Sleds and shovels were put to good use this week.  Friends pulled each other around the playground, an ocean was created with some teamwork, and snowmen were assembled.  Monday and Friday students had fun sledding down the tiny snow-bank at the end of the driveway.  They are anxiously awaiting a much larger snow pile.

On Monday we celebrated a birthday.  Happy 6th birthday, birthday girl!

We continued practicing for our winter performance, and counting down the days until the much anticipated pajama day on Thursday.  We discussed the three main December holidays celebrated in America; Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.  Traditions for each holiday were introduced, and the children were anxious to share their own family traditions, including decorating a Christmas tree, giving and receiving presents, hanging wreaths, and creating gingerbread houses. They learned about the Hanukkah menorah, latkes, and how to play dreidel.  They also learned about the newest holiday celebrated by some African Americans, Kwanzaa, and the 7 principles.

Some of the stories we read this week were The Night Before Christmas, Hanukkah, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

At the art table the children were busy creating special top secret gifts for their families.  Shhh, we can’t share yet!

 

On Thursday the sensory table was filled with tubes and marbles.  It was a busy (and noisy) area!

Friday students had a great time making parachutes for science.  We observed how quickly a pen drops, then observed how slowly it fell when attached to a parachute, due to the air resistance.