May 9th, 2013

The Ginkgo children have had a very busy few weeks learning about the five food groups and healthy eating.  As an end to our unit on food, we took a field trip to Minerva's Pizza in Wayland Square.  The children learned about the ingredients that go into making pizza dough and tomato sauce.  The children then made individual pizzas to enjoy.  Thank you to our parent chaperons who helped us walk to and from Wayland Square.  

The zoo came to visit and brought along nocturnal animals.  The zoo representatives discussed and helped us experiment with our 5 senses.  By doing so, the children were better able to understand how nocturnal animals find their way around at night. 

We recently had a discussion with the children about how they would like to end our school year together.  We have decided upon a "graduation".  The children have been thinking about what they would like to do when they grow up.  We are currently researching information with the children about their career chooses. 

Ask your child...

• What animals did the zoo bring to share?
• What does nocturnal mean?
• What senses do bats use to get around at night?
• What are whiskers for on animals?
  
• Did your child enjoy the cowboy caviar made with avocados?
• What flavor popsicle did he/she have?
• What does your child like on his/her pizza?
• What is in ketchup that is not in tomato sauce?
• What is the pizza shop owners name?
• What is the name of the pizza shop?
• Did your child enjoy the pizza?
• What did your child draw in the outdoor classroom?
• What does your child want to be when she/he grows up?
• Where is the robin's nest?
  

Looking forward to...

• Making graduation caps from our pizza boxes
• Watching the robin in its nest
• Waiting for the robin's eggs to hatch
• Learning about our "future careers"
• Writing thank you notes to Minerva's Pizza
• Planning our end of year party
• making ice cream

Reminders...

• Thursday, May 16th at 3pm is the celebration for the outdoor classroom. Enjoy ice cream in our outdoor space while looking at documentation of how we have been using this wonderful classroom.
• May 23rd from 3-6 is our all school BBQ on the Dwight house lawn. 
  

 

 

April 19th, 2013

We started a new unit of study revolving around nutrition and healthy eating.  This week we concentrated on vegetables.  The children brought in a variety of vegetables to draw, discuss, taste and graph.  Everyone proved to be very brave and tried things they have never tasted before.  Some even discovered that they enjoyed these new tastes!  Next week is fruit week. 

We have introduced two math games that the children really enjoy.  The first game is a board game called Sequence.  The children need to be strategic about the cards they have and where they place chips on the board to get four in a row.  The second game is a counting game called Honey Pot.  They roll a dice and place bears on numbered honey pots.  The object of the game is to collected the most honey pots.  

Ask your child...

• Sharing the Hedgie books with their buddies.
• Celebrating Violetta's birthday in Silent Meeting
• Continuing work in the veterinarians office
• What is a green light food?
• What vegetables did your child taste raw?
• What vegetables did your child taste cooked?
• What vegetables did your child like? Dislike?
• How many servings of fruits and vegetables should a person have everyday?
• What are we planting?
• What science experiment did we do with celery?
• What happened to the celery?
• Categorizing items from their lunch boxes into the five food groups
• Eating lunch with the kindergarten class and Ms. Stevens
  

Looking forward to...

• Talking about and tasting fruits.
• Stringing patterns
• Making and tasting smoothies
• Making and tasting guacamole
• Experiencing the remaining food groups (dairy, grains, proteins)
  

Reminders...

• Tuesday, April 23rd, your children will be enjoying pancakes at our annual all school pancake breakfast. 
• Next Friday, April 26th, is Grandparents and Special Friends day.  Please remember there will be an 11:45 dismissal and no extended day activities.
• Monday, April 29th is the LSPA used uniform sale in the Chatterton Living Room from 7:30-9:30. 
  

March 28th, 2013

Before March break, the ginkgo children worked hard to illustrate their books for publication.  The idea of the stories came about after Hedgie escaped from the mini studio table and appeared at the rug during our meeting time.  This lead to the children telling stories of what they think Hedgie does at night and what he would do if he really escaped.  These stories were written down and then the children divided up their stories by page for illustration.

With thoughts of Hedgie, the children baked a large hedgehog sugar cookie for snack.  We were alerted to a commotion in the kitchen, and the Hedgie cookie was gone!  All that was left were crumbs on the baking sheet and on overturned chair.  The Hedgie cookie escaped! The children followed clues and notes as to the Hedgie cookie's whereabouts.  The real excitement was upon his return when the children were able to eat the cookie after his big trip around Lincoln. 

Thank you all for joining us in celebrating your children as authors.  We are very proud of the hard work each child put into producing these fabulous stories. 

Ask your child...

• About the story of the Hedgie cookie
• Where did the notes say the Hedgie cookie traveled?
• Did your child enjoy eating the Hedgie cookie?
• Did your child try the Dulce De Leche?
• Who was our special reader?
• What animal did he read about?
• Monkey Bread
• What has changed about signing in?

Looking forward to...

• Sharing our stories with our fourth grade buddies
• Making blueberry french toast
• Creating designs with paper strips
• Creating puppets for the Three Billy Goats Gruff story
• Inviting Kindergarten to have lunch with us
• Learning our addresses
• Mapping from home to school
• Drawing our homes

February 22nd, 2013

The blizzard brought lots of excitement for the children.  We have been enjoying playing in the snow and even made chocolate chip ice cream with it. 

The children had a wonderful Valentine's Day at school.  We exchanged Valentines, had our used book exchange, ate delicious goodies and went to see the 1st and 2nd grade Valentine Sing.  What a fantastic day!

The children have been practicing their own stage presence by acting out The Three Billy Goats Gruff and The Three Little Pigs.  We view all parts as important, whether you are narrating, acting, or being a part of the audience. 

Ask your child...

• What ingredients went into making ice cream?
• Did they enjoy the Valentine book exchange?
• What part has your child been in our readers theater?
  
• What color did your child paint his/her hedgehog?
• Did your child start illustrating his/her hedgehog adventure book?
• Did your child like the grilled cheese?
• Ask your child what colors he/she used to make a color pattern.
• What did Nathanael's mom read to the group?

Looking forward to...

• Continuing our illustrations for the Hedgehog Adventure books
• Adding prickles to our hedgehogs
• Practicing more with readers theater
• Practicing more with lower case letters
• Having an author's breakfast to share the Hedgehog Adventure books

 

February 8th, 2013

We had a visit from Annabel's father, Dr. Herzlinger, who is a pediatrician.  He shared information with the children about going to the doctor, whether you are going for a healthy check up or for a sick visit.  The children were able to look at and use some of the real doctor tools.  Dr. Herzlinger gave the class a stethoscope, measuring tapes and real doctor coats to use in our pretend area.  

Following the wonderful Starry, Starry Night event, the Ginkgo children have been experimenting with light in our classroom.  A sheet has been put up in the cozy corner and a projector is being used to shine light onto it.  The children have enjoyed acting out behind the shadow screen for the audience.  

Ask your child...

• What book did Lola's mom read to the class?
• How did we make crystals?
• Did they all work?
• How do we play Bank It with the dice and stones?
• Eating a picnic lunch with Kindergarten
• Did your child enjoy eating waffles?
• Celebrating Lola's birthday in Silent Meeting
• How are we making Hedgie with balloons?
• How did we decorate the doctors coats?
• What are some of the things children act out behind the shadow screen?

January 18th, 2013

Happy New Year!  We have jumped back into our routines and have continued with our self portrait masks.  The children have finished adding hair and eyes to their masks and are currently working on mouths.  To go along with the masks, we asked the children to tell us something about each classmate for our game, "Who could it be?"  You will find the masks hung on our back wall.  You must read the facts below each mask to find your child.  

Hedgie is much more comfortable in our classroom community.  Hedgie spent some time on the mini studio table, while the children observed him and drew him.  While watching Hedgie, we discussed what we think Hedgie does at night.  This conversation inspired the children to start writing Hedgie stories.

Ask your child...

• What did we look at under the microscope?
• How did the children get pieces of crystals off of the large rock?
• What did the children wear to protect their eyes?
  
• What is inside of Hedgie's quills?
• When does Hedgie sleep?
• What is it called when an animal sleeps during the day?
• What does your child think Hedgie does at night?
  
• Who was our guest reader and what did he read?
• What are we adding to our masks?
• What did we add to the faux snow?

Looking forward to...

• Writing stories about Hedgie
• Painting our mouths for the self portrait masks
• Making popcorn balls
• Making paper mache hedgehogs
• Creating story boxes
• Making puppets for the story boxes

Reminders...

• Please RSVP for the Starry, Starry Night event.  It will take place in Lower School on Friday, February 1st from 5:30pm-7.  It should be a fun filled event for the family involving activities of light and the night sky.  Pizza will be served.
• Please be sure to send in snowpants, boots, hats and mittens.  We try to go outside everyday.  Thanks!
  

December 20th, 2012

Two third grade students came into our classroom to teach us about the water cycle.  The third graders used boiling water and mirrors to show us how water changes to vapor and rises.  When the vapor hits the mirrors it then forms water droplets and falls back down representing precipitation.  The ginkgo children were very engaged having older students teaching them this information. 

The Lower School students were entertained and engaged with a fabulous story teller for Morgan Stone Day.  In the classroom, we have been reading books by Jan Brett. We have acted out The Mitten and also used felt pieces to retell this story.  Before break we read The Gingerbread Baby and decorated our own gingerbread shaped cookies to enjoy. 

Ask your child...

• What colors did we mix for her/his mask?
• How do we play the dice race game?
• Did your child write a word in his/her journal?
• How are we monitoring our weather station?
• What can we learn by looking at the weather station?
• What stories did the story teller share?
• What book did Emily's dad read?
• Who's birthday did we celebrate in silent meeting?
• What are we measuring in our classroom?
• What is a neighbor at naptime?
• What kind of cookie did we decorate?
• What book did we read before decorating cookies?
• What kinds of clouds did we learn about?
• How does the water cycle work?
  

Looking forward to...

• Drawing trees in winter
• Finishing our self portrait masks
• Continuing to monitor the weather with our weather station
• Learning about snowflakes
• Making pretend snow
• Experimenting with real and pretend snow
• Doing an experiment with the water cycle
  

December 7th, 2012

The Ginkgo children have been honing in on the actor within by acting out simple nursery rhymes.  The children chose props from simple items found around the classroom.  Everyone had a turn with acting, narrating and being an audience member.  They have also been acting out stories in library with Mrs. Lennihan. 

We have a new weather station that will be set up outside for our meteorologist to give a full weather report.  It will keep track of temperature, wind speed and precipitation.  We have also noticed more bird activity outside of our windows with the trees now bare of leaves. 

Ask your child...

• How did we make chocolate croissants?
• Is Hedgie feeling more comfortable in our classroom?
• What does a meteorologist do?
• What does our weather station tell us?
• Who helped clean Hedgie's cage?
• What does Hedgie do when he is scared?
• What did we make out of clay?
• Who's birthday did we celebrate in Silent Meeting?
• Learning about Beatrice Potter in Studio
• Drawing a Hedgehog in Studio
• Drawing and writing about your child's favorite weather.
  

Looking forward to...

• Using our new weather station
• Acting out more stories
• Watching birds in winter
• Making our clay beads into necklaces and bracelets
• Learning more about hedgehogs
  

Reminders...

• The Angels Among Us box is outside of our classroom door.  Please place the items in the box by December 14th. 
• Need childcare?  The Winter Workshop Day is Friday, December 21st from 8-3:30. There is no school on that day.  Please see Mrs. Donnelly for details.
  
• The All School Holiday Concert is Wednesday, December 12th at 5:30. 
• Lumina is December 20th at 1:30 in the Boss-McLoughlin Gym.  We do not attend this event as a class.  You are welcome to pick up your child from the classroom and attend the event.  Please sign your child out for the day with Mrs. Donnelly.  
• Please look under the Lower School News and Calendars for information and details to upcoming events. 

 

November 30th, 2012

We celebrated with our lower school community by taking part in the Thanksgiving Feast.  The Ginkgo children sat and dined with their fourth grade buddies, while enjoying conversation and friendship. 

We welcomed a new member to the Ginkgo room this week, Hedgie the hedgehog.  He is a prickly critter, yet very interesting for the children to watch and learn about.  The children have learned that it takes much patience to see Hedgie's face and body.  Hedgie is a nocturnal animal and is very shy.  Some of the children have been brave enough to touch Hedgie. 

Recipe of the week: Pumpkin Cake 

www.fodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-bars-recipe/index.html

Ask your child...

• What are we making with the plastic jugs?
• Why are we covering the jugs with cast material?
• Did your child enjoy the pumpkin cake?
• Who's birthday did we celebrate in silent meeting?
• What outside games did we play with our 4th grade buddies?
• How does Hedgie protect himself from predators?
• What does Hedgie eat?
• Who is Tristen and what does she need?
• Why are we helping Tristen get the things that she needs?
  

Looking forward to...

• Learning more about Hedgie
• Making our own Hedgie the Hedgehog 
• Learning about different kinds of clouds
• Learning about the water cycle
• Science experiments with the water cycle

Reminders...

• Please see our posting outside of our classroom regarding the Angels Among Us Service project. 
• Need childcare?  The Winter Workshop Day is Friday, December 21st from 8-3:30. There is no school on that day. 
• The All School Holiday Concert is Wednesday, December 12th at 5:30. 
• Please look under the Lower School News and Calendars for information and details to upcoming events. 

 

November 16th, 2012

The children decorated a tablecloth that will be used for the Thanksgiving feast on Tuesday.  We will be sitting with our fourth grade buddies as we celebrate together as a lower school community.  Space may be tight, but parents are welcome to bring their lunches and celebrate with us. 

As we delve into a study of weather, the children painted a large box to be our weather station.  The calendar helper will be the daily meteorologist for the day and forecast the weather to the class from the weather station.  We have also introduced "commercial breaks" as a way for children to share special thoughts or items from home. 

Click here for photos

Ask your child...

• Who was our special guest reader and what did she read?
• What ingredients were used to make cornbread?
• What colors were used to paint the weather station?
• Has your child had a turn forecasting the weather?
• What special job does the pitch hitter have with regards to the weather forecast?
• What projects did the children make after reading Tillie and the Wall?
• How can the mice get to the other side of the wall? 
• What did we make with our fourth grade buddies?

Looking forward to...

• The Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday
• Adding to our weather station
• Learning about different kinds of clouds
  
• Learning about the water cycle
• Science experiments with the water cycle

Reminders...

• Tuesday, November 20th at 11am, is the Thanksgiving assembly followed by our lower school community feast at 11:45.  Parents are welcome. 
  
• Saturday, December 1st from 9-12, is the Lower School gift fair. 
  

November 2nd, 2012

The children had a fun Black and Orange day.  Thank you to everyone for providing such wonderful treats.  The RIC students joined us for the morning and played Spooky Simon Says, mixed colors to make orange and had the children use their senses to enjoy some orange foods. 

During our morning meeting, the calendar helper reports the weather.  We did a special weather report on Friday to give everyone a chance to report about their experience with Hurricane Sandy.  We are glad to hear that everyone faired well in the storm.   

Ask your child...

• What kind of vehicle is your child making?
• Did he/she report about the storm?
• How do you play the Madeline game?
• What did we do on Black and Orange day?
• What kind of black and orange treats did we eat?
• Making masks
• Watercolor wrapping paper
• What two colors make orange when mixed together?
• What two colors make green when mixed together?
• What is visiting a neighbor at rest time?
• What is spooky Simon Says?
  

Looking ahead...

• Finishing our vehicles
• Wrapping our symbol tiles
• Making a weather reporting station
• Making masks from milk containers
• Tree rubbings and leaf weaving
• Cooking with apples

Reminders...

• We are still collecting items for the RI Community Food Bank.  You can place these items at the sign by Mrs. Donnelly's desk.
  
• The Sing Away Hunger Concert with Bill Harley and Keith Munslow is Saturday, November 17th. Two Shows: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Music Center.
  
• There is still time to sign up for the Fall/Winter afterschool enrichment programs.  Please see Carole Donnelly if you need an enrollment form or more information.  
• We do not have school Monday, November 12th.

 

October 19th, 2012

We welcomed four education students from RIC into our classroom.  They will be working with us for the next 3 Wednesdays.  Each week, they will do a read aloud with the children and present two connected activities.  The children were very curious and excited to work with the students. 

We read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud and David Messing. The children have been recognizing bucket fillers and putting classmates names in our feelings bucket. 

Ask your child...

• What book did the RIC student read?
• What project did they do after the read aloud?
• Why do leaves change color and fall off the trees?
• What did we do with our 4th grade buddies?
• Who turned 5 this week?
• Making pumpkin cookies
• Who read to the class?
• Is your child learning to tie her/his shoes?
  

Looking ahead...

• Going on a leaf walk
• Making fall trees
• Starting our leaf journals
• Leaf poetry

Reminders...

• Friday, October 26th is parent/teacher conference day. We look forward to sharing your child's accomplishments with you. 
• Wednesday, October 31st is black and orange day.  No Halloween costumes please.

October 5th, 2012

We have been talking about respect in our classroom this week.  The children previously made a list about ways to respect others and the classroom environment.  This week we met with specific examples that have been observed with friends.  The teachers would act out a scene and then the children would tell their observations and give solutions of how to solve the problem respectfully.  We discussed how we can not assume that we know what the other person is feeling.  Asking questions and using a kind voice with kind words goes a long way. 

Ask your child about...

• Graphing names
• What ingredients were used to make apple crisp?
• What did everyone taste when making apple crisp?
• Did your child finish her/his symbol tiles?
• Respect
• How do you tell someone to stop doing something in a respectful way?
• What does the Oak Room have in their classroom?
• What color paints did she/he mix?
  

Looking forward to...

• Looking at leaves
• Figuring out why they change color and fall off the tree
• Writing a classroom book about respect
• Mixing colors

Reminders...

• The Book Festival is next weekend.  Please join us!    http://www.lincolnschool.org/page.cfm?p=2427
• Lower School Parent-Teacher Conference Day is Friday, October 26.  Please make an appointment with Carole Donnelly.  
  

September 21st, 2012

We introduced journal writing this week.  The children were able to draw about their weekend as we helped to write their words. Once the children get comfortable with the routine of journaling, they will be able to write in it daily.  

We had a surprise encounter with a Yellow Warbler on the playground.  The bird flew into the window and stunned itself.  As we attempted to carefully move the bird to a safer area, it decided it was ready to fly and landed on Ms. Devlin.  She was a great sport with it and proved that There's A Bird On Your Head is not just a book. 

Ask your child...

• What is in the touch table?
• What is the bottle used for during meeting?
• What job has your child had this week?
• What kind of oatmeal did we make?
• Who's birthday did we celebrate?
• What landed on Ms. Devlin?
• What does respect mean?
  

Looking forward to...

• Finding out what the children's hopes and dreams are for the year
• Adding paints to the easel
• Reading our favorite books
• Drawing a beastie

This week's recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup old fashioned oats

in a small saucepan, combine first five ingredients.  Bring to a gentle boil and stir in oatmeal.  Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until oatmeal is soft and creamy. 

 

September 7th, 2012

We have had a wonderful start to the new school year.  The children were excited to greet each other and get reacquainted, while meeting and including a new classmate into the community.  

We start every school year with exploring the classroom and learning new routines and classroom rules that work for the group.  Every child should have brought in a box with her/his special nature items and photos.  We are hoping to have everyone share these items with the group by next week.

Please check your child's backpack for the Silent Meeting schedule.  Let us know if you have not received one.  Check out the photos portion of our website to see your children in action!

Ask your child...

• How many children are in the Ginkgo Room?
• What do we do at meeting?
• What do we do when the lights go off?
• Did your child go to music?
• Did your child go to library?
• Is your child a blueberry or green grape?
• What is the guard dog game?
• We shapes did we paint?
• What did we do with Senora?
  

Looking forward to...

• Starting jobs
• Drawing our items from nature
• Making our classroom rules
  
• Going to PE
• Starting Studio with Ms. Calenda

Reminders...

• Our first Studio Silent Meeting is Friday, September 14th at 8:30.  Families are welcome!
• Please send in Sneakers if you have not done so already.  PE is Wednesday and Thursday.
• Please send in your child's special box if you have not done so already.