Friday Letter - 04.20.2012

4/20/12

Dear RiverRun Families,

This week and prior to break we have been learning about the plant kingdom. We started out looking at the difference between plants and animals and then we looked at two main groups of plants, Bryata (mosses), the first plants to live on earth and Tracheata, plants which carry food and fluids through phloem (tubes). Then we looked at different types of seed makers. Gymnosperm, which are also called “naked seeds”, because the seed is not inside anything, and Angiosperm which are enclosed. These are our flowering plants .

Today was a wonderful day. We spent most of the day outside looking at and writing about nature, and putting the recent lessons to work. Then we walked around and cleaned the play area as we recognize Earth Day. Last we planted some seeds, hoping to start some tomato plants to observe, care for, and take home at the end of the year.

In Writers Workshop the children are working on pacing their stories; they're trying not to give it all away in just a few sentences. Some stories with good examples of this were read to them and they went straight to work.

It has been amazing to watch the children during sign language. They are learning how to put sentences together with their ever expanding vocabulary. Thank you again to Juliana for coming in each week to work with the children.

In P.E. the children are working on over hand throwing, just in time for baseball and softball season. We are outside again, which is a huge treat. Please make sure your children have good gym shoes for outdoor play.

Ruth (Emma and Grace's mom) has been coming in to help us prepare for the class play. She is weaving with the children on Thursday afternoon. If you have any old white, gray or tie-dye t-shirts that you no longer need she would love to have them to cut up and use.

Spring
Its spring
Oh I just can't wait
To find fruits on the vases
And flower on my plate

I want to hear the warm sun
And feel the robin singing
Watch the scent of the flowers
And smell the butterflies flying

Its spring its spring
I'm so full of glee
For the people will bloom
And the flowers will be happy

The gray fields shall be covered
With the magic of the meadow
And the brown sky shall be painted
With the blossoms of the rainbow

Its spring its spring
How can I be blue?
For it is the time of spring
And only the spring brings you
by: Arvie Calimlim


Dates to Remember:
Saturday, April 21 Family Hike
Saturday, April 21 Open Door Book Store Contest Reception 10:30AM
Tuesday, April 24 Merry Hill Field Trip
Thursday, April 26 Open House 9:30-11:00AM
Friday, April 27 School Pictures 1:00PM
June 1,2& 3 Taconic State Campground
Tuesday,June 5 Concert & Play (evening)
Wednesday, June 13 Portfolio Day (during school day)


Best Wishes,
Amy and Debbie