March Dates to Remember!

March Dates at a Glance

                                                    Happy Birthday Folu!


3/2  (Friday) Yoga with Dom 10:00 A.M.
3/7  (Wednesday) Bell Tower Trip tentatively scheduled as part of our "Telling Time" Math unit
3/16  (Friday ) No School-Parent /Teacher Conferences-
(Please note that actual Kindergarten Conference dates do not include the 16th-Thanks for your understanding)  Conferences Monday 5/5-5/15 (Conference Sign-Up Sheet in the Classroom)
3/23 (Friday) Trip to Wild Swan Theatre to see "Strega Nona"
3/29 & 3/30  (Thursday & Friday) Val away presenting at the MIAEYC (Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children) Conference, Grand Rapids, MI 


April Dates
SK closed for Spring Break!  April 2-6th

Yoga with Dom, Quilter Kaye, and Andy's Cans!

Kindergartners began the morning listening to a story entitled, The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud that told of the journey of a little girl and her father to freedom.  It included several quilt patterns historically said to be a "secret code" of the "Underground Railroad."  The Underground Railroad was a system established by slaves and sympathetic free men and women to hide and transport southern slaves up north to freedom.  This "railroad," however, was not a real train system but a  secret passageway of safe houses located sometimes as far north as Canada.   The quilts were said to have been draped on clotheslines and fences to give escaped slaves signals of "safe" houses that promised the possibility of a ride, a meal, a warm bed, and/or a change of clothes.   The quilt blocks were said to be actual map codes of trails, landmarks, and compasses.  "Crossroad", "drunkard's path" , "North Star" and "bear claw"  were names of just some of the secret code designs.  The validity of the actual use of these quilts is still up for debate due to a lack of written documentation by actual participants.

We also welcomed our new Kindergarten friend, Gavin today!!!! 

Yoga Fridays with Dominique

It's good to have friends, especially friends with special gifts and talents.  My friend Dom, who is also an educator, came by on Friday to share another one of her passions, Yoga.  She engaged the Kindergartners immediately with breathing exercises and soft mats.  She demonstrated various poses that the Ks readily imitated.  Some kids commented that they had previous yoga experience themselves or had observed their Moms.   We even played a "Simon Says" pose game before ending our session. What a relaxing and peaceful way to begin the day!

Quilter Kaye's Amazing  Quilt Collection including the Underground Railroad Quilt Blocks!


My other very good and very talented friend Kaye came in to bring just a small sampling of her enormous quilt collection.  Kaye is actually a quilter herself and belongs to several quilt guilds in the Michigan area including Ann Arbor and the Great Lakes Quilter's Guild.  She also teaches quilting classes.  She showed showed intricate stitch patterns, delicate embellished beading, and exquisite design.   Backs of quilts were as skillfully done as the fronts. Kaye also brought in several beautiful children's books about quilts and the Underground Railroad and Mrs. Carpenter's class was impressed that she even had one by their "Author's Study" pick, Patricia Polacco.  


Kaye  revealed to us the possibility that some of the quilt block designs may  not be authentic or even used in the actual Underground Railroad system universally due to a lack of documentation by actual railroad participants.   This omission may have been due to a strict  adherence to the utmost discretion and secrecy.  Also, some block designs may have only be exclusive to a certain town or region.  






Kaye displayed examples of the "Underground Railroad" block, the  "Bear Claw", and the "Log Cabin."   It was nice to see some of the same designs that were depicted in the story we read earlier.   Kaye also shared two African mask  quilts (how appropriate for Teacher Elaine's mask E.B. participants) and Kaye even surprised me and brought in the quilt that she and I had the pleasure of helping to design.  (Five of my own greeting card designs appear on it.)    We  look forward to Kaye's return to show more of her quilts and to teach an actual quilting  lesson. 

Even our SK Floor tiles use  patterns similar to quilt squares.  This one represents "crossroads". 

ANDY (WARHOL'S) CANS Can !

And they did aid in our Math activity on Friday afternoon!  Kindergartners teamed up with a partner to sort cans by size, ounces, and labels.  We predicted the can that weighed the most then discovered that things aren't always what they seem.  (Some cans, although larger in size contained less in volume.)  We practiced counting by 2's and 5's and then tallied up 50 cans in all.  We are half way to our goal of 100 cans.

Later, Kindergartners tried their hand at making their own quilt square "codes" using colorful paper, markers, and glue.

Wild Swan with Anansi Stories & Anansi Stories with Folurin's Dad

 On Friday, Kindergartners traveled to the Wild Swan Theatre production of "Under the African Skies."  We saw three tales performed, learned traditional African dances, and listened to authentic African music played on drums and an instrument very similar to a xylophone.

One of the stories in particular was called, "The Talking Vegetables."  Kindergartners were delighted to see a trickster tale that was similar to the "Anansi" stories  read during our "Author Study" unit.

We were even more excited to meet some of the cast of characters from the plays upon our departure.  Some children even remembered cast members from past summer camp experiences at Wild Swan.

 The Kindergartner's feast of tales became even more appetizing when Folu's daddy Ore stopped by to share one of his family's traditions.  He spoke of hearing bedtime stories as a child told by his mother.  These tales, Ore explained, were stories about animals who talked!  He began spinning a yarn about one entitled, "The Spider, The Tiger, and the Firefly".  When Ore mentioned that the spider's name was called (who else), Anansi, the children all squealed with delight!  They recognized Anansi as if he were an old classmate.  The Kindergartners interjected comments about how "Anansi did mischief", and how "fireflies fire up lights" and have "little soft lamps inside".  

We then settled ourselves back in and heard the rest of the adventure.  Folu even had a major speaking part!  Applause  and requests for more and more tales followed.    Folu's Dad promised to come back soon with more of his childhood memories.

February Calendar of Events!

                            Happy Birthday Eleanor!

Theme for February:  MIGRATION


February Dates at a Glance:

February 2  Ground hog's Day
February 14  Valentine's Day exchange
February 17  Field Trip to "Sweet Honey in the Rock"  11 A.M.
February 20-24 No School  Mid-Winter Break! 


Weekly Schedule:


8:40-8:45  SK Family Morning Meeting
8:45  Homeroom
9:00-9:45 MATH   EB (Exploratory Blocks)  Thursdays 9:00-10:00
9:45-10:20 A.M. Snack/Recess, Wednesdays Introduction to Latin 9:45-10:00
10:20-11:00 Homeroom Choice Time
11:00-11:30 French M,T,Th
11:30-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:25  MUSIC (M,W,) ART( Tues),TH  Homeroom then ART (1:15-2:10)
1:25-2:20  SCIENCE (Tues) Homeroom M,W,Th, & F Choice/Quiet Time/Chapter Book
2:20-3:15 PHYSICAL EDUCATION (M,W) KBuddies-(Thursdays)
3:15-3:30 P.M. Snack & Prepare for Home/Aftercare, Playground 

Ahoy, Maties! Kindergartners board the Good Ship KinderPop!

This week presented a high seas mystery for the Kindergartners as well as others.  We had to swab the deck of towel and toilet paper streamers that covered our classroom furniture, toys, and walls.  Notes appeared at various intervals and upon further investigation, certain items were  missing in return.  This pilfering continued throughout the week with items disappearing and reappearing, and our list of suspects ever growing.

1. Shan  

2. Dr. George

3. Joanna

4. val

5. Marshall

6. Robin and Becky 

7. Penny

8. Elaine

9. Mrs. Carpenter

10. Everyone else who is not a Kindergartner 

11. Stephanie

12. A kid wrote this

13. Cara

Our first note stated, "I danced in the rain to steal from the K Class! :) Yo ho ho...
A small "leaf" stamp accompanied this letter so one of the Kindergartners commented, "Dr. George is a scientist.   Scientists deal with plants.   It's probably from Dr. George!"







Our next note appeared to come from a scallywag who sang, "I scoured your room for a treaaye and found what I was searchin' for-a cookie.   I took the critter holdin' it too."  Signed, Captain E-

P.S.  This Pirate knew all too well the art of inventive spelling- treaaye indeed!

The Kindergartners narrowed their search with names that began with "E."


  This note was just as tricky.

"Something shiny I have borrowed to brighten my day.  I'll return it on the morrow, unless you PAY!

We have so many "shiny things" in our classroom that we could not tell what was missing!

Days later, we were taunted by this same  "Scurvy Dog" attempting to to give us plunder from other stolen treasures no doubt (a skeleton key chain) but did not return our item as promised.  (Just like a pirate.)  And what was that business about Paying?


(Below)  This draped debauchery of a note simply said, " I have your friend.  He is black and white."

Ks  discovered this to be our beloved "Cat in the Hat" lovey and the last straw for Ks (especially Niccolo-he loves Cat in the Hat.)

A willing detective came in and took fingerprints and samples of evidence.  Other 1st and 2nd graders came by to express their sympathy and horror at the dastardly deeds.  Even Teacher Shan came by to lend a hand and offer moral support.  

Keen eyed Kindergartners pointed out that "X" marked this spot.

Kindergartners took their mind off of the mornings excitement with a (what else) pirate math game!  They took turns rolling dice and deciding if numbers were ""ODD" or "EVEN."  Number recognition, counting, cooperation, reading skills, and practicing patience were the bounty of this activity.


During Circle Time, Kai showed a map of a far away land across the seas called The United States of America.  He pointed out a mountain terrain, Ohio, and some homes of relatives who are probably Pirates, we think.

ARRGH!  Kindergartners write Angrrrrrrghy (we  mean angry) letters to Pirates and  Pilferers

Kindergartners used their emerging writing skills to express their displeasure at all of the recent hijinks in our classroom.  Ks cooperated with each other offering assistance with spelling, sounding out words, and forming letters.   Illustrations emphasized our sentiments. 

 

"Never, ever take cat in (the Hat)"-Mason

"Where is Cat and Hat?  Cat and Hat is lost."-Folu

An  undisclosed 1/2 Grader from Elaine's room offered a word of comfort to the Kindergartners.  However, because he said, "Nothing crazy happens here"  he was immediately thought to be a pirate and put on our list of suspects by the Kindergartners.

   

    The "Cat in the Hat" "cat"napping was confirmed by a note and (how low can you get) his classic book.  Then, quite unexpectedly, something or shall we say some furry things showed up in its place.  An attached  note revealed that our black and white friend had been said to have been turned into a black and white guinea pig!  Also, an "unknown friend" of ours was turned into his companion-  a Caramel colored  guinea pig named "Cinnamon."  We were told to complete a scavenger hunt of finding 10  paper "kisses" before our Cat (and friend) would be returned.   Of course, there were only 9 paper kisses (Just like a pirate to not know how to count we thought.)  The note increased our pirate-ese with language such as "matey"  and even included definitions.  Pirates are so tricky!

(below)   The Captain of our SK School Ship, Joanna was on hand to offer support.  She also admitted that she was not a pirate.  We could finally cross someone off our list.  

Several other notes sent us on an adventure around and into the belly of our  building shed-ding some light on several of our mysteries.  Who knew that we had so many pirates in our midst?  Talk of "heat waves" and rare "coins" aided our search.  We even received pirate booty for taking our "shiny thing".

K Buddies on Thursday, January 26th

 Kindergartners listened to a great poem designed to assist us in remembering the names of all of the 7 continents.  The 1/2 Graders confidently  chanted the words with Mrs. Carpenter as she read.  She also showed us a map that resembled an  unpeeled globe.  We then partnered up and attempted to reproduce maps using colorful play doh.  The resemblance was impressive!