Hearts, Lungs and Skeletons

Dear Parents,

On Monday we had our first family share. Tony, Ravi Raj’s dad, came in to talk to us about hearts. We learned about blood going into and out of our hearts, the sound of our heartbeats, what to eat for a healthy heart, and that our hearts also have to do with our feelings. Someone said, “Love!” We all got to pass around a model of a heart. Afterwards, we read that our hearts are about the size of a fist. Everyone went home with a heart sheet and a heart art project. 

The next day we used our classroom stethoscope to listen to our own hearts. Some said they heard, “Boom boom- boom boom.” Two friends said they heard a growl, and two said they heard beeping. 

On Tuesday we played with bubbles and a red balloon. We took turns using straws to blow paint across paper. During circle, we talked about using our lungs for all of the above. We examined a small skeleton and saw the rib cage that protects our lungs. We felt our bodies to see if we could feel our own rib cages. We played with the red balloon during circle, and again in the big room. There were many squeals of delight. 

Our second yoga class with Tanya went splendidly. We saw everyone sitting quietly on yoga mats. While half the class was posing in yoga, the other half worked their hand muscles using scissors. Open, shut them, open, shut them, we repeated, practicing first with no paper, and then with paper of many colors. 

This week we got our Doctor Kit. Lots of friends have been getting and giving shots. 

Our Halloween Costumes were fun. We carved our pumpkin, and baked and ate the seeds. Most liked them but at least two people said they were yucky!

Have a spoooooky weekend,

Therese

My Five Senses

Dear Parents,

We began our week recalling our five senses that we read about last week. Everyone took turns smelling three boxes and thinking about what was in the box. Friends guessed: cake, strawberries, raspberries, sugar, something yummy, lavender, and food. The boxes were filled with rose petals, cinnamon, and dried fruit. 

The next day we used our taste buds and tasted salt, lemons, ginger, and honey. The children said they tasted yummy, sweet, salty, like pepper, spicy, yucky, like fire, and like diapers. We read The Amazing Body, Gregory the Terrible Eater, and Your Mouth and Nose.

Our first yoga class with Tanya went well. The children showed us some poses when they returned from class. While half the class was in yoga, the other half read The Listening Walk. We closed the book, closed our eyes, and listened. We heard: stomping feet, cars driving by, birdies, yoga class in the big room, and someone said they heard a hurricane. “In Florida!” a friend shouted. 

We did the Feely Box again this week. We used our sense of touch to feel something in the box and guess what it was. Friends guessed paper, a crocodile, something soft, a leaf, and a coconut. 

On Friday we played Duck, Duck, Goose, and everyone got two turns to run and be chased. We all ran in the same direction, mostly. There was some laughter and yelling.

Reminder: Please bring in a 4x6 family photo for our family tree. 

Have a sensory weekend,

Therese