Move it outside Monday

 

Today in Birch Room we took our learning outside! 

We explored the question "What do you look like?" 

If you look in the mirror what do you notice about yourself? 

"I'm making a mouth and nose for my face." CW

You made a mouth and nose, what else do you notice? "I can add arms!" CW 

You looked in the mirror and noticed you could add arms, I wonder what materials we can use to make arms? 

"I'm pretending I'm sad!" MS

     

You explored in the sand by using seashells and different animals. 

How can we use these materials together?

"I'm using a seashell as a shovel." JW

You found the biggest seashell and used it to move the sand from one place to another!

 

What do you see? 

"This thing is a seed."

"Maybe the seeds are INSIDE this thing."

"It reminds me of the flower and seed I seen before."

You're using the magnifying glass to look at different things outside.

What did you find in the dirt? 

"I found bugs, rocks, and roots!" AP

  

What words of kindness can we collect?

What words feel kind?

What do you like to hear from someone?

What words make you smile?

"You can help someone." RR

"Help" is a word that is kind.

"You can say I love you." LB

"Thank you is kind!" JA

"If I give you a TV that would be kind." PS

Hmmm...I don't really watch TV so that doesn't feel kind to me.

"How about if I give you a book!?" PS

"Yes!  You listened to my words and noticed what I said.  'Listening' is kind!"

It was a warm and sunny day spent outside learning!

 I wonder what we'll explore outside next time... 

Dirt Factory!

Do you know what happens at the Dirt Factory?

You make dirt of course.

Do you know how to make dirt?

Well, you dig it from the hole!

Welcome to the Birch Room Dirt Factory, where dirt is made and dug then transported to people who need it. Here at the Dirt Factory, everyone has an important job to do. We have a digger, an excavator, a skid steer, and a semi-hauler. The job cannot be done without each team member. When our semi-hauler got a new route delivering wood chips to the lake (sensory tub) our excavator quickly stepped in to do the job! No job is too big, no worker is too small. 

We are even conscious about the natural habitats we excavate, relocating any wildlife whose home has been affected. 

So, if you are looking for the dirt - WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!

If you are looking to work in a highly fulfilling, team focused environment - LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE DIRT FACTORY!

Be kind. Be well. Happy weekend.

Learning with Kindness

We continued digging deep into our study of kindness and all they ways we can learn about kindness in the Birch Room. 

We observed, drew and discussed "who does the forest care for?"

Owls, the overwhelming answer is owls. The forest gives the owls a home, keeps them warm, and make them a place to live. 

I wonder, are there any other living things that the forest cares for?

Trees! "When we leave the forest the trees are lonely, but the trees take care of each other like a community." SyS

And we cannot forget about Christmas trees, the forests give us all types of trees. EH was so excited to tell us all about how her Christmas tree began growing in a forest full of other Christmas trees. Then they left to make people feel happy. 

It was a HUGE challenge to build a structure together. HW had a vision, he knew exactly what construction truck he wanted to build. After listening to so many ideas, the whole table was able to agree on what to build. HW took the lead and helped his friends build a strong crane! It was tough to wait, it was tough to listen, it was tough to take turns. AND we did it. We built a colorful structure by taking turns, sharing, and working together. 

What words feel kind?

LT you sat down and began spelling your name...and then your friend's names.  I can tell you are thinking about your friends and playing together.

What kind words can you say to a friend?

"I love you!" LT

Those are some of the kindest words we can say to someone.

We were having a tricky time figuring out what letters we needed to spell such an important word.  What can we do?

"Write it down!" LT

We thought about words we like to hear.

We thought about words that make us smile.

We thought about words that make OTHERS smile.

Kindness is all around us.

It is in our community.

It is in our classroom

It is in US!

Outdoor Caper Day

What can we accomplish when we take our capers outside? 

We are taking FULL advantage of the change in weather. Funny to think just a few days ago our community was covered in snow and ice. 

During our caper time with Sycamore, we explored words that feel kind.

JI, you looked through our kindness book and found words that felt kind to you.

SG, you found all of the "S's" for your name.  Using a friends name is a kind way to play!

PS you noticed the word "LOVE" on our mirror and you added "YOU".  Saying "I love you is one of the kindest things to say!

"Community means you help each other." PS

LB rolled a colorful cube and built only using the color he rolled. It was tricky to find ways to stick together!

SG worked to find all the letters in her name. She then worked with C from Sycamore to find all the letters in alphabet. 

Can you say your ABCs?!

What letters can you find?

What words can you spell?

JI, GC, and MS worked to find every single ball. They built a dam to block the balls. "Don't let any balls go through!"

What happens when all the balls fill up the tube?!

CW, LT, ET, you worked together to build a class full of animals! 

"They're sitting on the stump like we do in class!" LT

I wonder what we can teach our animals in class?