Fabulous February!

Greetings Swallows and families! It is just after noon on Sunday, and the mix of sun and heavy clouds are casting the most captivating shadows on the hillsides making it near impossible to keep my gaze and attention on the computer. Ah, so this is Spring fever… Clouds….birds chirping…must… share…..news…. oh, dancing clouds……

Greetings Swallows and families! It is almost 2:00. Mother Nature’s lightshow continues, and while I still have a peripheral eye toward the window and spring on the horizon, my thoughts are on the Swallow week and sharing it with you.

Let’s recap where we have been….

Buddies:

The Tree Swallows and Merlins have completed their audio book project. The partners have recorded a reading of their chosen book and created several supplementary activities (coloring pages, maxes, word search and retelling props) to donate to local pre-school (Adelante Muheres). We are talking about a plan to deliver the packets soon.

Storyline:

A character, Ely Earthworm, is interested in opening a café in the backyard. He has petitioned his neighbors to help create a menu that will interest and satisfy every backyard critter. After acquiring some background knowledge about insect mouthparts (form and function) and the relationship to diet through a hands-on lab, students were given the task of creating a menu item for The Critter Café. The Swallows researched diet and mouthpart for their chosen insect or insect neighbor. We brainstormed “mouthwatering” words and are in the process of creating descriptions of a menu item that incorporates known facts and imagination. Swallows are also creating clay representations of their entrée, dessert or side dish. Feeling Famished?

Ash Street:

We continue to build our sense of stewardship with the local wetlands we have dubbed, “Ash Street Field.” We have spent the last couple Wednesday’s getting to know this place more deeply, through observational journaling, sensory activities and open explore. Last week, our budding entomologists explored the field for critters. With an eye toward insect identification (six legs, 3 body parts, two antenna and sometimes wings), the Swallows recorded did careful data collection. We found mostly worms. Oh, but ask your young scientist about examining a worm up close with the jewelers loop! We will perform this same investigation next each remaining month to compare.

Aye, Matie….Treasure!

We have officially announced our classroom Treasure book! We have decided upon an informational/scrapbook of Nana Cardoon’s. Each Swallow has decided upon a specific topic about Nana’s and our time there, and has begun drafting illustrations and text. We will submit our final version early March and expect published versions back at the beginning of April. Your Swallow should have brought home an order form. Even if you don’t plan to order a copy, please send the signed form (check no and sign) back. This is how we earn a free class copy.