Sunnybrook Montessori School

Reptile Posters

Reptiles were loose in the classroom, as we continued to study about that group with dry, scaly, waterproof skin, who lie in the sun to get warm.  We were particularly focused on turtles and snakes this week.  We got to study the carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell) of a red eared slider turtle, and the carapace of a large snapping turtle up close.  We found that the carapace and plastron of a turtle are actually quite light, not heavy as one might think.  We also closely examined a snake skin, taking note of the scoots on the belly that help the snake move, and the skin that covers the eyes, as snakes do not have eyelids to blink, rather skin that covers the whole thing.

In the afternoons the kindergarten students began making reptile posters, drawing pictures of their chosen reptiles, listening to books about reptiles, and recording some of the most interesting facts.  They were having such a good time that the younger students decided to join them, and everyone had fun making posters.

During Monday art the children made their own stamps to make prints with.  They cut out pieces of foam that were sticky on the back, stuck them to a wooden block, and printed with them to create works of art.  They were very excited to take them home to share.

surfing

a story before nap

bells

rhyming match

wooden word cards

Valentine delivery

Thursday was the very much anticipated Valentine’s Day party!  The children helped arrange the tables in a row and  hang the Valentine mail pockets.  Then each child worked with a teacher or older student to deliver their Valentine cards to the correct pockets.  It was so exciting to peek in and see all of the wonderful cards and candy waiting for us!   While waiting for turns to deliver their valentine’s some students decorated giant hearts, and others played games or read stories.  After all of the cards were delivered, we sang some Valentine songs, read The Valentine Bears, then enjoyed all of the yummy fruit, yogurt, dip, popcorn, muffins, cookies, and chocolate that was sent in for the party.  Thank you so much to everyone who sent in a treat – it was very much enjoyed!

Friday morning work time

gas giants orbiting the sun

Friday students continued to learn about the planets during science.  They painted the terrestrial planets that they made last week out of clay; Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, while we read about the four gas giants; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.  When they were done painting, they each picked a balloon to represent one of the gas giants, then had fun orbiting the sun.  Because the gas giants are further away, they had to orbit all the way around the classroom around the sun in a counterclockwise direction, while spinning.  Wow, it is tricky being a planet!

painting planets

train to the North Pole

Busy, busy, busy!  So much was going on at Sunnybrook this week!

We spent some recesses inside and some out.  We are so ready for warmer weather and lots of outside time!   Too bad Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Monday.

angel in the snow

warming a friends fingers

snow fun

Monday Paul Klee art – castle and sun pictures

Monday students continued to examine the art of Paul Klee.  This week they made pictures using geometric shapes, in the style of his painting “Castle and Sun.”

valentine mail pockets

At the art table the children made their Valentine mailboxes for our Valentine celebration next Thursday.  They are quite excited to give and get Valentines!

Post Office Tour

On Tuesday morning we visited the Post Office and had a tour.  We learned all about how the mail is sorted and delivered.  We had lots of questions, and Tim answered them all!  It was very interesting to be in the back room and see where packages and letters are delivered by the mail trucks, where the mail is sorted out, then boxed up to be delivered to homes or placed in the PO boxes.  As soon as we returned to the classroom everyone was anxious to get to work on their coloring books.

post office coloring books

classroom Post Office

We set up our very own post office in the classroom, where everyone has a mail box.  The children have been very busy writing and delivering mail to each other all week.

We learned how to properly write a letter by writing a thank you letter to Tim.  We learned where to put the date, how to address it, where the body of the letter goes, and how to end it.  We also learned how to address an envelope so that it could be delivered properly, and to always include the return address.

story with Tammy

playdough

pin punching

examining hornets nests and a dead hornet

puzzles and math work

mat work

There was a lot of energy this week, so circle time involved lots of movement.  We learned a new song, “One Green Jellybean,” which we had a lot of fun dancing to.  We also continued learning some Valentine songs, including “Skidamarink,” “A Tisket, A Tasket,” and “Mail Myself to You.”

We began our study of reptiles this week.  We read About Reptiles, which informed us that reptiles have scaly, waterproof skin, short legs or no legs, lay eggs, and include lizards, snakes, turtles, and alligators & crocodiles.  The children were constantly studying and playing with our collection of reptile toys.  They are quite realistic and the children are getting skilled at identifying them, including the frilled lizard, alligator snapping turtle, rough green snake, alligators, crocodiles, giant tortoise, bearded dragon, sidewinder rattler, horned lizard, etc.

Happy Birthday!

On Thursday we celebrated a 4^th birthday.  The birthday girl gave everyone a princess crown mask, spiderman mask, or ninja turtle mask.  We helped her count as she held the globe and orbited the sun four times, then we all enjoyed some delicious chocolate cake.

birthday cake!

One of our friends returned to school on Thursday after spending time with her family in Jamaica.  She thoughtfully brought gifts of banana chips and a Jamaican flag bracelet for everyone.  Those chips were yummy, and everyone loved sporting their bracelets.  Thank you, friend!  It is great to have you back with us!

percussion instruments

We also learned about percussion instruments and had a lot of fun playing some.  We took turns playing drums, sticks, maracas, tambourines, and tone blocks.  We all played together to a count of four, and we played quietly, then louder and louder, then quietly again like rain or a passing train, and really loudly then gradually quieter like a rocket ship blasting off.

more drumming

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

For Friday science the children focused on the 4 terrestrial planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.  We learned interesting facts about each planet, compared their sizes and their order from the sun.  We all took turns being the sun and/or the planets orbiting the sun, then we molded them out of clay, being sure to make Mercury the smallest and Earth the largest.

planets orbiting the sun

which month is your birthday?

back bridge

climbing the snow pile

catching snowflakes

We had so much fun in the snow this week!  Everyone was plowing, pulling, riding, and shoveling.  On Monday and Friday the children climbed up and jumped off the big snow pile.  They are anxious for the dumpster to be removed so they can sled down again.

snow much fun!

Paul Klee style impressionist art

Monday students learned about the artist Paul Klee (pronounced Klay).  We read the book Paul Klee and looked at his paintings, specifically “Cat and Bird,” then created art in the impressionist style with lines and color.

At the art table students made centerpieces and invitations for the Valentine’s Day Family Breakfast, as well as many other projects, including chains, books, cut and paste art, paintings, leprechaun houses, etc.

artists at work

We wrapped up our bird unit by reading Birds True or False.  We learned what true and false mean and had fun answering all the questions asked in the book.  It was impressive how much the children know about birds!

How tall compared to an Emperor Penguin?

bead castle

bead chains

bird tangrams

bird reports

baric tablets

puzzles and counting tray

hundred board

morning mat work

matching bells

metal insets

floor work

nesting dolls

North America

articles and nouns

number work

pouring

how to keep the cover on the tea pot

sound sort

stories

table work

tick tack toe

which letters are in your name?

birthday boy

We celebrated a 5^th birthday  on Tuesday!  We helped the birthday boy count how many times the Earth has orbited the sun since his birth, then we all really enjoyed eating ninja turtle apples!

Birthday Ninja Turtle apples

story with Pooh

Everyone was very excited for Winnie the Pooh to visit with Believe in Books on Thursday!  We listened to a story about Pooh and his honey pots, then everyone got to greet him with a hug, wave, high five, or fist bump.  Each child then chose a book to take home.

Pooh!

making the planets

For Friday science we began to learn about the solar system and the planets in our solar system.  We learned that the sun is a star, which is a big ball of burning gas and dust, and that a solar system is the system of objects that orbit a star.  We were introduced to the names of the 8 planets in our solar system and their order from the sun.  We looked at pictures of the different planets and learned that the first four planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are terrestrial, composed of rock, and the last four (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are mostly gas and dust with some rock in the center.  It was a lot of fun to draw, color, and cut out models of the planets.  Some of us did one or two, and some of us did all 8!

hopping!

long jump

sledding

Yay for warmer weather!  Although it was not toasty, the temps warmed up enough for us to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and snow.  After a couple of weeks inside, it was great to be able to get out and move.

Outside!

We started to wrap up our unit on birds with a study of beaks and how they are used.  We learned that birds do not have teeth or hands, but they have beaks.  Different beaks are used for different jobs that we might use tools, our hands, or teeth to do.  Beaks are used for pecking, or crushing, or prying, or sipping, or grabbing, etc.

peacock feathers

A student brought in some beautiful peacock feathers to share, and the children enjoyed examining them.  They are quite different from the turkey, chicken, and quail feathers we have studied so far.

We read more stories about birds, including Beaks, The Little Red Hen, Parrots Over Puerto Rico, Edwina the Emu, Edward the Emu, and The Penguin Who Hated the Cold.

bird reports

The kindergarten students continued to take notes from a variety of books about birds for their bird reports.  Next week they will begin to organize their notes and write their reports.

Tacky the Penguin flannel story

artists

bell matching

mat work

folding washcloths

geometric solid tracing

multiplication board

number puzzle

number tray

reading to friends

stories with Kelly

table work

teeth brushing

water pouring work

wooden word cards

Happy Birthday Tammy!

It was exciting to celebrate Tammy’s birthday this week.  Many children made her cards and pictures, and everyone enjoyed brownies and/or cake.

camouflage in a green habitat

For Friday science the children learned about camouflage and defense mechanisms that different prey animals have to stay safe from predators.  We did an experiment with skittles and m&m’s, which was particularly fun.  The children were birds who used their beaks to peck up insects from an environment.  They found that the insects that blended in with the environment were less likely to get eaten.

counting apples