Mrs. Lopes: Exploring Our Continent

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Last week, the classroom was filled with discovery as we began our study of North America. The children gathered eagerly as we introduced The Continent Song and learned that North America is the continent we all live on.

We explored this vast continent through multiple lenses. The children learned that the land we call home was first inhabited by Native Americans, and they were fascinated to discover the diverse animals that share our continent—from grizzly bears to bald eagles. The North America puzzle map became one of the most popular works on our cultural shelves, with the Kindergarten children tracing the outlines of the countries in North America.

The pumpkin hammering work in the sensory bin provided a perfect seasonal connection to our study. Children practiced hand-eye coordination and built strength in their hands, while making designs in the pumpkin.  They created the designs by hammering golf tees into the pumpkins.

The mixed-age community truly shone this week, with older children helping younger friends locate North America on the globe and teaching them the continent names.

On Thursday, we were treated to a Diwali presentation organized by our Admissions Director, Ms. Paromita.  The children were read to story of Diwali, watched a traditional dance, and had the opportunity to try some traditional Indian foods.  This program was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Extending Learning at Home

  • Take nature walks and look for animals native to North America—squirrels, robins, deer, or chipmunks
  • Find North America on a globe or map at home and talk about how far family members might live from you
  • Share family stories about where your ancestors came from and how they arrived in North America
  • Look at the shapes of states when traveling and see if your child can identify familiar ones

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Tuesday, November 11: Playground Volunteer– Devin Wallace
Wednesday, November 12: Guest Reader–Katie Barron
Thursday, November 13: Kindergarten Vision Screening

Next Week
Thursday, November 20: Classroom Bread Baking 9:30 a.m.

Ms. Handibode: Light, Learning, and Community

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Last week, our classroom community experienced the beauty of cultural celebration as the entire Primary level gathered in the gymnasium for a Diwali celebration. The children learned that this five-day festival represents new beginnings and the victory of light over darkness, good over evil—the triumph of righteousness and knowledge over ignorance.

Ms. Paromita, along with several parents and students from our community, wore traditional Indian attire and shared the richness of Indian culture with us. A few students from Primary, Lower Elementary, and Middle School read a book about Diwali, and then Ms. Paromita and the students danced to Indian music. The gymnasium was decorated with beautiful and meaningful items, and the children were mesmerized by the sights and sounds! They tasted traditional Indian food and experienced how families around the world celebrate with light, joy, and togetherness. We are deeply grateful to all who shared their culture!

In science, we launched our study of vertebrates and invertebrates. The children are beginning to classify animals based on whether they have a backbone, developing their powers of observation and scientific thinking.

Melia’s mom, Megan, was our guest reader this week and shared the beautiful story My Tree and Me. The children loved hearing about the special connection between a child and nature.

The Botsford Fire Department returned to Fraser Woods to teach us about fire safety. The children asked thoughtful and intelligent questions and learned what to do in a fire, explored the equipment firefighters use, and even spent time on a fire truck!

Extending Learning at Home

  • Look for vertebrates and invertebrates on nature walks—does it have a backbone? (Dogs and birds have backbones; insects and worms don’t!)
  • Practice your family’s fire safety plan—where would you meet outside if there were a fire?
  • Notice trees in your neighborhood and talk about how they change through the seasons

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 10: Jasper T. Flowers and Sharing Box
Tuesday, November 11: Playground Volunteer–Allissa S.
Wednesday, November 12: Guest Reader–Rob L.
Thursday, November 13: Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Sargeant: Celebrating Light and Learning

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, our classroom community gathered with all the Primary classes for a beautiful Diwali celebration in the gym. The children listened intently to a story about this five-day festival observed around the world. They learned that Diwali represents new beginnings and the victory of light over darkness, good over evil—the triumph of righteousness and knowledge over ignorance.

The experience came alive through the sights, sounds, and colors of Indian culture. Ms. Paromita, along with several parents and students, wore traditional Indian attire, and the children were mesmerized by the beauty of what they witnessed. They tasted traditional foods—rice pilaf and gajar ka halwa—and each child decorated their own rangoli design to take home. We are deeply grateful to all the families who shared their culture with us!

Our kindergarten students continued their impressive work with Number Rolls, practicing linear counting, place value, and proper numeral writing formation. The anticipation is building—in June, we’ll take these down to the gym, unroll them, and see just how long they’ve become! This work beautifully demonstrates the mathematical mind at work, as children make abstract numbers concrete and visible.

Magnets joined our shelves this week, sparking curiosity and scientific exploration. The children discovered which objects attract and which don’t, developing early hypotheses about the properties of different materials.

We also welcomed the Botsford Fire Department, who taught us valuable lessons about fire prevention. The children asked thoughtful questions and learned important safety practices they can use at home.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Celebrate light in your own way—light candles at dinner and talk about how light helps us see and feel safe
  • Practice counting by ones, fives, or tens during everyday activities like setting the table or climbing stairs
  • Explore magnetism using a refrigerator magnet—see what it sticks to around your home and what it doesn’t

Ms. Rhodora: A Week of Cultural Joy and Community Learning

Posted on by Jill Skilton

Last week, the classroom was filled with light, color, and celebration as we explored Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The children engaged in this cultural study with beautiful mandala coloring activities that combined art, concentration, and fine motor development. Each child selected their own mandala design and carefully chose colors to create their unique patterns. The room was peaceful as children worked independently and alongside friends, some decorating their mandalas with jewel-like stickers that sparkled like the diyas that light homes during Diwali.

This celebration provided a meaningful opportunity to discuss how different cultures mark important occasions and the universal themes of light overcoming darkness, hope, and new beginnings. The children were curious about how families celebrate Diwali and made connections to their own family traditions and celebrations.

Community Helpers Visit Our Campus

We welcomed special visitors from the local fire department who shared important fire safety information with the children. The firefighters demonstrated their equipment and allowed the children to see the fire truck up close. The children’s faces showed wonder and excitement as they learned about fire safety, stop-drop-and-roll, and how firefighters help our community. This hands-on experience brought our community helpers curriculum to life in a memorable way.

Mathematical Minds at Work

The mathematics area continued to draw sustained concentration as children explored the Teen Board and Hundred Board. These materials help children understand place value and number sequencing in a concrete, hands-on way. One child spent considerable time arranging the Hundred Board tiles, building understanding of numerical order and patterns within our base-ten system. Another child worked carefully with the Teen Board, discovering how the teen numbers are formed by combining ten with the unit numbers.

The beauty of these self-correcting materials is that children can work at their own pace, building confidence as they recognize and correct their own errors. This independent work fosters the mathematical mind while developing problem-solving skills and patience.

Geography and Practical Life Discoveries

Children explored the continent puzzle map, identifying and placing each continent while discussing where different animals and people live around the world. This geographic work connects beautifully to our cultural studies and helps children understand their place in the wider world.

In practical life, children continued to refine their fine motor skills through activities like carrot peeling and other food preparation work. These activities build independence, coordination, and concentration while preparing children for real-world tasks.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Celebrate diversity by exploring your own family traditions and celebrations. Share stories about holidays or special occasions your family observes and what makes them meaningful to you.
  • Practice counting and number recognition during everyday activities. Count steps as you walk, items as you put away groceries, or objects you see on nature walks.
  • Encourage independence by involving your child in meal preparation. Simple tasks like washing vegetables, tearing lettuce, or stirring ingredients build confidence and practical skills.

Ms. Handibode Pumpkins, Perseverance, and Parent Partnerships

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

Last week, our classroom transformed into a pumpkin patch, with pumpkins everywhere you looked! These vibrant orange gourds provided countless opportunities for the children to observe, explore, and engage with basic science and math concepts in meaningful ways.

In our Practical Life area, pumpkin-themed works flourished. The children practiced pumpkin spooning, pumpkin pouring, pumpkin scrubbing, and pumpkin grasping—each activity building coordination, concentration, and independence. In Science, we learned about the parts of a pumpkin and followed the pumpkin’s life cycle from seed to harvest. The children compared pumpkins and categorized them as small, medium, and large, developing their mathematical minds through hands-on exploration.

We used our five senses to discover what pumpkins look, smell, feel, sound, and taste like. After carving a pumpkin together, we celebrated with our Harvest Celebration. Each child had the opportunity to visit our classroom’s “pumpkin patch,” pick their own pumpkin, create a spooky craft, and enjoy a festive snack.

The kindergarten students worked together to prepare Skelly, our veggie skeleton. It was wonderful to hear children say they didn’t like certain vegetables and then watch them devour every bite! This experience reminded us that trying new things in a supportive environment can lead to delightful discoveries.

One kindergarten student captured the spirit of perseverance beautifully this week when they said, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it all by myself!” These moments of determination and independence are exactly what we hope to nurture in every child.

We were grateful to have Eloise’s mom, Nicole, join us as a guest reader. The children loved listening to the fun story “Pumpkin Jack.”

All of the wonderful experiences we share with the children are possible because of parents helping behind the scenes. A huge shout-out to everyone for sharing their time and energy with us to provide these wonderful opportunities for the children. It takes a lot of time, effort, and organization for all of this to be possible, and we are truly grateful and blessed.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Encourage your child to try something three times before asking for help. This builds resilience and problem-solving skills.
  • Visit a local pumpkin patch or farm stand to explore different sizes and varieties of pumpkins together.
  • Cut open a pumpkin at home and explore the inside. Count the seeds, feel the stringy pulp, and roast the seeds for a healthy snack.
  • Practice sorting and categorizing with household items—sort laundry by color or size, organize toys by type, or group kitchen items together.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds and Nitzan Birthday Walk and Sharing Box
Tuesday, November 4: Buckens
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader–Hus
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Lopes: Celebrating Fall and the Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Last week, the classroom was filled with excitement as the children explored the life cycle of a pumpkin. This study connected beautifully to our fall observations and gave the children a deeper understanding of how living things grow and change.

The week began with a thrilling pumpkin hunt on the playground on Tuesday morning. The children searched high and low, working together to find our classroom pumpkin. Their joy at the discovery was contagious! On Wednesday, we were grateful to have Kaiah’s mom join us to help carve our pumpkin into a spooky ghost. The children watched with fascination as the pumpkin transformed, observing the seeds inside and discussing how those seeds could grow into new pumpkin plants. This hands-on experience brought the life cycle concept to life in a memorable way.

Thursday brought our festive classroom celebration, complete with a special fall snack and a spooky craft project. The children took great care in creating their decorations, demonstrating the concentration and fine motor skills they’ve been developing throughout the year.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Plant a few pumpkin seeds in a small pot or cup with soil. Watch them sprout and discuss how they might grow into a pumpkin plant.
  • Take nature walks to observe signs of fall—changing leaves, cooler weather, and seasonal plants. Talk about how nature changes with the seasons.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Playground Volunteer– Regine Hooper-Campbell
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader– Jordan Dugbartey
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration, Parker’s Birthday Walk
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Ms. Rhodora: Exploring Our Senses Through Fall Festivities

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

Last week, the classroom was alive with fall festivities and rich sensory exploration. The children delved into the sense of sight and the sense of taste, discovering the four basic tastes: bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. Watching their faces light up with surprise or scrunch up with uncertainty as they tasted each flavor was pure joy! This sensory work helped the children develop their vocabulary while tuning into their bodies and the world around them.

Our pumpkin activities provided wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning. A parent volunteer joined us for pumpkin carving, and the children were fascinated by the transformation. The highlight of our mathematical exploration came when we counted pumpkin seeds together—all 492 of them! The children worked patiently and collaboratively, taking turns counting and organizing the seeds. This activity strengthened their number sense and demonstrated the beauty of working together toward a common goal.

The children also had the chance to explore our pumpkin patch, selecting and examining pumpkins of different sizes and shapes. Another parent volunteer helped us create popcorn hands, which added a fun, tactile element to our fall celebrations.

Our pajama party brought smiles all around as the children enjoyed rainbow bagels with cream cheese in their cozy pajamas. The Harvest Celebration tied together all our fall learning beautifully, and the kindergarten students worked together to create a veggie skeleton that impressed everyone in the classroom.

We are so grateful for the parent volunteers who made these experiences possible. Your time and energy enrich our classroom community in immeasurable ways.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Explore the four tastes together at home. Try a lemon (sour), pretzel (salty), dark chocolate (bitter), and honey (sweet). Talk about which tastes your child prefers and why.
  • Practice counting with everyday objects—coins in a piggy bank, toys in a bin, or crackers before snack time. Challenge older children to count by twos, fives, or tens.
  • Use all five senses during daily routines. At mealtime, talk about what food looks like, smells like, feels like, sounds like when you bite it, and tastes like.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Sargeant: Celebrating Halloween and Exploring New Materials

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, the classroom was buzzing with fall celebrations and exciting learning experiences. The children were deeply engaged in both our special Halloween activities and the new materials that appeared on our shelves.

A new sifting spoon work joined our practical life area this week. The children use this special spoon to gently shake sand through tiny holes, transferring split peas from one bowl to another. Watching them discover this work has been mesmerizing—the careful concentration on their faces as they slowly shake and watch the peas separate from the sand is like watching them uncover hidden treasures!

We were so grateful to Ivy’s mom for carving a pumpkin with us. The children had the wonderful opportunity to see, smell, and touch the inside of a real pumpkin, engaging all their senses in this exploration. Our lit jack-o-lantern has been glowing in the classroom all week, adding to the festive atmosphere. Thank you to Gabriel and Madison’s families for supplying pumpkins and helping set up our pumpkin patch on the playground—the children loved finding and exploring them.

The Halloween parade brought pure joy to our classroom. The children were thrilled to see their mentors, book buddies, siblings, and former classmates in their costumes while proudly showing off the pajamas they wore for Pajama Day. We enjoyed a delicious Halloween cake baked by Ava’s family. Although we planned to celebrate outside, the rain had other plans! We moved our party into the Aftercare room, which turned into a fun adventure and a wonderful lesson in flexibility. Thank you to Autumn’s family for the pumpkin drink holder party favors.

A highlight of the week was watching all 21 kindergarten students work together to create a “veggie skeleton,” which they democratically voted to name Skelly. The children peeled and chopped vegetables with great care, and many of them tried vegetables they’d never tasted before—olives, cauliflower, and different varieties of tomatoes. The collaboration, fine motor practice, and willingness to try new foods made this project a true success.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Practice transferring skills using everyday kitchen tools. Try using a slotted spoon to separate pasta from water or a strainer to wash vegetables together.
  • Continue the vegetable exploration by visiting a farmers’ market or grocery store. Let your child choose a new vegetable to try and help prepare it at home.
  • Take advantage of the fall season by going on nature walks to collect leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures. Sort and classify them by size, color, or type.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Recess Volunteer: Jacob
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader: Ortner
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening