Practice Fire Drill, Sensory exploration and More....

Monday 

Art Class with Johanna -

Johanna asked friends to take a close look at the pictures on the rug and think about what they are but don't say it yet. Johanna then asked friends to share what they saw, some of the thoughts were whirlpools, snakes, spirals, it looks like me drawing around and around and around like a spiral. Johanna then had the Cardinals work in pairs of twos or threes with translucent sensory shells to create spirals on the rug. 

Next step, the Cardinals went to the tables and made small, medium or large spirals on white paper with different color markers. Friend quickly got the hang of this activity and created some great work. Here is what friends said when asked about their work.  

Finley- A road with some dirt spiral. 

Renata - A elephant's trunk.  

Elliott - Family of spirals.

Lila - Sunflower spirals.

Evie - A Clam spiral. 

Aya - A Butterfly in a spiral. 

Grant - A circle. 

Masai - I making a big oval spiral. 

Lake - A rainbow spiral in a whirlpool.

Colby - A big big circle.

Ask your Cardinal to show you how to make a spiral?

                   

We asked the Cardinal, "What is a Fire Drill?" Here is what some friends had to say: 

*When the bell rings that means the house get some smoke and you go outside.

*Make noise and scare me.

*Well, we hear it inside, then we go outside.

*You stay inside till we hear the noise. We go outside. We come back inside when the smoke is all gone.

*When people call the ambulance.

*When alarm comes on, go outside, when alarm stop making noise, go back inside.

*Well, at my old school, we just play on the playground.

This morning our entire AFS community partake in a practice fire drill. Before our fire drill, we explained to our Cardinals what would happen. We explained that there was No fire and that we all needed to practice at school and at home what to do if there was a real fire. First, we talked about the loud noise and what friends could do such as covering their ears if the fire alarm was too loud, being quiet, walking to the back door, not going to play on the playground and staying with our group over in the grassy area outside. Our Cardinals did an incredible job once the fire alarm did go off!  No, Cardinal cried and all did a fantastic job following our directions! Yay, amazing Cardinals!!

After our practice fire drill, we asked friends, "What did you think of the fire drill? Why?"

Evie - I think it not loud

Lake - It was not so loud. I cover my ears and go outside. We stay outside little bit and we come back inside.

Finley - I think it was great. It wasn't too loud for me.

Lila - It was good cause I wasn't too scared cause it wasn't too loud. I just hold Beverly's hand.

Renata - It was good cause it wasn't too loud. You know, I did this last year when I was in Cardinal class.

Grant - It not loud

Masai - It was good cause it wasn't too loud but my belly was a little scared but it was good.

Aya - It was awesome cause I didn't cover my ears cause it wasn't loud.

Elliott - I was happy cause it wasn't too loud.

Colby - It was good cause it not go ding ding ding cause that too loud.

 Tuesday - No School

Wednesday

Library Class with Ashanti and Michelle - We returned our library books followed by Ashanti reading us the book, Book or Bell by Chris Barton. The book was about a boy named Henry who really really loved reading books. He was so focused that nothing distracted him, not even very loud noises. The Cardinals really liked and enjoyed this book and Ashanti made it very engaging as she read to our Cardinals!! Soon it was time to pick and check out a book!

Music Class  with Keisha - The Cardinals made movements with scarves while listening to the song Bubbles by Jazzy Ash in class. Today Keisha introduced us to Hooty the Owl, who was a little shy at first and used a singing voice. Then we practice our singing voices with the help of Hooty the Owl. After singing our hello song Jambo. Keisha did the sign for standing and the Cardinal did a great job remembering what to do! 

Keisha gave out egg shakers and the Cardinals had a few mins to play freely. Friends then used the egg shakers to sing Shake and Shake and Stop. We shook the shakers in front, up high, down low, jumping, up and down. At the end of each movement the Cardinals finished with a pose! We finished up class with our goodbye song! Ask your Cardinal to show you the sign of standing as Keisha taught us.

Thursday

Gym Class with Josh and Tiffany - Josh introduced the Cardinals to small rings in class. Today's focus was coordination and following two step verbal directions. Friends manipulated the rings by rolling, jumping over them and spinning them on the floor. Our Cardinals did a great job practicing these tasks! Josh asked the Cardinal to recall skills from last week by doing the actions such as running, skipping, galloping and jumping. Ask your Cardinal to show you how to skip, gallop or all of the above?

                    

It was raining as we left gym class and so we walked from Upper school  through Middle school and arrived back in Lower school without getting wet! We saw six Middle schoolers and four Upper Schoolers that were once Cardinals! We even got invited to listen to our middle and upper school Chamber group practicing their singing. We were the audience!!

Friends exploring sensory activities such as playing with play-dough, shaving cream and sand. 

 

As it was raining the Cardinals found other ways to engage in large motor fun!! We took over the Extended day space downstairs in lower school and ran around, playing duck duck goose and red light-green light, before eating lunch!

Friday

                                             Choice Time

Today we celebrated Finley's 5th birthday, which is over the weekend!! Finley brought in cupcakes and fruit loops to share! Thank you, Finley, for sharing your birthday with us and for the special treat!!

We wish you the happiest birthday, Finley!! 

                                        Dance Party!!

Mikael, Masai's dad came in and read us the book, All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold! The book was about being fair and kind to everyone.  Our Cardinals enjoyed this book and had many comments and questions! Mikael also brought us stickers that Masai gave out to her friends. 

We welcome Hannah, our class observation student from Penn State University. Hannah will be in our classroom on Fridays from now until mid December. She will be taking notes, learning how to be a teacher and engaging with us! 

Our Cardinals were very excited to see what their parents left for them in the classroom!!

                                 Have a great weekend !!