AFC Oak

 Good afternoon, Oak Room Family! Today students were beginning discussions about what animals need to live.  GK reminded us that a habitat is where animals live.  In response to the prompt "What do animals live in?" some answers included: LM: "I live in a house" EF: "They live in tunnels and holes" GK: "Some animals collect rocks to make their home" GP: "Butterflies get shelter from trees" RN: "First you roll it in a ball, then you take a piece and squish it like this, then it's an apple!" We have some grape vines in the classroom and yesterday the children suggested making leaves to put on the vine.  Today they began the process of making leaves to put on the vine. We look forward to seeing as many parents as possible at open house tonight! Have a great afternoon!

 Hi Oak Room Families!  As we continue learning the children's interests we are noticing just how much they are engaged in nature.  Today they have worked on building animal habitats using nature and blocks.  Some friends took to the art table and made their own individual drawings of animal habitats.  When asked what is a habitat these friends had this to say: EO - A habitat is a animals home. AV - It's something that animals live in. GP - Animals live in habitats and guess what? Snakes live in leaves and they also like to eat leaves. NP excitedly came over to show us a drawing that she'd made of a habitat.  She said "it's a dog and grasshopper habitat.  The dog habitat is made like a cage and the grasshopper hides in the corner of the grass. We wondered what kind of animals live in a habitat? Some friends shared that centipedes, ants and other insects live in habitats.  GK said that ants live in holes and they live in colonies. It's so wonderful...

 Good aftternoon, Oak Room Family! We hope you enjoyed your weekend.  The students came back to school today ready to pick up where they left off last week. One of the elements of the Reggio Emilia approach to education is that children learn best through their own interests and curiosity.  In the Oak Room we have been spending this first part of the year learning about each other including what interests and curiosities students have.  Many students seem drawn towards nature including animals, bugs, sticks, and plants.  Today some students practiced scientific observation skills in response to the prompt "How are the new leaves and old leaves different? The same?" JT: "hard and soft" EmO: "This leaf is darker because that means you got it earlier. This leaf is dry and old. When I look through here I see lines and fuzz." ElO: "They don't look the same.  This one is smooth and this one is hard.  It feels like it's breaking because it's hard...