Science Kits coming home on Friday 12/17
This science kit is full of super science fun for our level 2 kiddos and their families. Students can use the green booklets as a guide along with the materials found in their bag to create amazing science projects at home. Remember to encourage your child to “think like a scientist” and have fun exploring! This activity is our gift to you (and of course is optional and does not need to be returned to school).
December 20th-31st: Winter Break, NO SCHOOL
School resumes in the new year on Monday, Jan.3rd- see you in 2022!
Needed in the NEW YEAR: Snack Donations
When level 2 students go out to 2nd recess, they are welcome to bring their water bottle and a snack. There are many kids who need a healthy snack each day, and our classroom supply is once again running out. Thanks to everyone who has donated snacks in 2021!
If you are able, please consider donating a box of individually wrapped snacks to the Puffin nest in the new year.
What works best? Easy-peel Clementine oranges, granola bars or fruit leather make great individually wrapped snacks. We are looking for healthy, low-added-sugar snacks.
Just send your class donation in with your kiddo when they return in January.
Our Puffins thank you!!
Winter is here!
It's imperative that students come to school with warm layers of clothing, warm socks and rain gear (shoes/coats). We strongly recommend that students keep a change of clothes in their backpacks. Gloves, hats and rain gear will continue to be needed in the new year!
2021-22 School Year Calendar
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
Once upon a time…
We are preparing to launch our fairy tale writing unit in the new year through the study of original folktales and fairy tales, as well as their modern adaptations. By reading and listening to these stories, students deeply connect with story arcs, archetypes and lessons.
After reading each classic tale, we worked to identify:
- The backstory (as told by the narrator) including the setting, characters and character motivation
- The first scene where the action gets going as the character begins their journey into the tale
- The trouble (caused by the main character or a villain character)
- The resolution/ending
- The repeating part and lesson of the story
- The ways the story stays the same
- The changes the author made to the original tale
- The reason(s) the author may have made those changes
We have also been exploring humorous fairytale adaptations through Reader's Theater. Our goal is to explore fluency, characterization and to enhance reading skills and confidence through practice with a purpose.
Engineering Labs
As the weather gets cold, we are staying warm with our In&About Engineering Labs! This week, students imagined, created, tested, made improvements and found solutions as they built an item that would assist characters in well known fairy tales.
For one challenge, teams can constructed a house of toothpicks for the Three Little Pigs. Their creation had to support at least 20 grams of mass and withstand wind from a fan. We also revisited our favorite challenges from the last two weeks with Red Riding Hood's zip-line and the 3 Billy Goat's raft.
Ask your Puffin to tell you about their experience!
Here are some questions to ask:
- Was your design successful? How could you tell?
- Did you try any designs that didn’t work?
- What surprised you?
- What frustrated you? How did you work through it?
Mystery Science: Why is snow white?
This week, students learned how the shape of snowflakes causes them to look like the color of light that is shining on them. In our activity, Wax Paper Snowflake, students created a decorative snowflake and investigated how to make something transparent look white.
Level 2 "Inclusive Community" Read-Aloud Series
We will continue to engage a weekly "Inclusive Community" read-aloud series. Through these read-alouds, we will learn about and celebrate diversity in our community.
December: Disability Awareness Month
Just Ask!
All My Stripes
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures