As we continue our winter studies this week, we delved into one of the most enchanting aspects of water: snowflakes. The timely weather has allowed us to reinforce this lesson as the children have had the opportunity to explore snow both indoors and outdoors. They’ve discovered that while snowflakes share a common symmetry and hexagonal structure, each one boasts a unique and intricate design—a concept we’ve presented, of course, in language tailored to their understanding.

I find it fascinating how the individuality of a snowflake mirrors that of each child. Just like snowflakes, every one of your children is unique and precious, and we are so grateful to witness their growth and share in their beauty.

To tie this lesson into our Spanish studies, the children have been learning the song “Copo de Nieve” (Snowflake) by Super Simple Español. Using artificial snowflakes of varying sizes, they’ve acted out the song’s movements, learning Spanish words for body parts like cabeza (head), nariz (nose), and mano (hand). As we progress, we’ll continue to incorporate more Spanish vocabulary related to the body. Feel free to practice this song with your child. Find the link to the video at the end of this note.

To further enrich our studies, we’ve used educational videos, books, songs, and animal models to embark on a journey to the Arctic and Antarctica. During these explorations, the children have learned fascinating facts about polar bears and penguins, including their physical characteristics and habitats. For example:

Polar Bears

• Are warm-blooded
• Have thick fur
• Have big paws
• Live in the Arctic
• Baby bears are called cubs

Penguins

• Are birds
• Are expert divers and fast swimmers
• Don’t have wings, but flippers
• There are different types of penguins
• Live in Antarctica

This week, we also celebrated two very special birthdays—those of our FIRST students who turned three years old during this school year! Woo hoo!

Lastly, we explored carrots as part of our weekly food-tasting lesson. Yummy!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

Winter has arrived, bringing with it a flurry of new experiences for our little ones. Last weekend’s snowstorm set the stage for an exciting week of learning as the toddlers were introduced to dressing themselves for outdoor play in the snow. This may seem like a simple task, but for them, this process is not only a practical life skill but also a significant milestone in their journey toward independence and self-confidence.

In our Montessori environment, we embrace the philosophy of nurturing children’s natural inclination for independence by providing them with age-appropriate responsibilities. Dressing for winter play is a perfect example of this, empowering our toddlers to take care of themselves and prepare for the adventures that await them outdoors.

Throughout the week, the children learned to identify their individual winter bags and retrieve them from the designated area in the classroom. They then settled on the classroom rug, where they began the process of getting ready. First, they removed their indoor shoes, followed by retrieving their winter pants from their bags and laying them out on the ground. With guidance, they learned to pull up their pants while sitting down until they could see their toes, then stand up and finish putting on and zipping their snowsuit. They practiced putting on their snow boots, coats, hats, and mittens. It’s a process that requires practice, but with each opportunity, they are mastering this essential skill. The sense of joy when they realize they are capable of accomplishing this is just so great to witness.

Stepping outside, the children were greeted by a multitude of sensory experiences. The sight of snowflakes drifting from the sky, the sound of their footsteps crunching on the snow, the feel of the cold air on their cheeks, and the taste of fallen snow were sensations that contributed to a rich and meaningful learning experience. As they played and explored, they not only had fun learning to make snow angels and rolling snowballs to create a snowman with Mrs. Mollie but also developed their gross motor skills, balance, and coordination while navigating the playground.

Back inside, the children seemed to enjoy working with the nesting penguins, the winter clothes vocabulary cards. They also engaged in an object-to-picture matching activity focused on Arctic animals. They learned to recognize and observe animals like the harp seal, arctic fox, killer whale, walrus, husky, caribou, beluga whale, and polar bear and learned some fun facts about them through short educational videos, sparking their curiosity about the natural world. This was definitely one of the most popular works this week.

Our food-tasting lesson introduced the children to the vibrant flavor of mango, a surprising favorite among them. They were fascinated to discover that despite its green and red skin, the mango’s pulp is a sunny yellow.

In the world of books, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, Baby Beluga by Raffi, and Potty by Leslie Patricelli captured the children’s imaginations and sparked lively discussions.

It’s been an eventful and enriching week, filled with new experiences and discoveries. We look forward to continuing this journey of learning and growth with your children.

Enjoy the long weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Mrs. Mollie

Happy New Year, families! We trust you had a fantastic holiday break filled with relaxation and cherished moments with your loved ones. It’s been a joy to welcome your children back after the break. They’ve transitioned seamlessly and arrived full of enthusiasm, ready to explore the environment and the new activities awaiting them on our shelves.

With the arrival of winter, our focus is turning to the great outdoors. We’re excited to immerse ourselves in the unique experiences this season offers. The crisp winter air has started to transform our surroundings into a wonderland, and we’re eager to embrace it fully as the snow arrives! This month, we’ll be delving into the fascinating topic of water and its various forms, offering plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and sensory exploration.

This week, we’ve been busy learning about the signs of winter and expanding our vocabulary with engaging materials and books. It’s been wonderful to see how the children have embraced these new concepts with such enthusiasm.

In other exciting news, we’ve introduced a beloved new addition to our classroom: a baby doll named Rosie. This has been a popular activity, allowing the children to practice grace, courtesy, and patience as they care for their new friend. It’s heartwarming to witness their tender interactions with Rosie as they read, sing, and cuddle her. Their nurturing instincts have truly shone through, and they’ve worked together to ensure Rosie feels loved and cared for.

In Practical Life, we introduced a lesson on how to clean a dry spill on a tabletop. As the children get more practice with this work, the crumber will be added as a tool for our snack and lunch procedures.

In the art area, the children were introduced to a new skill: using scissors. This activity requires a lot of concentration and dexterity, but your children seem to enjoy challenging themselves, and the pride they feel when they are successful and able to cut the card stock strips is obvious.

As a food-tasting lesson, we explored kale this week. Despite initial reservations, the children were pleasantly surprised to discover how much they enjoyed kale chips! If you’re interested in trying this at home, please feel free to reach out for the recipe.

Our favorite books this week have included The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jeffrey Burton, Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes, and What Can You See in Winter by Sian Smith.

Reminder:  Please provide a labeled tote bag with your child’s name and ensure that all winter gear, including snow pants, a winter jacket, snow mittens with clips, and a hat, are labeled and placed inside the bag.

We hope you stay safe and enjoy the first snowstorm of the season!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie