Dear Cedar Families,
Spring has finally sprung inside and outside the Cedar classroom, and we are all happy to feel the warmer days arriving. Thank you for sending extra clothes for your children during these soggy spring days, too!
Our studies this month included a special focus on kindness, community and diversity, culminating with a ring of paper hands for every member of the class, the paper fingers like petals of a flower. Meghan came in and gave a lesson on mixing paint colors to make our own unique colors to match our skin. Using various shades of peach, pink, beige and brown, we all mixed paint to find just the right color for our own skin tones, with names like “cinnamon toast” and “peach rose”. We also shared ideas and thoughts about why and how to make new friends, and considered that we might think of each other as a box full of unique surprises to share. We know what is inside the boxes of our friends and family members, but if we never consider opening ourselves to new friends, we might never know what wonderful things they have to share with us–or what we might share with them.
Our studies also included a look at life on a farm, including the animals that live on farms, their jobs and unique skills, and some of the ways that animals provide us with the food we eat. We also talked about different types of farms, the work of farmers in growing crops and set up our own very own classroom barn to explore with plenty of animals.
Teacher Katie led the class with colorful flower and daisy collages, encouraging the children to “return to” their work and go beyond process art and begin thinking more deeply about what else grows and lives among the daisies. On the patio this week we began making our paper pots for planting seeds, beginning with snap peas, with plans to expand to other seeds as the weather warms up. We are studying the parts of the pea plant, looking at leaf shapes and other signs of spring on the playground and in the garden. The children are delighted to watch our bulbs return once more, watching the crocus come and go, followed by the first daffodils and hyacinths. Soon the tulips will bloom, just as we prepare to transplant our pea seedlings among the bulbs. We have talked about how life requires change, and how everything living thing needs room to grow, fresh air, sunlight, nutrients and water–and care.
In the kitchen, the afternoon crew baked Irish Soda Bread for morning toast and we also tried our hands at guacamole making. Many skills were practiced including measuring, kneading, scooping, mashing and mixing!
Four Cedar students completed another trip around the sun this month as well, with birthday celebrations for Harper, Livvia, Max and Mayes! Happy Birthday, friends! Finally, thank you again to all of our Mystery Readers this month: Neha (Ren), Lauren (Livvia), Abi (Audrey) and Adriana (Leo)!
Warmly,
Mary
