into the wild.

We've been thinking a lot lately about how one of the best ways to better understand the science of nature is to spend time outdoors playing. One day a few weeks ago I took the kids out to play for an "extra recess" in the storybook garden. With no balls or climbing structures available to them they were left with nothing but their imaginations. I sat and recorded all the things I saw them playing. These were:

* searching under the bridge for a frog
* chasing butterflies
* turning cartwheels
* turning over rocks to see what was underneath
* playing chase/tag
* picking flowers

We have since decided it would be great if our playground offered more of these types of opportunities for playing in nature. I asked the kids what kinds of nature-related recess activities they think CFI students would enjoy. I added a few of my ideas as well. Our list included...

* dig holes
* dig for worms
* climb trees
* play in "secret" spots under the bushes
* pick at the bark of dead trees
* catch things in the pond
* float things on a small stream
* build a dam
* catch animals
* use a magnifying class/butterfly net/ measuring tools
* build things (sticks, etc)
* sit in the shade to talk, read, write
* pretend play
* jump off stuff (logs, rocks, etc)

What a great list! Since we are learning about maps I had the kids create a map in which they design how some of these features might fit into the north end of our playground. They began these maps today. Already they are imagining a space they would love. A space that is not for looking but for doing. Some of their ideas would be costly. However, the majority of them would be rather simple with a little effort. I plan to have them put together a proposal to present to Dr. Mueller and perhaps to the SIC as well. I would love to see one of our lasting legacies at CFI be the creation (or at least the beginning) of a nature garden at CFI where kids are encouraged to explore and play in nature.

A new structure this past week was the Student Voice Committee (SVC). Our third graders (including Mr. Foote's class) are hosting representatives from  CFI classrooms each Tuesday morning to discuss celebrations and concerns regarding our school grounds and community. Our role as third graders is to host these representatives, organize the information discussed, and share this with the other teachers in the building. This past Tuesday we noticed the majority of the representatives wanted to share concerns about our hallway bathrooms as well as litter around the campus. A celebration presented to the committee highlighted the kind words being used with others. We took this information and everyone in our class created a flyer that was later delivered to classroom teachers to help them continue these discussions with their students. Our aim with the SVC is to get the kids more directly involved in making decisions about our school. It's democracy in action. Here are some photos of the kids creating their flyers.

 

Please remember that we are hosting Gathering tomorrow at 2:20. It will be a rather simple affair. The kids are planning to share some of their learning around multiplication, poetry, literature discussions, and nature. We'll also sing a song. It is not a new song but a favorite of many. We are slowly working on a new song about poetry but, with only a few verses complete,  it is nowhere near being ready to perform in front of an audience. You might look for that one at an upcoming Curriculum Night.

Also worth noting is that tomorrow is our trip to the zoo. Please send your child to school in a CFI t-shirt. If you do not have one perhaps they could wear a purple or green shirt.

Thank you,
Chris