West Side Market Trip

As we continue to learn about growing our own food, the impact of weather and the interdependence of people, animals and plants, we are planning a Saturday Family Field Trip Day to the West Side Market on May 21, 2011 at 9:30 am.  We would like to meet in the back, closest to the parking lot.  We thought this would be a fun way to explore our fabulous market and all it has to offer. 


Here is a link that may answer any questions you may have:      http://www.westsidemarket.org/about.html

Stumbled Upon This Website...

Happy spring everyone!  With all this rain we are certainly seeing everything gain leaves, flowers and strength.  What an exciting time!

Today, as I was preparing for the weeks ahead I came upon this website:
Today I Ate a Rainbow.  It fits perfectly into our unit of inquiry and I had to share before I forgot.  Take a look and share the resources with your children.  I look forward to hearing all about your discoveries!

Oh the Excitement!

We were introduced this week to a new camera capturing the lives of two eagles and their new eaglets!  Absolutely amazing!  Thanks to technology, we are able to see the daily happenings of the birds and study their actions.  This study generates a lot of questions for sure, but as inquirers we are trying to uncover all the answers as they come our way.  If you have not taken a look yet, here is the link: Eagle Cam.  

We continue to study the Lily, Hope and the new cubs at Bear.org, but as the weather improves, they are spending less and less time in their den.  This cycle of life is a perfect fit for our Unit of Inquiry!    

Engineering was a large focus of our week as well.  Mrs. Snyder's class was introduced to circuits in a new station rotation in the room.  The students' first project was to create a Flying Saucer.  The excitement when the mission was accomplished was absolutely priceless!!!

Mrs. BW created a FANTASTIC adventure for all our kindergardeners in the Engineering room.  The focus was centered on tools and machines.  While the students rotated among the stations they were able to take pictures around the school, explore tools, batteries and investigate the function and components of machines that were generously donated for this inquiry.  

One last note for the week, our new chairs came!!!  They are a ton of fun and healthy too!  Our explorers have even created Essential Agreements that allow us all to use them safely and effectively.  Great job Explorers...you sure are Principled Risk-Takers (two of our Learner Profiles)!

Odds and Ends

Are we really at the end of March?  Maybe our next inquiry should be...Why does time go so fast? Our days are filled with so much that it is often hard to capture it all.  

Before any more is said; however, we would like to thank you all for coming to our March Conferences!  It was a joy to see your child share with you all they do at school and celebrate how far they each have come.

Below are just a few pictures that will help you take a "Picture Walk" through our last few weeks.

Here are two ways we can show our creativity-one of our IB Attitudes:

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  Let the planting begin...

                                                

BOY do we love maps...all kinds!!   

 Empathy is another of our IB Attidudes.  Our Explorers are sure empathetic for the people in Japan.  We are now trying to figure out the best way we can help out.  If anyone has ideas for us to discuss, please let us know.


This week we will continue planting and we will begin COMPOSTING-yay!  The explorers are more than eager to begin making their own soil.

It All Adds Up!

  Kindergardeners always amaze us! 

IB Attitudes

As part of our curriculum we are now studying our IB Attitudes.

The PYP Attitudes help to promote an environment where personal responsibility and mutual care is emphasized.  The attitudes help the students focus on the choices they make in an effort to improve the quality of life for their community.

PYP Attitudes

Appreciation         Commitment

Confidence           Cooperation

Creativity            Curiosity

Empathy          Enthusiasm

Independence      Integrity

Respect             Tolerance

How the World Works

We have begun our latest unit of inquiry, How the World Works.  As part of our study we are going to experience and explore our AMAZING world!  We will be focusing our inquiries primarily to plants, but will also be looking into many other aspects of the world around us.

Here is the general layout of the unit:

Central Idea:

The children see the wonder of the world by interacting with the environment and making choices.

Lines of Inquiry:

1-The life cycle of plants

2- The interdependence of land, people and animals

3-Food changes due to weather and availability

A few of our exciting adventures:

1)  A growing room on the kindergarten floor

2)A greenhouse outside as the weather improves

3)Composting

4)Dehydrating fruits and vegetables

5)A Saturday family trip to the Westside Market