Nature Week

Dear Parents,

We learned all about nature for the last two weeks. The children used magnifiying glasses to look at nature's treasures at our science table.  They looked at pine cones, acorns, nests, birds, leaves, and several other items from the outside, The children also enjoyed listening to stories about trees, leaves, birds, and about the changing seasons.

We learned all about birds and what "Makes a Bird a Bird? Feathers!" Some of the facts we learned were:

• Birds are the only creatures with feathers.
• Birds use grass and twigs to build their nests. 
• Birds lay eggs in their nests.
• Most birds are able to fly.
• All birds have feathers and wings, 
• Ostriches and penguins are birds that can not fly.
• Birds have claws and beaks.
• Birds' diet consists of fruit, nuts, and seeds.

After our discussion about birds, we created our own birds and bird houses.  The children first painted coffee boxes and then added a roof on top of their house using felt.  The children glued leaves to the roof and decorated the rest of the house with various flower stickers. We added a perch to the house.  Finally, the children made a bird by adding eyes, a pipe cleaner beak and colorful feathers. They were so excited about the project that they did not want to stop.  They just kept adding more and more feathers to their birds.  The children were so funny.  One of their comments was, "Is this bird real?" I guess after that comment, what could I do but bring a real bird into class.

Geddy, my parrot, visited the school on Wednesday.  Of course, one of the questions the children again asked was, "Is that bird real?" I finally could say "Yes".  We then had a discussion about what makes people and animals alive such as, they breathe, eat, and sleep.

I am not sure who enjoyed the visit more, Geddy, or the children. The children were so excited with the bird.  They laughed at everything the bird said.  He loved performing for the children as well.  Some of the words Geddy said were:" Hi Geddy, come here, what a good bird, hello, peek-a-boo, and byeeee." He also meowed and barked.

We celebrated Nina's fourth birthday this week.  Thank you to her family for the delicious treats!  Also, a special thank you to her Savta and Saba for joining us and reading us a story.

The children did a great job in music this week with Lisa.

They played the name game and they worked on the proper violin hold.  Some of the new Halloween songs they learned were: "Halloween is here," Here we go spooky loo,"and "Creeping, creeping."

Our cooking project for the week was baking pumpkin bread (Nidhi's favorite). While eating the bread, Nidhi said to one of the children, "Isn't this bread awesome!" The children all agreed with her. Thank you  Roshini (Nidhi's mother) for the great recipe. Cooking is such a great learning experience for the children, as well as a fun one. 

Reminders:

~Please dress your child in layers.  The weather is unpredictable      and it tends to get cold in the play ground.

~Parent Conferences will be on Tuesday, November 4th.  Signup  Sheets will be posted in the classroom next week.

~Harvest Fair on Sunday, October 19th  from 11:00am - 4:00pm held at  the Newton Center Green.

Love,

Ms. Bonne and Ms. Barbara