The first week of school is off to a great start!  In the busyness of our beginning, the camera did not make it out much, so I apologize if we missed photos of your child this week.

The sunshine brought beautiful end of summer days as we enjoyed the new mud kitchen designed and built by Ian and John Schulte.  It was put to good use all week, and the children created many meals of apples, mud, grass, leaves, twigs, and water.  The bikes were zooming, the trucks were digging and dumping, the balls were rolling, and the apples had a party as they careened over the fence.  We had our first indoor recess, so were introduced to all the rainy day activities, including Knex, Magnatiles, Playmobile farm, Reptangles, Squiggs, Bristle Blocks, and Brain Flakes.

Our first week was focused on learning the routine and getting to know each other.  We sang and moved to some favorite songs: Mr. Sun, You Are My Sunshine, Way Up High in the Apple Tree, Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Hickety Pickety Bumblebee, and There Were Ten in the Bed.  We read stories about families and stories about butterflies.  We read Bark George, a story about a dog that meows, quacks, oinks, and moos. 

Students were introduced to the classroom and shown the many materials available for use during work time – both those that are free to use as desired, and those Montessori materials that a teacher introduces before use.  This week as the children were introduced to the routine, some Montessori materials were introduced, and all the open use areas were very busy.

At the art table the children used their finger skills to carefully peel and place stickers, draw with pencils and markers, glue pieces of colorful paper and yarn, cut long lines across paper, and do some leaf and template rubbing with crayons.

The water table was busy with pouring, stirring, squirting, mixing, scooping, and funneling. 

Blue and green play dough was molded, cut, rolled, and formed. 

Blue, green, white and brown paint was brushed and stroked to form stripes, dots, the earth, trees, flowers, clouds, water, rain, and abstract art.

Lots of puzzles were assembled, both individually and by partners and teams. 

Block roads, towers, and tunnels were constructed.

Moms, Dads, children, and pets were busy sleeping, cooking, cleaning, serving, and visiting in dramatic play.

Friday students had their first science study.  We read about Living and Nonliving things and the characteristics of each.  We learned that living things grow and change, and they need air, water, nutrients, and sun to live.  We then sorted some objects into living or nonliving, each taking a turn to pick an item and decide if it grows and changes and is therefore living, or not.