This week, we worked hard on our projects and are very proud of what we’ve created! On Monday, we jumped right into action, using the plans we made last week. However, as we worked, we realized that bringing our drawings to life wasn’t as easy as we thought. Some parts of the plan had to be changed, and we had to think creatively to solve problems. We learned how to use glue guns (low-temp, of course!) and had a blast bringing our creations to life. Students used chomp saws to cut boxes and cardboard, recycled plastic pieces, tape, hot glue, and paint.
On Tuesday, we practiced at the theater for the Greek Independence program, and then we enjoyed the sunshine at the zipline park! It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon after all the hard work.
On Wednesday, we had a special visit from Louis Papadaki, the author and illustrator of The Gigantic Giraffe with Gertie. Louis shared how he started drawing when he was young and never stopped, which inspired him to become an author and illustrator. He wrote The Gigantic Giraffe with Gertie and Gertie Braves The River. Louis read both of his books to us, sharing the process of writing and illustrating, and we even got to draw Gertie together at the end of his visit!
On Thursday, we continued working on our Not A Box projects and finished up by writing the whole process. We’re excited to share our projects with friends from other classes and with you!
The Greek program was phenomenal—each class did an amazing job with their performances, and their hard work truly paid off. It was so exciting to see everything come together.
Wow, time is flying by! I can’t believe it is almost spring break!
We finished reading the second book in the Zoey and Sassafras series, Monsters and Mold. The students really enjoyed the story and learning how Zoey used science to help a friendly monster. After finishing the book, we had a discussion about the scientific method and how we can use it to solve problems, just like Zoey did!
Two weeks ago, we started our strawberry experiment. We had five strawberries, each dipped in something different—oil, sugar water, vinegar, salt water, and one with nothing on it. Every day, we observed the strawberries and took notes what we saw. The first strawberry to grow mold was the one in sugar water after just three days. The vinegar and plain strawberries got mold on day four, and the oil-covered one on day six. The most surprising part—our saltwater strawberry still has no mold after 15 days! We discussed why this might be happening. Large amounts of sodium (salt) reduce what is referred to as the ‘water activity’ of a food, or the amount of free water available for bacteria to use. Since mold needs moisture to grow, the salt is helping to preserve the strawberry. We had many conversations about how salt is used to keep food fresh, like pickles and dried meats. We will continue to observe our strawberries and keep you updated on what happens next!
We also finished our service project! The students worked hard to make beautiful posters and gave wonderful presentations to other classes. They confidently shared what they learned and explained why donating glasses can make a big difference. In total, we collected 39 pairs of reading glasses and 42 pairs of sunglasses. This year, the glasses will be taken by one of the Focus doctors to The Nelson/Curnyn Free Clinic in Janagaon, India, where they will help people in need. Thank you so much for your support in making this project a success!
In math, we worked on grouping and regrouping numbers. We also learned about odd and even numbers. The students sorted numbers into groups and looked for patterns to help them understand. We practiced by using counters and building groups to see how numbers work together. We also played fun math games to reinforce these concepts.
I think it’s safe to say our class has earned the title of “Most Cardboard Boxes Used This Year!” 😆 So this week we read Not a Box, The Most Magnificent Thing, and A Boy and His Box. These books gave us a great idea for our next project: It’s Not a Box! We talked about how a simple box can become anything with a little imagination. Before starting, we learned about making a plan—why it’s helpful, how it keeps us organized, and how to draw one. We also introduced the idea of blueprints! A blueprint is a detailed drawing that shows how something will be built. Architects and engineers use blueprints to plan buildings and other projects. The students looked at different examples and noticed how blueprints use lines, shapes, and labels to show details. Then, they practiced making their own blueprints before bringing their ideas to life next week! We can’t wait to see what creative ideas they come up with!
The weather was not great this week, so we had indoor recess in the gym. It was actually very exciting since it was our first time playing there during recess! The students had fun running, playing ball games, and using the space in different ways. On other days, we played games in the classroom, built with blocks and legos.
Today, we celebrated St. Baldrick’s Day! This is a special event that helps raise money for childhood cancer research. We learned about how this organization helps children and why people choose to shave their heads or donate their hair. We are so proud of Kaya, who donated 8 inches of her hair, and RJ, who shaved his head to support the cause. Our class cheered and showed their support 🙂
Last week was short but full of celebrations! We celebrated Dina’s birthday—happy birthday, Dina! We hope all your wishes come true.
On Friday, we had our Valentine’s Day celebration. The children made special valentines for you and worked very hard on them. We used the handmade paper we made earlier, painted with marble paint (shaving cream and food coloring), and blew kisses full of love for you.
We enjoyed heart-shaped pizza and fresh fruit, then passed out valentines to our friends. At the end of the day, Ms. Melissa’s class joined us for a fun dance party!
This week, we learned about our eyes—the different parts and how they help us see. We also read books about blindness and learned how children who are blind use their other senses and special tools like a walking cane to move around safely. We read about Louis Braille, who invented the Braille system—a way for blind people to read using raised dots they can feel with their fingers. Braille is made up of patterns of six raised dots arranged in a small rectangle. Each combination of dots represents a letter, number, or symbol. Blind readers move their fingers across the dots to read words. The children had fun learning how to create simple Braille letters and practiced writing their names in Braille!
We learned that 1Focus.org helps people in other countries by giving them eye care, training doctors, and providing important tools like solar panels and water tanks to help clinics run safely. To help, we decorated a collection box for new reading glasses and gently used sunglasses and placed it in the lobby. We also made posters to tell other classes about our project and put them up around the school.
We are almost done with our second book in the Zoey and Sassafras series, Monsters and Mold! Since our bread experiment didn’t work, we started a new one with strawberries! 🍓 (Wish us luck!) We learned that food lasts longer if we use preservatives like salt, sugar, vinegar, or oil. For our experiment, we took five strawberries and put them in separate bags: one with nothing on it, one dipped in vinegar, one dipped in oil, one in sugar water, and one in salt water. Now we are watching and taking notes to see what happens!
In math, we are practicing number recognition and number sense through fun games and activities. We are working on recognizing numbers, putting them in order, and comparing them in different ways!
Even though it was cold, we bundled up and played outside! We made snow angels, snow cupcakes, and had a lot of fun playing in the snow.
Our scrap paper bin was full, so we got to work and reused the paper by making our own new paper. It is the second time we have made paper, so the kids are practically experts! 🙂
To make our paper, we started by tearing the old scraps into tiny pieces and soaking them in water to create a pulp. Then, we blended the mixture until it turned into a smooth, mushy consistency. Using a screen and frame, we carefully spread the pulp into an even layer, pressing out excess water with sponges. Once it was ready, we peeled it off the screen to reveal our beautiful, handmade sheets.
As we finished Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows, we got to work and made our own magical pictures. I hope you were able to spot the creatures! 🙂 While we were creating our pictures, we started talking about fluorescent and bioluminescent creatures. We learned that fluorescent creatures, like some corals and jellyfish, absorb light and glow under UV light, while bioluminescent creatures, such as fireflies and deep-sea fish, produce their own light through chemical reactions. The kids were fascinated by how these glowing animals use their light to communicate, attract mates, or scare away predators. It was an exciting discussion that made our artwork feel even more magical!
We started reading the second book in the series, Monsters and Mold. We love Zoey and Sassafras, their curiosity, and their adventures! 🙂 Along with the book, we started our own mold experiment. We placed two slices of bread—one moist—into ziplock bags and carefully observed them for 10 days, hoping to see mold grow. Unfortunately, the bread did not mold. Instead, it dried out and became hard, but no mold appeared. We are not giving up, though! This week, we will restart our experiment using a different type of bread to see if we get better results. Science is all about trial and error, and we’re excited to keep investigating!
We celebrated School Choice with a fun dance at school! School Choice means families can choose the best school for their children, like public, private, charter, or homeschool. Every child learns in their own way, and having options helps them find the best fit. Our celebration was a fun way to learn about this and enjoy time together!
We also celebrated a classroom birthday! Happy birthday, Sahana! May all your dreams come true! 🎉😊
On the 100th day of school, we found numbers 1-100 in a fun way, and the students put together a puppet show—just like they did on day one! 🙂 It was a great way to see how much they have grown and learned!
On Thursday, we went on our field trip and got to ride the bus to the theater to see Fractured Fairy Tales! A fractured fairy tale is a fun twist on a classic story, where characters, settings, or events are changed in surprising and creative ways. The students had a great time watching the performance and enjoying the adventure!
This month, our class will have our service project! The students took a vote, and we decided to help 1focus.org, a charity that provides eye care and supplies to countries in need. After choosing who our project will benefit, we read about a blind artist and athlete, George Mendoza. Mendoza began losing his sight at a young age due to a rare disease, but he didn’t let that stop him. He became a talented painter, using bright colors and swirling patterns to show the way he sees the world. He was also a skilled runner, even competing in the Paralympics. His story inspired us to think about abilities in a new way.
Over the next few weeks, along with our chapter book, we will explore the world of our senses—especially sight. We’ll learn about blindness, what it means, how it impacts lives, and what we can do to help. It will be a meaningful and eye-opening experience for all of us!
I hope you had a fun weekend and a great start to the new week!
The past two weeks have been full of fun and learning! We have been busy reading and writing every day. We are almost finished with our Zoey and Sassafras book. After reading a chapter, the students write a summary in their journals and draw a picture to match. They are doing an awesome job writing and retelling the story on their own. Zoey also taught us how to do experiments. We learned to ask a question, make a guess (hypothesis), test our guess, watch and write down what happens, and decide what we learned.
We learned many new things in science! We talked about animals and the differences between mammals and reptiles. Mammals are warm-blooded and have live babies, but reptiles are cold-blooded and hatch from eggs. We also talked about what animals eat. Some are herbivores (eat plants), some are carnivores (eat meat), and some are omnivores (eat both).
With the cold weather we read The Story of Snow and learned about snow crystals and how they form. A snow crystal starts with a tiny speck of ash, dust, or pollen in a cloud. Cold water sticks to it and freezes into a crystal. Snow crystals always have six sides because of how water freezes. No two snow crystals are exactly the same, but they all grow in special ways until they fall from the cloud. We made our own snow crystals by mixing borax with hot water. We used pipe cleaners to make shapes, and the next day, we saw beautiful crystals had formed.
Another experiment we did was making color-changing playdough. We mixed in a special powder called thermochromatic pigment. It changes color when it gets warm or cold. The children loved watching the playdough change colors with their hands.
In art, we learned about a famous artist named Vincent van Gogh. He used bright colors and thick paint to show his feelings in his art. We looked at two of his famous paintings, The Starry Night and Sunflowers. The children worked hard to make their own versions, and they turned out amazing!
The rest of our time was spent building with LEGO, making marble mazes, and working on complex electric circuits. They had fun in our pretend doctor’s office, taking care of baby dolls and working together as a team.
Even though we could not go outside every day, we enjoyed the fresh air and the little bit of snow when we could.
Thank you for all your support! I hope you had a great weekend. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Welcome to 2025! We were happy to welcome back Ayaan, who shared wonderful stories from his trip to India. He showed us some incredible pictures he made in his journal during his adventures—it was such a treat to learn about his experiences!
We started the year with a new chapter book, Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro. This engaging series combines science, magic, and problem-solving, making it a perfect choice for our curious group. Each morning, we read a chapter together, and the students use their journals to illustrate and summarize what happened. Journaling helps them develop comprehension, vocabulary, all while encouraging them to express their thoughts creatively.
For our morning meeting this year, we started using our compliment jar. After discussing what a compliment is and ways we can give one, each student’s name was written on a wooden chip. During morning meeting, the students sit in a circle, take a chip, and give that student a compliment. I’m so proud of how well they’ve taken to this activity and how independently they manage it each day. It’s heartwarming to see the attention they pay to one another, whether complimenting someone’s building skills, their artwork, or even their fast shoes!
In math, we’ve been exploring the concept of time! We discussed how many months are in a year, how weeks and days work, and we even began a countdown to the first day of spring. Be sure to ask your child how many days are left!
Our classroom has been buzzing with engineering experiments! The students have been designing and building bowling alleys, testing different ramps to see how they affect the speed of the ball. Learning about ramps introduces concepts like gravity, force, and motion, all while encouraging teamwork and problem-solving.
Nature has been our playground this week! Early in the week, we discovered fascinating patterns in ice. We brought pieces inside—some large, some small—and observed how long they took to melt. These hands-on activities help the children develop observation skills and curiosity about the natural world.
Later in the week, we finally got to enjoy some snow! While building snowmen proved challenging, it sparked a conversation about different types of snow and how each snowflake is unique. The students also showcased their creativity and engineering skills by constructing a “snow machine”! They used a ramp (a small slide) to load snow into a wheelbarrow, working together and problem-solving along the way.
I’m so proud of the curiosity, collaboration, and creativity your children bring to every activity. I can’t wait to see where our next adventures take us!
Thank you for your continued support, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.
These last two weeks, our classroom has been transformed into a bustling workshop! A few months ago, I purchased a “kid safe cardboard table saw” from a startup company, Chompsaw, and it finally arrived two weeks ago. Since then, we’ve been busy putting it to good use!
They can now cut cardboard on their own, and they’ve been making Christmas trees, snowmen, trains, and so much more. It’s amazing to see how proud and confident they feel when they create something new all by themselves.
We’ve also been exploring Christmas traditions from around the world. In Italy, there is an old witch named La Befana who brings gifts to children on January 6th. In Spain, a funny and mischievous character called “El Caganer” shows up during Christmas celebrations (ask your child to explain what it does!). In Mexico, families use a special sphere piñata as part of their holiday fun. Here in the United States, families celebrate in different ways—some decorate their homes and have natural Christmas trees, while others use artificial trees. But one thing that’s the same in all countries is that families come together to share a big feast and enjoy special time with each other.
We also celebrated two birthdays—Kaya and Hana! We had so much fun making their day special. Happy Birthday to both of you, and may all your wishes come true! 🎂🎉
To prepare for the holidays, we’ve been reading lots of books and making crafts. One of our favorite activities this week was learning how to make new paper! Instead of throwing away spare pieces of paper, we used them to create fresh, homemade paper. It was such a busy and exciting day, and the children loved learning about how paper is made.
I’m so excited to see all of you at the Holiday Show next Wednesday. The children are working hard and can’t wait to perform for you. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
This week, we learned about the Navajo Tribe. The Navajo are one of the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. They are known for their strong traditions, beautiful artwork, and love for the land. They are especially famous for their weaving and the amazing rugs they make, which tell stories and show their respect for nature.
We also read The Goat in the Rug, a delightful story about a Navajo weaver named Glenmae and her goat, Geraldine. The story is told from Geraldine’s perspective as she describes the step-by-step process of how she becomes part of Glenmae’s woven rug. It helped us learn about the traditional techniques of Navajo weaving and the hard work and creativity involved. After reading, we started weaving our own rugs. The children worked hard and it took most of the week, but their rugs turned out wonderful.
On Thursday, we had our first snowfall of the year. It was a magical day and we enjoyed playing and exploring in the snow.
On Friday, we read Fry Bread, a story about how fry bread is an important part of Native American culture. It represents family, community, and history, bringing people together. Fry bread is more than just food—it tells the story of resilience and togetherness.
We also learned how many cultures around the world have their own versions of fry bread, like mekitsi in Bulgaria, bhatura in India, gogosi in Romania, shrak in Jordan, uštipci in Croatia and Bosnia, tiganopsomo in Greece, and borsok in Kyrgyzstan. This shows how food connects us all, no matter where we come from.
After reading the book, we made and tasted our own fry bread. It was a fun and delicious way to learn about the importance of food in bringing people and cultures together as well of the importance of history!
Wishing you a wonderful break and a joyful Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for the opportunity to get to know your children and learn alongside them this year.
We started learning about Native Americans by reading about Sitting Bull. Each day, we read a little about his life and wrote in our journals about what we learned. Sitting Bull was part of the Sioux tribe. When he was born, his name was Jumping Badger. Later, he was called Slow because he took his time before answering questions or accepting gifts, when he got older and own his first fight his father gave him his own name, Sitting Bull. He was a brave warrior who helped others. When he was young, he gave food to families in need, and as he grew older, he fought for the rights of Native Americans.
The Sioux tribe hunted buffalo and used every part of the animal. They used the skin to make blankets and cover their teepees, the meat for food, the horns to make cups and tools, and even the tendons to make bows.
Last week, the students had a fun challenge to build their own teepees. After talking about the shape of a teepee and what we needed to make one, we went outside to collect sticks. In the classroom, the students used clay, yarn, and paper to build their teepees. They worked hard, shared ideas, and fixed their teepees when they fell down.
This week, we celebrated two birthdays! Happy birthday to Ayaan and Ioannis—may all your wishes come true!
We also made teepee crafts using popsicle sticks, paper, and watercolors. The students were very creative and made beautiful teepees. We talked about shapes again and the difference between flat (2D) and solid (3D) shapes.
On Friday, we played a coding game. The students made simple codes to help a friend move through a maze. It was exciting and kept everyone busy and happy all morning!
Over the past two weeks, we reviewed what we have learned so far. We practiced our letters, sounds, the Secret Stories, and numbers, we painted and build with cardboard. We are also getting ready for the winter program. The students already know most of the words to our song and are doing a great job singing.
Last week, we kicked off by asking the question, “What is circumference?” (It’s the distance all the way around a circle or round object, like our pumpkin). After talking about what circumference means, we estimated the circumference of our large classroom pumpkin. Each student observed the pumpkin closely, with some turning it around and others giving it a big hug, imagining the distance around it before cutting a piece of yarn to match their guess. When we wrapped each piece around the pumpkin, two students estimated correctly! Some of us were a bit short, while others had yarn that wrapped around three times. We learned that our pumpkin’s circumference was 37 inches—much bigger than we expected!
Our next estimation challenge was to predict how many golf tees we’d need to go all the way around the pumpkin’s circumference. Safety goggles on, we began hammering, counting each tee as we went along. The students’ teamwork and focus were impressive, and after lots of counting, we discovered we needed exactly 70 golf tees.
Once we’d finished, we opened the pumpkin and examined each part—the skin (the tough outside layer), the flesh (the soft inside), the guts (the stringy fibers), and the seeds. We dried the seeds and made a final estimation about how many were inside. Students guessed anywhere from 18 to 3001, but one student nailed it: there were 300 seeds! To double-check, we grouped and counted them by 2s and then by 5s, adding some math practice to our pumpkin fun.
Later, we dove into a new question: “Do you like apple pie? But can you make one from scratch?” We sure can! On Wednesday, we made our own butter to use in our pies. Each student shook a small jar of cream until it thickened, building hand strength and patience with each shake. Thursday, we tackled the pie crust using flour, a pinch of salt, our homemade butter, and ice-cold water. On Friday, we put everything together using apple filling made with apples, sugar, and cinnamon. Students made their pies, and we baked them together. Baking apple pie is a great way to see chemistry in action! When we bake, the sugar in apples changes to make them sweeter and more golden. The butter and flour work together to form a flaky crust, while water helps hold everything together. Cinnamon also releases its flavor as it heats up. All these changes are caused by heat, turning simple ingredients into a delicious pie. The taste test was a huge hit, with some students saying it the best dessert they’d ever had!
This week brought us the joy of celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights, which celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. We crafted our own diyas (small oil lamps) and then crushed chalk to make colorful rangoli art. On Wednesday, one student brought in a book on Diwali and a rangoli puzzle, which everyone enjoyed piecing together in turns.
Thursday was full of festive fun. We started by lighting our diyas to welcome light and positivity into our classroom, then joined Ms. Melissa’s class for a special theater reading. The students in Ms. Melissa’s class did an incredible job, and we all enjoyed their performance.
When we returned to our classroom, we found a whole spooky setup waiting for us! We had a graveyard dig area, witches’ potions to mix, and creepy slime to explore. Creating potions with baking soda was exciting for the kids, letting them see fizzing reactions up close and building curiosity about cause and effect. Our creepy slime was just right for helping kids explore their senses, and digging in our graveyard helped build fine motor skills and a sense of adventure.
We ended our fun-filled day with the school costume parade! It was wonderful to see everyone showing off their creative costumes and celebrating together.
