Mrs. Sargeant: Chicks, Caterpillars, and the Cycle of Life

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Having an incubator in the classroom has been such an exciting and meaningful experience—watching the chicks hatch has been amazing, and it’s taught the kids so much about patience, responsibility, and the cycle of life. There’s nothing quite like seeing that moment when a chick finally breaks through its shell. Soon they’ll be heading back to Palmieri Farm, where we originally got the eggs, which makes the whole experience feel full circle. As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also just received caterpillars to observe, and everyone is really looking forward to watching them grow and transform next.

Invite your child to look for signs of life cycles in your own backyard or neighborhood. Watch for butterflies, caterpillars, birds building nests, or seeds sprouting. Ask your child to tell you what they know about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly — you may be amazed at what they can explain!

Our practical life work this week centered on carrot peeling and chopping — a purposeful, hands-on activity that builds fine motor skills, focus, and independence while connecting children to real food preparation.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Monday, May 4 — Corbett Flowers, Food & Sharing Bag
  • Tuesday, May 5 — Lacy Playground

Looking Ahead

  • Monday, May 19 — Kindergarten Field Trip to Flanders

Mrs. Lopes: Chicks and Caterpillars

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

 

Last week brought one of the most anticipated moments of the school year — five baby chicks hatched in our classroom! For three weeks, the children had been following the development of the eggs day by day, and when the chicks finally emerged, the joy was unmistakable. This experience brought our unit on the life cycle of a chicken to a meaningful and memorable close, weaving together observation, patience, and a deep respect for the natural world.

As that chapter concluded, a new one began immediately. Five caterpillars arrived in our classroom this week, launching our next study: the life cycle of a butterfly. The children are already watching carefully, eager to witness the next great transformation.

Talk with your child about what they’ve learned about life cycles. Ask them to explain the stages of a chicken’s life or predict what will happen to the caterpillars. Look for signs of transformation in nature together — a cocoon on a branch, a seedling pushing through soil — and encourage your child to make observations the way a scientist would.

Ms. Handibode: Young Entomologists at Work

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Last week, our classroom became a hub of scientific inquiry as the children dove into one of their favorite topics: entomology, the study of insects. We began by gathering everything the children already knew — and they had plenty to say. Insects are slimy, little, soft, hard, and sometimes gross. They can crawl, sting, bite, fly, walk upside down, and jump. From there, we built on that foundation, learning that insects lay eggs, have antennae, and share three main body parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen. They also have six legs, an exoskeleton, are cold-blooded, and many have wings.

One of the week’s highlights was discovering why a spider is not an insect — ask your child, they may just know the answer!

We were also delighted to welcome Veda’s mom as our guest reader, who shared the wonderful book The Rabbit Listened — a beautiful story that sparked warm conversation about empathy and community.

And then there were the chicks. Five baby chicks hatched in our classroom this week, and they have already been named: Rosie, Sunny, Biddy, Pumpkin, and Blueberry. The joy in the room when they arrived was truly something special.

Go on an insect hunt in your backyard or at a local park. Encourage your child to look closely at what they find and try to identify the three main body parts. Can they tell if it’s truly an insect — or something else? A magnifying glass makes this even more fun!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Monday, May 4 — Sharing Box and Flowers: Adeline G.
  • Tuesday, May 5 — Playground Volunteer: Megan H.
  • Wednesday, May 6 — Guest Reader: Casey W.
  • Thursday, May 7 — Birthday Celebration: Adeline G.

Next Week

  • Monday, May 11 — Sharing Box and Flowers: Mila M.
  • Tuesday, May 12 — Playground Volunteer: Casey W.
  • Wednesday, May 13 — Guest Reader: Nick L.
  • Friday, May 15 — Birthday Celebration: Mila M.

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

 

Spring has brought a lot of excitement into our classroom lately. We’ve been watching our baby chicks hatch, and it’s been such a cool experience for the kids. They’ve been checking on the eggs throughout the day, noticing the small cracks, and listening for those first little peeps. Once the chicks started hatching, there was a lot of quiet focus as everyone gathered around to watch. Now we’re helping care for them and learning what they need to stay safe and healthy.

At the same time, we’ve also welcomed caterpillars into the classroom so the children can observe another life cycle up close. They’ve already started noticing how much the caterpillars eat and how quickly they grow. Having both the chicks and caterpillars in the room has been a great way to talk about how living things grow and change in different ways. It’s been a simple, hands-on way for the kids to learn by watching, asking questions, and being part of the process.

Mrs. Sargeant: Chicks, Self-Portraits, and Sensory Art

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week was full of wonder, observation, and careful work. The children eagerly checked on the chick eggs in the incubator each day, comparing what they observed with a photo guide showing daily development. The anticipation is building — the chicks are expected to hatch around April 27th! This experience has been a natural invitation for rich conversations about life cycles and living things.

In the afternoon, the children worked on self-portraits. They studied their own features carefully before using a variety of materials to represent themselves — a meaningful exercise in observation, concentration, and self-expression. This work was supported beautifully by our mirror polishing activity, in which children used vinegar and fine motor control to clean a mirror. That same mirror came in handy as a tool for studying their own reflections before putting pencil to paper.

A new practical life and art activity was also introduced this week: grinding chalk into salt using small, controlled wrist movements. As the chalk color gradually spread through the salt, children experienced both a sensory and creative process — and were building the precise hand and wrist strength that supports writing development.

Extending Learning at Home

Invite your child to look closely at their own face in a mirror and describe what they see. You can also try a simple sensory activity at home: mix a small amount of colored chalk or food coloring into salt or sand and let your child explore the texture and color. Talk about what changes and what stays the same.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Monday, April 20
    ⋅ Sharing Box, Flowers, and Food; Birthday Celebration, Otto
  • Tuesday, April 21
    ⋅ Playground Volunteer, Dan D.
  • Thursday, April 23
    ⋅ Birthday Celebration, Oscar
  • Friday, April 24
    ⋅ No School – Parent Teacher Conferences

Ms Marissa: Life Cycles, Color, and Care

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

We’ve been adding some new activities to the classroom that tie in nicely with our bird study. The children have been working on simple “life cycle of a chicken” books, focusing on sequencing and labeling each stage. We’ve also introduced color mixing, which has been a great way to bring more science and art into the classroom as the children explore how different colors combine and change. With the warmer weather, polishing sunglasses has become a fun and practical extension of our usual care-of-environment work.

Flower arranging continues to be a favorite, and lately the children have been experimenting with organizing flowers into rainbow patterns. We’re also inviting parents into the classroom to read to the group, which the children really enjoy. If coming in isn’t possible, another option is recording a story for our Yoto player—this has been a great way for children to hear familiar voices during the day. Our kindergarteners have also been doing a deeper dive into their animal research projects, showing a lot of focus and pride as they learn more about their chosen animals.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Friday, April 24
    ⋅ Parent/Teacher Conferences. Time slots are available throughout the week — please sign up if you have not yet done so.

Mrs. Lopes: Discovering Europe

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Last week, the classroom turned its attention to the continent of Europe. The children located Europe on the continent map and explored the animals that call it home. We also enjoyed several books set in Europe, which helped bring the continent to life and sparked curiosity about the people, places, and cultures found there. This study connects beautifully to the children’s growing understanding of our wider world and their place within it.

Extending Learning at Home

Pull up a map or globe together and find Europe with your child. Ask them to name an animal or book they remember from our classroom study. If you have any family connections to Europe — or enjoy foods from European countries — this is a wonderful moment to make those personal connections.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Friday, April 24
    ⋅ Parent/Teacher Conferences. Time slots are available throughout the week — please sign up if you have not yet done so.

Ms. Handibode: Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

As Maria Montessori once said, “There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature.” Last week, that philosophy was very much alive in our classroom and on our campus.

With temperatures rising and days growing longer, the children have been spending more time exploring our natural playground. Daily outdoor learning supports healthy, active routines while giving children direct, hands-on experiences with the natural world. Our campus offers something truly special — textures, sounds, sights, and living things that no indoor environment can replicate. These early, regular encounters with nature help children develop a genuine appreciation for the beauty around them, nurturing their aesthetic awareness and deepening their connection to the world they live in.

Inside the classroom, excitement has been building around the eggs we have been observing each day. The children are eagerly awaiting their arrival, checking in with curiosity and care. Our kindergarteners have also begun their animal research projects, bringing real focus and enthusiasm to this meaningful work.

We were also delighted to welcome Morgan’s dad as our guest reader this week. He shared 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli — Morgan’s favorite — and it was a hit with everyone in the classroom. We love when families bring a piece of home into our community.

Extending Learning at Home

Head outside together and slow down. Notice what your child points to — a bug, a puddle, a cloud. Ask open-ended questions: “What do you hear?” or “What does this feel like?” Even a short walk around the block can become a rich nature experience when we take the time to look closely.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Monday, April 20
    ⋅ Sharing Box and Flowers, Layla S.
  • Tuesday, April 21
    ⋅ Playground Volunteer, Sam R.
  • Wednesday, April 22
    ⋅ Guest Reader, Dhanishry N.
  • Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
    ⋅ Parent Teacher Conferences