We have continued our study of the rainforests of the world by learning about the people of the Amazon. We learned about their houses and their ways of living. Ms. Sadie also taught the different resources that the rainforests give us: cinnamon, cloves, lumber, peppercorn, coffee, chicle, latex and tea.

Ms. Jessie taught us about different kinds of anteaters. We learned that an anteater can eat 30,000 – 50,000 ants or hormigas in one day! They have incredibly long tongues that start waaaay down in the chest. We also learned about the smallest (and quite cute!) anteater known as the silky anteater. Anteaters also have very large claws or garras to get into ant hills.

Ms. Julie showed us a variety of cultural items from Peru such as musical instruments, clothing, and a woven tapestry. She taught us that women in Peru carry their babies on their backs wrapped in a blanket, and use their head to help them carry baskets of food. Everyone especially loved exploring the drum and the rainstick. Thank you, Ms. Julie, for this experience!

We have also been learning about how to take care of our precious Earth. We discovered that we can reduce our presence on Earth by turning off lights when we leave a room, turn off the water when we’re brushing our teeth, and ride a bike or walk when we can. We also learned about reusing items such as water bottles and shopping bags, and recycling other items like paper, plastic and aluminum. There is also the option of compost for food items such as carrot peels and eggshells.

As it is getting warmer out, we have turned on the air conditioning in the classroom. We recommend having your child bring in a light sweater or sweatshirt to keep at school in case they get chilly during the day.

Friday, May 14th, we will be enjoying field day in the morning from 9am-10am. Field day is a fun day of wet, outdoor activities for our students. Please make sure your child comes to school on the 14th sunscreened, with water-appropriate shoes on, and dressed in their (labeled) bathing suit with regular clothing over it. Your child also needs a towel, as well as an extra pair of shoes. PLEASE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS LABELED! We recommend tankini or one-piece style suits for girls so they are more comfortable participating in the field day activities! It is a good idea to bring a plastic shopping bag where your child’s wet suit, towel, and shoes can go.

Please click the link below to view pictures from the last two weeks:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_ubNMp79ebg7iT2fnEB53IKARUH8qiqh?usp=sharing

Dates to Remember:
May 14: Field Day
May 18: Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony @ 1:00pm
May 21: Last Day of School

“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.” – Maria Montessori

Love,
The P2 Team

South America…Here We Come!

South America is chock-full of some amazing plants, fruits, and a plethora of animals that range from the pokie sloth, to the sneaky jaguar, to the horrific bullet ant! We have been discussing how the rainforest has four different layers to it. The emergent layer which is home to parrots and toucans, the canopy layer which is filled with monkeys and sloths, the understory where you can find jaguars and frogs, and the dense, dark, forest floor where anteaters, armadillos and caimans live.

We are also learning about birds. Even though there are close to 10,000 (wow!) species of birds, they all follow the same life cycle. All birds hatch from eggs, become hatchlings, grow into fledglings, then adults who then lay eggs and the cycle repeats. We’ve learned that some birds, like pigeons, develop in the egg for only about two weeks, whereas Emperor Penguins develop in the egg for over two months. We’ve also taken a look at the different parts of a bird and have compared how there are different types of beaks and feet depending on the type of bird.

This year, the primary classrooms service project is the Lullaby Connection. The Lullaby Connection is a non-profit organization that helps mothers and infants in need. We are asking for donations to either be brought in or shipped directly to the school. The Lullaby Connection is in need of diapers (sizes 0-3 months), baby clothes, board books, and hygiene products. All items need to be new, not gently used. Our service project runs until next Friday, April 23rd. We thank you in advance for your help and support!

One of the things that we’ve been discussing with our P2 friends lately is how to keep recess games fun and safe for everyone. Keeping our hands to ourselves and only using kind words are important rules in the classroom that extend to the playground. Our friends love to play hard during recess, but safety is incredibly important. Reviewing this with your child is always helpful.

Please click the link below to view pictures from the last two weeks.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1USmqRZ-sWa3P2t4f1oJC5tGCcf47mI9w?usp=sharing

“Children become like the things they love.” ~ Maria Montessori

Love,
The P2 Team