Author visit, drum circle, and letter writing

Yesterday, the whole lower school had a visiting author. Author (and lower school parent) Candace James came to Abington Friends School to share her book, Reflections of Me. Candace read the book aloud to the early childhood and kindergarten classes. When the book was over, Candace started a conversation with the group and explained that the book is about seeing yourself as a superhero.

Candace asked, What superheroes do you like? What powers do they have? The group shared some of their favorite superheroes, including Spiderman, Wonder Woman, and Black Panther to name a few.

Next Candace asked, What super powers do you have? Some of the responses were super speed, climbing, gymnastics, and jumping.

Candace explained that your smile and being helper can be a super power. 

Friends were asked to think about themselves as a superhero. Everyone was given a paper with a cape on it, and was asked to draw themselves as a superhero.

Ask your Cardinal what their super power is.

Today in music, the Cardinals made a drum circle. Friends first practiced the song Taa taa yee, and then each took their spot at one of the drums in the circle. There weren't enough drums for everyone to play at once so friends got together in groups of two, and took turns rotating throughout the circle. The Cardinals found the steady beat on the drum with their hands, and sang Taa taa yee. 

Ask your Cardinal to find the steady beat, and to sing Taa taa yee.

Some pictures from choice time today.

 

The first grade has opened up their annual post office. Today, the Cardinals took part in drawing pictures and writing letters to their second grade buddies. Some friends also chose to write to their siblings and families if they are in lower school. Once the letters were done, they were placed in envelopes, and with a teacher's help, friends addressed their letters. The last step was to put on a stamp so it can go into one of the mailboxes placed in the lower school. The stamps were made by the first graders, and go along with their hero study.

Clay cookies

Weekend News

Asa- Today I'm hanging out with my grandma and my grandma's going to pick me up. Took a little rest and went to my cousins house. We had a little visit, then we started to go to my grandma's house. 

Almy- Daddy went out to the airport. Mommy stayed with me. I tried to watch a movie but My Little Pony didn't work, so I watched Bubble Guppies. We cooked dinner. We cooked spaghetti. I went to Catherine's house and I played with her in the park.

Milan- I stayed home and goed outside and I ride my scooter outside because actually it was nice yesterday. My brother comed outside with me. 

Joseph- I went outside. We stayed at our house and there's a big branch sticking up. Daddy took it out and it made a big, big hole. Mommy made muffins. 

Reyn- I see gigi. I played with gigi. I went to the store and get food.

Jacob- Pizza and movie night but it was before today. We did play outside a little bit and dad got a green egg. Dad cooks stuff with it, really yummy, deep fried stuff. 

Molly- Me play in my house. Me play dollies, Anna and Elsa. Me eat and drink my juice.

Cameron- I got a haircut. I got a lollipop there. I growed some dracula teeth. I went to movie night.

April- I watched a movie, Curious George. I got pizza. I go to the playground. I climbed.

Alycia- I with mommy and daddy. I played with my dollhouse. Mommy was up there singing in church. 

Cam- I went to the playground with daddy. I went to Legoland with daddy, mommy, and Zay Zay. There was a laser thing and you can't touch the lasers, and there's a button that turns the lasers off. 

Amelia- I played at the park and I played ball and I rolled down the hill. I played with someone but I don't know his name. I climbed up the slide. 

Jamesy- I eat a granola bar in my car. I go to the zoo yesterday. I saw animals. 

Thea- Vivian came to my house. Quinny closed the door on my pinky. We also did bracelets. They were pink, purple and silver, and also green and blue. We ate lunch.

Vivian- I woke up in the morning and went to Thea's house. We played and had lunch there. Me, my mom and Matilda went to Thea's house. Then it was time for me to go home. I watched a show. I watched Doc McStuffins. 

James- I played with Harry. I stayed in my house. Daddy made lunch. Harry hugged me. 

Today in art class the Cardinals got to work with clay! On the tables were trays of tools and pieces of canvas. Amanda explained that the canvas is the spot to keep the clay. Amanda showed friends how to take the square piece of clay and use their hands to round the edges. The first thing friends were asked to do with the clay was to put up by their shoulder and throw it down onto the canvas. Friends thought this was really funny! After Amanda threw it down in the demo, friends noticed that it got a little flatter. The next really silly thing was to make a fist, and friends practiced flattening their invisible clay with the side of their fist. Once the clay was flattened to look like a big cookie or pancake, Amanda showed friends how to use the tools to make designs.

At the tables, friends got their own piece of clay and used wooden sticks, shells, screws, stamps, and more to design their clay tile. Upon completion, friends made a hole in their clay tile for a piece of string to go so it can be hung to be put on display.

During choice time, friends took turns working on their watercolor paintings that they had started last Friday. Today, friends personalized their work by writing their name in pencil on their painting. After writing their name, friend's used glue to trace the letters and then placed different colored pieces of tissue paper on top to make it pop.

In library, Michelle read The New Small Person by Lauren Child.

Ask your Cardinal how they made their piece of clay into a "clay cookie."

Music makers

In music this morning, Keisha and friends found the steady beat and began singing the hello song. Friends first kept the beat on their laps, then the floor, and lastly on their feet. Next, Keisha turned it over to the Cardinals to pick where to keep the beat. Some ideas were to clap hands, keep it on your head, and to tap your belly.

Ask your Cardinal to show you how to keep a steady a beat.

We continued to work on creating music and movement for We're Going on a Lion Hunt. Today we were up to the part in the book where they are in the cave. Keisha read the part in the book that we were going to work on today, and friends worked together to find instruments for those parts. These parts were:

 -Two shining lights

-The fur that they feel

-Cold nose

-Sharp teeth

After choosing the instruments to represent those parts in the book, each Cardinal received an instrument to play. Keisha read the story aloud and when friends' instrument's part came up in the book they used it to play.

Below are pictures from choice time. The Cardinals worked together to build houses, buildings, caves with magnatiles in the building area. At table, some friends took part in a game of Zingo. During Zingo, all friends displayed patience and great sportsmanship! Friends also chose to manipulate and work with connectors.

Ask your Cardinal which instrument they played in music for the We're Going on a Lion Hunt story.