This week we introduced our 12th Tipi Pole Teaching: Good Child Rearing. Our statement that goes along with this is, "I am a gift and symbol of the circle of life." A short teaching about the human circle of life took place Monday, as students were reminded that they may one day be parents and grandparents. On Wednesday we read the story What Mommies/Daddies Do Best and students were able to identify all of our teachings, and we spent considerable time supporting student learning around how children are loved and cared for by their parents.
In language centers this week, we reviewed a new spelling rule (C or K in the middle or beginning of words), and Saplings finished up their clauses and phrases package. Students worked more on their Mythical Creature and began brainstorming for and writing a short story about their creature and travel. This will assist us to being in Geography as part of this interdisciplinary project in addition to the subjects mentioned last week. This week 4 first drafts were submitted and most students are almost complete with their first drafts as well. Edits will be handed out on Monday so everyone can keep moving forward.
In math centers this week students were introduced to some new math manipulatives that support student understanding around value and equivalency blocks. Each block us made of wood, has the numeral, dot pattern, word and is shaped as the number in a unique way. Comparing the blocks to one another, we can see that their value is also represented by size. Check out the photos of the students creating equivalence, towers and math questions with them.
In magic centers this week we had another wonderful student lesson about horses, their evolution, and their bodies from Hazel. Students completed a worksheet Hazel created for the lesson and asked LOTS of questions! Great work Hazel!
In Creation Magic, The Magic Hostipal project evolved as we began brainstorming more about what we need for our space. It was decided that our library will become a waiting room, and all treatment and reception will happen in the classroom. A big list began and ended with students thinking about what they have at home to bring in to assist in our learning.
Conversation was rich and all of these ideas came from the students. It was decided that pets can come for care as well, so it will be a vet clinic as well. Some friends were very excited to be an animal getting a check up! Our space will also host expecting Mama's for ultrasound and delivering babies (thanks for the idea Ellie!), and we will have one big machine that functions as a working x-ray, ultrasound and electrocardiogram machine! Everyone decided that The Magic Hostipal gets to provide dental care as well, complete with braces, retainers, cleanings and check ups.
Students decided that health cards and cash for anyone that does not have a health card will be our method of exchange for service. This brought up a discussion around health care, what is covered and what is not. I am very excited about all of this!
Next week we are getting into our seasonal projects as well, and this means we will be moving everything around in the classroom to accommodate The Magic Hostipal (everyone is adamant I need to continue to say/write it this way). We will have a list of items that we are looking can be sent to school with students when we return from March break.
Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons we unleashed our creation materials and students began creating their creatures!!! It was a beautiful sight watching their creations take shape! There was so much brainstorming, supportive helpers and incredible ideas from students. Everyone is proud of their creations too. My favourite part of this experience is how we have multiple students working with a teacher/mentor to create a pattern for their creature, and another group of students who chose to work with air dry clay for theirs. Everyone is learning in their own way with their own design and it is beautiful!
This coming Monday, Pamela will be supplying in the Seedling & Sapling rooms while I am at an appointment in the morning. All students were made aware Wednesday afternoon.
Make an amazing weekend!!
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