This month's theme "Global Citizenship" began with defining "global." Ks guessed it meant "the world... the earth... the globe." "Citizenship" was a little trickier with talk of Mind Craft and other topic offshoots. We later agreed on "citizenship" meaning "belonging to (the world).. having rights and responsibilities to... and caring for the world."We listened to a story titled Yatandou by Gloria Whelan about a little girl who assisted her village in Mali Western Africa to earn enough money to purchase a millet grinder to replace their traditional and more time consuming pounding sticks. We compared these pounding sticks to the mortar and pestle brought in as an innovation by a Kindergartner a few weeks ago.
We also read the book, Silent Music: A Story of Bagdad by James Rumford about a small boy who coped with his country's struggles of war by learning and depicting images of "peace" through beautiful calligraphy in the Arabic language. We discussed how the writing used a right to left format (as does Hebrew) and the beautiful sweeping lines used to create the illustrations.
Our "Innovations" unit ended with discussions about innovators Leonardo daVinci and Mahatma Ghandi included in a book, Heroes for My Daughter by Brad Meltzer brought in by one Kindergartner. Ironically, yet another Kindergartner brought in currency from India on the same day that displayed a portrait of Ghandi on it's face. True learning occurs when Kindergartners make their own real life and relevant connections to topics discussed at school and home.
Speaking of making connections, Kindergartners are still interjecting their knowledge of Egypt's pharoahs into Dramatic Play
 |
| pharoah's head dress |
 |
| staff of Ra |
During Math class, Kindergartners examined several examples of real Matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls) and used nesting measuring cups and measuring spoons as tools during our Math activities. We began the unit with identifying incremental sizes (1 Cup, 1/2 cup, teaspoon, tablespoon etc. ) and attempted to solve the problem, "How many tablespoons will fill a standard cup?" We also discussed standard (measurements agreed upon universally) and non- standard measurements (Grandma's "pinch", "smidgen," or dab.) We later put our measuring skills to the test and created a fresh batch of play dough. 
During Social Studies, we examined various objects and attempted to identify "Where in the world would you find these items?" throughout the world. We enthusiastically guessed that the boomerangs came from Australia, the matryoshka from Russia, a bookend with heiroglyphs may have come from Egypt, and a box for smoked salmon from Alaska, USA.
More difficult challenges included a mask from Kenya, a lacquered container from Greece and a carved gourd from Peru.
Also, and after reading our blog on spoons as innovations, We received a set of "Love Spoons" and guidebook from Wales from one of our Grandparents. We added our spoons to our Global treasures display after examining such intricate designs! Additonally, we received an exquisitely decorated purse from India from our classroom volunteer Shaivi to add to our collection.
Kindergartners began Latin Classes in addition to French Class with Madame this past week!
