Gilgamesh Play rehearsal pics of our Karl/Jason Buddies!

Archaeologists discover the 12th piece of the cuneiform tablet!

Taming the Wild Man

A worthy opponent becomes a friend!

A daughter's  appeal to her Father for justice.

A search for immortality after the loss of a friend.

Imparting words of great wisdom

A fine director's pep talk after rehearsal

The townspeople respond to their leader's return.

At the end of it all, life lessons learned. ( B.T.W-  brick facade is made of cuneiform tablets created by the Mural EB (Exploratory Block) class.

Our own Kindergarten representative helps Gilgamesh find the definition of true immortality!

Innovative Flight Plans!

 During one of our "Innovations" discussions  Kindergartners  listened to stories  about the life of artist/ sculptor/inventor (among other things) Leonardo Da Vinci.  We were intrigued by his interest in so many things and the way he sketched out his ideas (using "brown ink and old paper") in a notebook.  We also found out from a personal account that Da Vinci had a special interest in birds,  flight, and flying machines.  He studied these creatures extensively and created detailed sketches of birds wings.  

Kindergartners  then put on their own ornithologist hats and investigated flight.  We began by tossing soft balls across the room and noted flight (and crash) patterns, velocity, and altitude.  (How else could you justify throwing 150 balls across a classroom!:) 

Later in the week we boarded our school bus and ventured out to see my friend Mr. Noel Roach.  I happened to meet  Mr. Roach last year when I was drawn to his yard while meandering through his neighborhood.  The chorus of birds singing was  hard to resist!  I went up and introduced myself to Mr. Roach as he worked diligently in his garage on a sturdy birdhouse.  He happily allowed me to tour the rest of his birdhouse collection that literally covered the expanse of his property.  He even designed a whimsical "birdy outhouse" and a house out of a worn tea kettle!   I returned with the Kindergartners for a visit in the fall of that year and Mr. Roach even gave us one of his houses. 

We we warmly greeted by my friend Mr. Roach!

 This year, I returned with our current Kindergartners who squealed with delight even as we pulled up to the house!  Mr. Roach did not brave the cold but once again graciously allowed us to peruse his yard.  Before our tour, however, the children presented him with beautiful pictures of birds-one even included an attached origami bird!  He admired each drawing and watched us with delight as we admired his work.  He also shared  that he now has over 60 birdhouses displayed!   We promised to return in the spring- maybe even for Mr. Roach's 98th birthday! 

We explored a sea of various styled bird houses!

Mr. Roach stayed cozy warm inside due to the chilly
 weather but watched us delight in his creations.

An oasis for parched feathered friends 

Our Math activity included trying to count all of the houses.

 

Just when we thought we had counted them all, still more
dwellings were found on the side and back of the house.

Mr. Roach invited us to come back to visit him in the Spring! 

Hanukkah Celebration!

Earlier in the week, Kindergartners heard  stories entitled,   The Hanukkah Guest  by Eric Kimmel (about an unexpected holiday visitor) and  The Only One Club about a child who was the only one in her class to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.   In our class, we have three!   One of our families  graciously came to visit and share with us!

Menorah candle holder designs are another way to express innovation and creativity.

Family's bring a wealth of knowledge, authenticity, and personal touches to cultural traditions!   Mom explained that although Hanukkah is not the most significant Jewish holiday, it is none the less as beautiful, light and present- filled, and fun as the Christian holiday of Christmas.   Although this Jewish holiday rotates based on the calendar, it sometimes falls right before or simultaneously to Christmas.


  


The purpose of the daily lighting of a menorah (candle holder) the use the shamash (helper candle),  the eating  of traditional foods fried in oil (such as latkes), and  the receiving of nightly gifts was explained.  Another Hanukkah tradition involves  playing the Dreidel game.  It includes using a spinning top adorned with the Hebrew letters representing "A Miracle Happened Here" that commemorates the historical event of a Jewish Temple lights staying lit for 8 days with only enough oil to last for one, and receiving gelt (chocolate coins) as a prize. 




  
Also, a beautiful Hanukkah story, In the Month of Kislev was read about a man who was so selfish he even wanted to charge his impoverished neighbors a fine for smelling his food. 


  

Lastly, a special blessing was recited in Hebrew by mom and daughter.   At the end of the blessing, the Kindergartners eagerly translated the now familiar word "Hanukkah!  Kindergartners also received donut treats, their own dreidels to take home, and participated in a menorah making craft.  Enlightening! 

Innovator of Peace!

"Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love" -Mahatma Gandhi

Hug your Babies tonight.   All is well!

From Old to New! (Innovations)

During what appears to me to be a very magical time of year, this month's theme seems to be just as magical!  We began the week speaking about "innovation" as being " a new and/or different way of looking at things."  We discussed items that are quite ordinary at first glance being transformed into something quite extraordinary.  For instance- the spoon!   We  observed different kinds of spoons and their particular uses-"slotted for straining", "teaspoons for measuring", and "ladles for dipping."  We then listened to a sweet story entitled Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal that told of  a spoon that envied the other utensil's abilities and  doubted it's own self-worth.   We then  created our own class member of a "spoon family" and wrote/dictated stories about them.  This activity sparked quite a bit of dramatic play using the embellished wooden spoons and the  Egyptian backdrop as props.   And speaking of Egypt, we also talked about the Egyptians as "innovators" of the mummification process and hieroglyphs.

  Another innovative idea seemed to have been stirred up (pardon the pun)  from our "spoon" activity.  Skye brought in a bowl made from wood from a walnut tree that fell in her Grandparents' yard during one of this past summer's storms.  Our K- Buddy Eli's Dad carved the bowl which makes it even more special! 

Skye's Dad came in to share gorgeous photos and awesome memories of his family's trip to Egypt!  Pictures include the great pyramid, explanations of actual size and scale of burial chambers, and amazing hieroglyphics!  

"I like this activity... I get to put on makeup"-Sana  re:  creating our Egyptian Pharaoh portraits located outside of our classroom door.  Also notice on the finished artwork the attached jewelry  made from "AB" patterned beading during Math class.



By the way, our Egyptian civilization was captured and defeated by the Romans of Elaine's class.  Ironically, they came in unexpectedly in full battle array, demonstrated strategic moves and military prowess then left.  Oh well, we'll just have to be "innovative" in our retaliation.



"B" Buddies (Mr. B's class) came in to demonstrate origami!

Writing/Journaling

We are presently listening to Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures Book #2:  The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery  created by Jeff Brown and written by Sara Pennypacker as our chapter book selection.  It is a story about a boy named Stanley who had been smashed flat by a bulletin board accident.  He is fine, however, and now uses this two-dimensional state to his advantage. He is able to travel all over the world tucked in an envelop!  Stanley has arrived at our Kindergarten class and has already had his first two adventures!  He traveled to Florida and collected sea shells and to Kentucky to visit some of his host family's old friends.  Now, Stanley is itching to have other adventures! Please look for a very individualized "stanley" in your child's cubby/backpack really soon! 


P.S.  Stanley also has the ability to replicate him/herself many times! He travels with a note of explanation for family members and friends who might be a recipient, journal pages, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.  These packets will go home for Winter Break.  We can't wait to receive mail about Stanley's many adventures over the next month or so!

Math

Math time has been a great opportunity to practice our one, two, and three digit number recognition.  We have been playing several rounds of the classic "Bingo" while discussing "rows" and "columns" and distinguishing between mirrored image numbers 35 and 53, 72 and 27 etc.  A precursor to this game has been our quest to practice writing our numbers and complete our "100s Chart." We identified patterns in our charts such as how all of the numbers in any particular column end in the same number and also played a game of "Guess the Number" using clues and deductive reasoning.

Another game involved sequencing three random numbers into as many different one, two, and three digit combinations as possible. 3, 8, and 0 became 3, 8, 80, 38, 83, 830, etc.

Another math challenge involved attempting to stack 16 cups into the shape of, what else, a pyramid!  

Snack Sign Up

Families, If you haven't had an opportunity yet, please sign up on the "Snack Sign up" sheet in the classroom or send an email.  We have the following  dates available.    Thanks! 

December 10-14th  _____________________________________________________________

December 17th-20th ____________________________________________________________

January 14th-18th  ______________________________________________________________

January 23rd-25th  ______________________________________________________________

January 28th-Feb 1st  ____________________________________________________________

February 4th-8th  ________________________________________________________________

February 11th-15th _______________________________________________________________

Also, a very special Thank You  to Claude's family for our new classroom refrigerator!

Happy Hanukkah to our celebrating Families!