WE'VE MOVED...

We decided to move our blogs into individual classroom websites.  The following link with take you to you child's classroom:

Mrs. Snyder:
SNYDER BLOG

Mrs. Mori:
MORI BLOG

Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Humphrey:
TAYLOR AND HUMPHREY BLOG

How the World Works

Our investigation into How the World Works (an inquiry into the natural world and its laws) has lead us to investigate the properties of materials and how they behave.  Our 5 senses are sure helping us answer a lot of questions we've had already.  

OOBLECK FUN!

Dr. Seuss's book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, inspired a fun investigation into the strangest material we have found yet!  How can something be soft and hard?  Wet and dry?  

We sure were risk-takers!!

Click on the link here if you would like to make your own batch at home: Oobleck



We use our reading and writing skills to share what we know and to gain more information!

Researchers using the iPads!

Sharing how the ear works!

Let's make a band!

Books are fun and teach us so many things!

We use our math skills to investigate objects too!

Winter Concert

The Explorers did an amazing job during their very first concert at CIS.  They sure worked hard on each song and it showed!

Yulian helped calm our nerves before we went on stage!

 Thank you, thank you Mystery Reader!!

Sharing Our Talents and Ideas

Through our unit of inquiry we found that people express their thoughts, ideas and feelings in many different ways.  Art comes in many different forms and helps us share our ideas and feelings.  

Silas's dad came to share how he expresses his ideas through drawing.  He explained how he just makes the picture in his head and begins to create, adding details as he goes.  We even got to help create new drawings all together!

 Mateo's dad, Dee Jay Doc, shared how he expresses himself through making music.  We discovered that he helps the city too through urban farming, and has songs about it that he created with high school students.

Gallery Walk

Our amazingly creative Explorers ended the unit of inquiry with an art gallery!  The gallery consisted of their reflections of the classic Ukrainian folktale, The Mitten.  There were plays, songs, paintings, books, sculptures and drawings.  The students did a wonderful job and were proud to share their work with others.

Our Gallery Walk also showcased work the students had completed while in Art, as they studied various artists.  What talent and creativity!

 Thank you for coming and exploring the gallery with us!

Shaker Lakes Nature Center

Ms. Mori's and Mrs. Snyder's classes also spent some time this week exploring the Shaker Lakes Nature Center.  As scientists, they had to explore living and non-living and test their theories while doing a bit of field work.  It was a chilly day, but we sure had fun!

The creativity continued in math this week!  We used pretzels and marshmallows to create shapes.

We were sure excited to begin our Winter Break. Thank you Mystery Reader!

Expressing Ourselves in Many Different Ways

Art Opens the Door to Expression

We have been investigating the many ways we can use art to express ourselves. Throughout the many art forms, we can share so much of what we think and feel without even saying a word!

What is your child's favorite way to express themselves?











Take a look at some of the ways we have been expressing ourselves these last few weeks:

We had visitors from Playhouse Square share with us ways to use song and our bodies to act out parts in a story.  This was a wonderful continuation of the last performance we were able to attend, "Stella, Queen of the Snow."

Mr. Wood, one of our many talented parents at CIS came and performed a concert for our school.  He brought special guests too.  We found out that music can be used to tell a story and share a mood even if there aren't words!

Our very own Mrs. Pohl joined in on the music too!

 On Monday, Mr Wood came to visit kindergarten to share how he writes songs.  We even wrote one all together.  Does you child remember the chorus?  "Thank you Quentin for having Spongebob, so we wouldn't have a big mess."  They were unusual lyrics, but we had a great time coming up with them and singing all together.  Such fun communicators!

As Thanksgiving got closer, we discovered that people express themselves through their cultural celebrations too!  Feasts, decorations, cards, songs, the list goes on and on.  Take a look at how our Explorers shared what they were thinking and feeling  before their holiday.  We have continued that study throughout this week too as we investigated many other cultural celebrations.  Can your child tell you new learnings that were discovered?

The Pilgrim Village

Writing is a great way to share our thoughts.  

Our unit of Inquiry naturally led us to the Art Museum.  We toured with the intent to "Look and Discover."  

We were very proud of all the details our Explorers were able to see and discuss.  Many great questions were asked too, such inquirers!

 As always, thank you to our Mystery Readers for sharing your time with us.  We truly love your visits and great books!

Upcoming Events:
The Holiday Shop will be open this week at CIS.  Information came home on 12/5 in your child's folder.  Kindergarten will shop on Wednesday 12/10.

12/18-Mrs. Mori and Mrs. Snyder's classes will enjoy a trip to the Nature Center.

The Kindergarten Winter Concert will take place in January.