March has arrived, and our sneaky Leprechaun is back!  Every year, we have a mischievous leprechaun that visits our classroom and moves things around.  He also leaves us a paper token that moves around the room every morning- we never know where we might find him next!  This year, that tricky leprechaun took several of our toys and froze them in colorful blocks of ice! We found them scattered about the playground and the kids were quick to get to work problem solving how to free them!  Lots of creative fun, and all of the items were successfully rescued!

The hill down to the brook has been icy and slippery, but that didn’t stop us from finding other spots to venture into the woods!  Just off the path that runs to the library we found a downed tree to explore, the ropes course, and animal tracks.  Flat on our backs, we gazed upward through the trees and listened quietly for the sounds of nature. We crawled under branches that made cozy spots to sit, climbed a stone wall, and found items hiding under the snow.  Looking forward to venturing back into the woods again this Friday!

Let’s celebrate friendship and kindness together! There is so much we can share with each other: a song, a laugh, a hug, a card, our feelings, our time, a story, an object, a snack, a toy…… or even a prized piece of ice shaped like a heart!

We watched the news clip together to see if the groundhog would see his shadow…. and he DID. Looks like we are in for six more weeks of winter! We discussed as a class how the weather is predicted, if groundhogs might REALLY know or sense the weather, what a superstition is, and more about traditions!

This week we also have been exploring shadows! How is a shadow made? What is a shadow? Why does it follow you? How can we move the light to manipulate a shadow? Why are shadows cooler to stand in? How do people create shadows? and nature?  Can we trace a shadow? Do all shadows look the same?  Can you make a shadow puppet?  Grab a flashlight at home and keep the fun and learning going!

This week we also explored the Moon, why we have night and day, and why we have seasons.  We also learned about the phases of the moon and how the sun, moon, earth, and shadows all work together!  Their excitement and questions were so exciting to be a part of this week!  We concluded on Friday by learning a bit more about stars and making our own constellations out of marshmallows and toothpicks.

Check out the book “Moon! Earth’s Best Friend” by Stacy McAnulty

Check out this great video all about the stars:

Check out Magic School Bus flies into space on Netflix

Here are a few photos of our moon and stars explorations….

We had such a great time at the basketball game at UMASS! I was very impressed by the class’s enthusiasm and what a great audience they were! What a wonderful polite group to take places. Looking forward to future field trips together as a group!

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable winter break! Welcome 2023! Below I have included our best attempts at a family holiday picture! lol!

As we enter into the new year, I am preparing for my return to the classroom! My first day back will be next Wednesday, January 18th.  During this period of transition, I share many of the first day jitters we all feel, both the children and grownups, as we part ways each morning with our children.  I remind myself, as I do my students, that once you dive into the fun you are doing in the moment, you will have adventures and stories to share once you arrive back home!

In years past, including last year, for the winter months our class boarded our pretend plane and traveled to China to learn all about Chinese New Year.  I love this unit and the many opportunities it provides us to learn about other cultures and traditions around the world.  This year we will be traveling a bit further…. into outer space!

Our class will be boarding a rocket ship this year, as we learn more about our solar system, our planet, and the sun and the moon.  We will discuss what it means to be an explorer, ask questions, and find answers!  Why can you still see the moon during the day? Why do we have night and day? Why is it darker in the winter here? Where does the sun go at night?  Why does the sun shine but it is still cold? why does the moon sometimes look like a fingernail? We will also read a variety of books including nonfiction, folktales, and just for fun fiction! And don’t worry…. we will cycle back to our Chinese New Year Unit next year if you missed it last year!

Please find below some December classroom pictures! I will also be sending out our monthly classroom Newsletters once again, so be sure to check out your child’s folder for it next week!

Thanksgiving Break is nearly upon us!  Our class has been sharing and learning about each others’ families, traditions, and communities as well as the holidays that some of our friends celebrate, including the American Holiday of Thanksgiving.  This has given us an opportunity to discuss different people and things that are important to us, what we are thankful for, and ways we can show our gratitude.  Students helped to decorate our turkey bulletin board with some feathers depicting what we are thankful for.

We have also been learning about food groups and making healthy food selections using the “On My Plate” guide (some of you may remember the older version called “The Food Pyramid.”)  Food also plays an important role in many different cultures and traditions, and often specific foods are associated with different holidays and traditions as well.  Are there foods that hold important meaning in your family? Are there certain foods you only eat, or like to eat, at different times of the year or to mark different events? Do you have a special food/treat your family might like to share with the class?  We would love for you to return our parent survey and hear from any families who may be interested in visiting our classroom to share a tradition that is important to you and your child during the months of November, December, and January!

One thing many of us are grateful for is the beautiful land around the school that offers us so many opportunities to be outdoors and play and explore.  I have included a few pictures of some of our outdoor adventures from the last few weeks.

And a few other pictures from the last few weeks to enjoy below too! Including a few from Book Character Day!