Friday, September 18

Happy Friday!

This morning we worked in our classroom. 

We made butterflies out of pattern block shapes.  

We also worked to illustrate our co-written book about butterflies and moths! 

The firends built in the blocks.  Some friends took notes! 

We worked with letters to make words. 

And of course we observed butterflies and moths.  :) 

During morning meeting the friends asked more questions about butterflies and moths.  The questions in blue are the first questions that the friends asked when we initially began our investigation. Our new questions can be found in pink. The friends are using what they have learned about butterflies and moths as they ask the new questions. We will use these questions for the basis of our learning over the next weeks.  Instead of relying on information delivery alone to explore a topic, we invite students to inquire about the world around them. The focus shifts away from rote memorization and triggers curiosity as students investigate and research.

We then used open ended materials to create our own representation of butterflies.  We are not only practicing using materials such as scissors and glue, but the friends are applying what they know about butterflies and moths and engaging in creative expression.

"I want to use this for the proboscis, but it is not curly." 

"I made the four wings!" 

"See these?  Those are the antennae." 

Although they might not look like what we as adults expect a butterfly/moth to look like, this experience is valuable because it honors each child's thoughts, ideas, and creativity. 

After lunch we practiced writing our names and then went to the music garden! 

The friends (and Mrs. Andrews) were patient and waited for me to walk to the other wide of the soccer field.  We are working to strengthen the friends' self-regulation.  I turned and shouted "Go!" and then friends, along with Mrs. Andrews, ran the length of the soccer field to the music garden!