This week kicked off the start of our summer program. This year the teachers worked very hard to create a weekly themed summer program. The themes include some of the teacher's all time favorite curriculum units as well the the children's most loved units from previous years. This week was Ocean Week and boy did we all have such a great time exploring the squid and octopus!
We are so lucky to have local resources that provided us with a real octopus and a real squid... no longer alive, which the children were first to point out! Our school is all about hands on learning and it doesn't get more hands on than this! The children had a blast feeling the octopus' squishy skin and the suckers still had their suction. Did you know that the octopus doesn't just use their suckers for movement and holding onto objects but also for tasting? So cool! The children also learned the vocabulary words "locomotion" and "jet propulsion" which is the word used to explain how an octopus can move out of the way of danger very quickly.
In addition to touching an octopus and squid, the children made the most beautiful octopus prints using watercolors. Some will be displayed on the bulletin board next week and the rest will be placed in the children's portfolios. To wrap up Ocean Week, the children practiced their counting and cutting skills to create an octopus or squid. These cute creatures will be finding their way to your home shortly!
AND the New England Aquarium's new exhibit is currently featuring the Giant Pacific Octopus! This exhibit looks amazing and would be a great extension activity for the kiddos. This is definitely worth looking into! Here is the link for more info: Giant Pacific Octopus Exhibit
In addition to touching an octopus and squid, the children made the most beautiful octopus prints using watercolors. Some will be displayed on the bulletin board next week and the rest will be placed in the children's portfolios. To wrap up Ocean Week, the children practiced their counting and cutting skills to create an octopus or squid. These cute creatures will be finding their way to your home shortly!
AND the New England Aquarium's new exhibit is currently featuring the Giant Pacific Octopus! This exhibit looks amazing and would be a great extension activity for the kiddos. This is definitely worth looking into! Here is the link for more info: Giant Pacific Octopus Exhibit
Also, the week before our summer break, the grandfather of one of our students volunteered to come to school and make ice cream for the class! Now, this wasn't just any ordinary ice cream, it was made with liquid nitrogen! So cool! And it was the best ice cream I have ever tasted! Thank you, Mr. Levine, for coming to our school to make ice cream with us and to show us an exploding banana! We hope to see you again soon!
Lastly, a huge THANK YOU to all of the families who voted for us this year in Wicked Local's Readers Choice Awards! Not only did we win #1 Preschool in Burlington, we also won silver place in our region of 8 other towns! We are so grateful for all of the wonderful teachers, families and kiddos that make our school #1.
Up Next:
Camping week! Breakout the tent, flashlights and fishing poles! SEE is going camping! The classroom is ready for a week full of camping explorations and a special visit from our friends at the Stone Zoo and their animals!
Upcoming Dates and Reminders:
August 1: August tuition due
August 15: All updated paperwork is due for the 2016/2017 school year
August 26: Last day of the summer program
August 29-31: SEE closed to prepare for the new school year
September 1: First day of school! Tuition is also due!
September 5: SEE closed in observance of Labor Day
Pictures from the week:
Pictures from the week:
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| Liquid nitrogen ice cream in the making! The children loved watching the liquid turn to a gas. |
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| The final product! I think it was the first time in 5 years the classroom was silent! Everyone gobbled it down and, of course, asked for more! |
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| Mr. Levine, aka Pop, getting ready to make a banana explode! |
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| Similar to boiling, the liquid nitrogen was so cold that it mimicked how water would boil at a high temperatures, however, the water was extremely cold, not hot! |
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| Loving water play! Nothing beats summer in New England! |
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| The octopus! Lot's of hands on learning this week! |
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| The children were invited to draw what they observed. The bulletin board will be filled with drawings and octopus prints next week! Come check it out! |
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| Octopus printing! |
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| The watercolors worked perfectly and made such a beautiful print. |
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| To wrap up the week, the children practiced their cutting, fine motor and counting skills making an octopus or squid. I hope everyone enjoyed ocean week! We sure did! Camping week is up next! Have a great weekend! Joanna |
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