Yes, it is one of the hottest days of the year. Yes, air conditioning is our best friend. But the students are begging to do gardening. Today was our first day in the garden. Due to the weather, we only were able to go out for 10 minutes at the most. Those ten minutes were amazing, though! The students in second and fourth grades went right to work in the early morning, weeding and watering. We identified edible plants, found baby peppers growing, noticed some spiders, and ate some new vegetables. The wax beans were a hit! The fourth graders were eager and excited to try the new vegetable. Everyone who tried it enjoyed it and wanted to eat more. The fourth graders brainstormed ideas for the garden this year, like utilizing every space in the garden for more plants. It has inspired me to research hanging gardens for the fence. Lastly, first grade learned about gardens from a picture book featuring the famous Winnie the Pooh and his friend Rabbit. They learned that gardening takes patience and hard work. Gardening is obviously a special activity that the students love, and I am proud and excited to lead them in their gardening adventures this year.
Class of 2021 (3rd Grade)
First Week of School
We did it! We had a fabulous first week of school! We started the year off with building routines. This helps us set a foundation for learning. And, boy did we have fun exploring the classroom and getting to know each other. We built cool creations with blocks, playdough, squigz, and Magnatiles. And, we even had time to start learning a Rosh Hashana song. This is a special group of Kindergarteners. I’m excited for what the year will bring.
Farewell from Mrs. White, librarian
Dear Friends,
After twenty-two years as the JCDSRI librarian, I am retiring at the end of the school year. I have loved working with our students and enjoy keeping in touch with many alumni. I have been delighted to be the school librarian, where I can play with puppets, read fairy tales and sing pirate songs. Now, how good is that?
For twenty-two years, I have loved creating book fairs that have promoted reading and fostered wonderful memories for our students. Although running book fairs for twenty-two years was quite a job, I did it because the students loved it so much. The youngsters enjoy dressing in PJs and going to Clifford Family Nights to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog. This activity became a beloved event. Many students dreamed of “being Clifford” and were thrilled if they were selected. Recently, I met an alum who asked about the book fair dates and who would be Clifford at next year’s fair. Alumni enjoy sharing happy memories of the fairs. Over the years, we have sold thousands of dollars of merchandise at the fairs, which enabled us to get thousands of books, many supplies, classroom rugs, school furniture and more. I am delighted that the Scholastic book fairs have never cost the school any money. Thank you for your long time support of our book fairs!
Twenty-two years ago, I automated the school library-not an easy task. For twenty-two years, I have created summer reading programs. I certainly appreciate the positive comments my summer reading programs have received from school librarians throughout the country. For many years, I conducted public preschool story times, which I greatly enjoyed.
Thank you for all my wonderful memories. I will dearly miss everyone!
Sincerely,
Karolyn White
Returning Our Chicks to Casey Farm
Today we returned our chicks back to their home on Casey Farm in Saunderstown, RI. While we were a bit sad to say goodbye to our feathery friends, we understood that the farm was a better place for them to grow up then in our classroom.
It was wonderful to return to the farm (we visited in the fall!). Founded in 1702, it has 300 acres and overlooks Narragansett Bay. It now raises organically grown vegetables, herbs and flowers. And – of course – Casey Farm’s hens produce lots and lots of fresh eggs for both local families and nearby farmers’ markets! When we arrived at the farm, our guide, Terry, took us to the barn so we could introduce our chicks to their new home. We even learned about barn swallows and watched as they swooped over our heads.
We then went outside to learn a little more about chickens. We practiced clucking like chicks and even tried to find food in the sand by scratching with our “claws.”
We discovered some delicious worms and beetles!
We met Marshmellow, the rabbit . . .
. . . and then took a peek at the pigs (we even got to scratch their backs!)
We then saw the hens roosting and learned how to tell the difference between a freshly laid egg and one that had been laid hours before (ask us how we can differentiate between them!)
We moved on to feed some Rhode Island Red chickens (we learned that corn is like ice-cream for birds!)
We also visited some baby geese . . .
and baby turkeys (who tried to eat our zippers and buttons!)
Finally, Terry taught us how the farmers prepare their eggs for the market. First, we washed the freshly laid eggs . . .
. . . and then weighed them to determine whether they were small, medium, large or extra-large.
Once weighed, we sorted the eggs into the corresponding containers.
Afterward we sat at picnic benches and ate lunch – and then ran around the farm’s huge oaks and old stone walls. It was a very special adventure.
Buggy about Bug Books! K. White, librarian
Swat! Scratch! The bugs are back! We are featuring our great collection of fiction and nonfiction insect/spider books. This week, PreK was “oohing” and “aahing” over the delightful lift-up counting books:
In library class, we read the funny and thoughtful book The Very Ugly Bug by Pichon. The “ugly” bug does not look like other bugs and would like to until he discovers how special his body is. The story made us think about: What is beauty? What is ugly? What does it mean to be different? After the story the children had fun making and naming their own bugs.
Animals in PreK!
Chrystal, our MET intern, has brought such exciting learning experiences to our classroom. She has been interested in animals for many years and offered to help us learn more about them. First, she interviewed us to find out what we know about caring for animals and what might we want to know. She then read us many different books about animals (including some about helping animals, wild animals, and different kinds of pets). Finally, last Friday, Chrystal brought her two dogs, Channel and Jacob, to our school.
After reviewing how to treat animals with care and respect, we were given the opportunity to practice greeting dogs safely . . .
. . . how to hold them properly . . .
. . . and how to walk them with a leash gently!
Chrystal has offered us multiple opportunities to learn about animals and their care. She invited the Director of Humane Education at the RISPCA, Lorna Steele, to visit our classroom this morning. The RISPCA (Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is 145 years old and the third oldest humane society in the United States! Lorna brought with her Dafne, her beautiful angora rabbit.
Before meeting Dafne, Lorna first explained that while some animals can care for themselves (“wild animals”) and make their own homes, many animals depend on human beings to stay healthy and safe. She works at a “shelter;” an organization that takes care of animals who do not have a home or who are not cared for properly by their owners.
Lorna then read to us Nico and Lolo: Kindness Shared Between a Boy and a Dog. This wonderful book reinforced for us the importance of treating all living things with hesed (kindness). “I learned we should take care of animals,” said Shira. “We should take care of dogs who need our help!” exclaimed Leo.
After reading the book, we were finally able to pet two year old Dafne. “She looks like snow!” observed Millie. “And she feels fluffier than I thought!” said Adrian. “I see her nose!” exclaimed Asher. “And it’s moving a lot.”
Nathan observed that “The bunny has such long ears!” Lorna explained that bunnies hear very well – and also are sensitive to vibrations. And we also learned that when bunnies get really hot, they release the heat through their ears (and they get very pink!)
We thank Lorna for sharing her bunny, her expertise, and her gentle and warm spirit with us this morning. And a special thanks to Crystal for planning and leading this special learning project!
Our Eggs Are (Finally!) Here!
Today, Beth – the knowledgeable educator from Casey Farm – spent the morning with us. Casey Farm (in Saunderstown, RI) was founded in 1702. On the farm’s 300 acres overlooking Narragansett Bay, organically grown vegetables, herbs, eggs, and flowers flourish, providing bounty for both local families and nearby farmers’ markets.
Beth arrived to our school with dozens of fertilized eggs, an incubator, warming lights, and lots of different kinds of bird eggs!
The PreK and Kindergarten students and teachers were able to see the eggs laid by swans, bluebirds, robins, grey catbirds, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, loons, and even an emu egg! We enjoyed observing the eggs; some of us discovered that eggs are camouflaged to be either the same color as their nests or as their mothers. Beth also showed us a slide-show, during which we learned how to tell a (female) hen from a (male) rooster, what chickens eat, how Casey Farm protects chickens from predators, the best way to take care of chickens (free-range and cage-free!) and how to hold chicks (hold them close to the ground & gently!)
We also learned about the different stages and components of a chicken embryo, including the blastoderm and the egg tooth!
Beth then showed us the incubators into which we will place our eggs. There they will stay (round side up, pointy side down) for 21 days until they hatch. A hen’s body temperature is about 107 degrees, compared to our 98.7 degrees – and so our incubators will be as warm as a hen’s body. We will have both Rhode Island Red and Dominique chicks.
But the most wonderful surprise was still to come! Beth brought a Dominique hen to our school!
Beth then invited us to pet Henny Penny!
By tomorrow morning, our incubator will warm to 100 degrees and we will fill it with our eggs. And then the countdown will begin . . . and we can hardly wait!
All Kinds of Families-Books K.White, Librarian
Our school will welcome many family members and friends next Friday, May 8, our annual Special Visitors Day. It is such an awesome happy day! While reviewing books about families, I discovered some great stories that reflect the diversity of families. Families come in all shapes and sizes and are more diverse than ever before. Today’s picture books provide insight into interracial families, families with non-biological children, same-sex parents and intergenerational relationships.
Enjoy this thoughtful book list: http://bit.ly/1GAZASK
Some of our favorites: (NOTE We love Todd Parr’s books http://www.toddparr.com/index.html )
Discoveries at the Beach!
As part of our STEAM week learning – and in celebration of Earth Day – we went this morning to Conimicut Beach in Warwick, RI to see the lighthouse (a historic sparkplug lighthouse built in 1883) and go on a treasure hunt!
When we first arrived at the beach, we unfurled the treasure maps that our amazing friend and teacher, Peter, had created for us.
After locating the “x marks the spot” on our maps, we went searching (and digging!) on the beach for our buried treasures . . . .
. . . and we knew when our friends had found their treasure chests when we suddenly heard squeals of delight!
When we opened them, we discovered they were filled with pirate coins!
Afterward, we went exploring on the beach.
We discovered beautiful shells, driftwood, and even helped to carry a horseshoe crab back to the water (yes, that’s a picture of the children gently holding the crab by the tail!)
At the end of our adventure, we stopped together by the water and sang our morning blessings as a kehillah. As we watched the waves roll over the sand at our feet and listened to the gulls sing above us, we ended with a special prayer of gratitude (the shech’iyanoo).
Thank you so much, Peter, for creating such an exciting adventure for us. And thank you, Val (Aeden’s mom) for joining us!
Dig into Great Garden Books for Kids!
Gardens have always been part of my life. In October of 2008, Jamie Faith Woods, Andrea Katzman and I attended a school garden program in Bristol, RI. That meeting was a catalyst for creating our beloved school garden. Kol HaKavod to Jamie Faith for all her work on our garden and school garden curriculum.
For several years, I conducted “Giggles in the Garden,” an outdoor JCDSRI preschool story time that resulted in a great garden book collection. In addition, I have created JCDSRI Pinterest boards on gardening with children, garden sensory activities, garden book for children and Earth Day books and activities. VISIT: https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/
