Happy Friday! We have had a wonderfully “constructive” week in the classroom.

Our focus this week was answering some big questions: What are buildings made of? and What makes them strong? The children turned into young structural engineers as we explored the characteristics of durability and stability.

This week’s highlights included:

• Material Exploration: We got hands-on with wood and brick. We discussed why bricks are positioned in specific patterns (staggered) to increase stability and how cement acts as the “glue” that holds it all together.
• The School Walk: We took our learning outside the classroom for a field study of our own school building. The children loved touching the rough texture of the brick walls and contrasting it with the smooth glass windows. We discussed how different materials (wood vs. brick) are used for different parts of a building.
• Cultural Homes: We expanded our study of shelter to explore the traditional homes of the Plains Indians. The children learned about the unique structure and materials of traditional tipis and had a wonderful time constructing their own.

Coming Up Next Week: Who Builds Buildings?

Next week, we will transition to the next segment of our Creative Curriculum, shifting our focus to the people and tools behind the structures. We will learn about the different roles involved in construction and the specific tools used to turn a drawing into a house.

To celebrate the end of our Buildings Study, we will work together to create our own community. This project is a beautiful way to synthesize everything we’ve learned about structures and apply it to the concept of living and working together.

Valentine’s Day & Our Community Project

Love is in the air! We are so excited to celebrate friendship and kindness with our class this month. We are taking a unique approach that is tied to community service: throughout the week, the children will be working hard in class to create handmade cards for their friends. This focuses on the effort and thoughtfulness of giving.

Because Friday, February 13th, is a Non-Student Contact Day (no school for students), we will be holding a small classroom celebration a day early on Thursday, February 12th, in the afternoon.

Here is the plan for the day:

• Cards: Please send in 16 valentines. Sign your child’s name, but do not address them to specific students (leave the “To” section blank).
• A box: Please send in a decorated box for your child to collect their valentines.
• Treats: We will not be eating candy from the valentines in class. All treats received will be packed up and sent home with your child.

We also need a few volunteers! We are looking for families to help with a read-aloud, a game/craft, juice boxes, and a protein-rich snack. Please click on the Valentine’s Day Sign Up Genius to claim your spot. 

Thank you for helping us build such a strong foundation for learning! Have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

The Preschool Team