Upcoming Dates and Announcements:
Click the link to find out what’s happening at WCDS https://here.wcdsedu.com/events/
- Tuesday, November 11th – Veterans Day and NO School for Students
- Tuesday, November 25th– Alumni Kickball
- Tuesday, November 25th- Thanksgiving Lunch, and Early Dismissal at 12:30 – NO AFTERCARE
- Wednesday – Friday, November 26th-28th – No School
Hello SK Families!
It was a “spook”tacular week in SK! Their play and learning brought us all the tricks and treats!
This week in our social–emotional learning time, we explored how mindful breathing can help us in moments of frustration, when we feel overwhelmed, or when our bodies feel full of big energy. Together, we discussed how taking deep, mindful breaths can provide a moment to pause, notice what we’re feeling, and bring a gentle sense of calm back to our bodies.
To make this practice playful, each child placed a small pumpkin on their belly. As they breathed in, they watched their pumpkin rise up, and as they breathed out, they watched it slowly lower back down. There was a great deal of focus and laughter as they worked to keep the pumpkin balanced while finding their rhythm. The children then experimented by moving the pumpkin to different parts of their upper body, noticing how their breathing felt in each new spot. It was a beautiful reminder that even in busy moments, our breath is always with us and ready to help us find calm and balance again.
On Monday, we also dove into a little readers’ theater fun with Room on the Broom! After reading the story about a kind witch, her helpful friends, and a broom that just keeps making room, the children eagerly took turns acting out the characters. Those who weren’t performing became our talented sound effects crew, bringing the story to life with wind whooshes, dragon roars, and broom-swooshing sounds. The room was filled with laughter and imagination as the children used their voices, bodies, and creativity to tell the story together!
In Math, we really concocted some magical learning this week! The children followed special witches’ brew recipe cards labeled with witch hats, ghosts, bones, skulls, and pumpkins. Each recipe invited them to identify numbers, count out their spooky ingredients, and mix them together to solve the equation just like real potion-makers! Working with partners, they then compared their ingredients, deciding which had more or less. The room was bubbling with excitement and incredible problem-solving! We also continued our pumpkin investigations, exploring measurement. Using mini pumpkins as their tools, the children measured one another to find out who was taller. Teamwork played a big role in our math this week!
Pumpkin explorations and science were a fan favorite this week as we moved beyond the outside of the pumpkin and dove right in! After reading “Pumpkin Circle,” which taught us that, like insects, pumpkins have a life cycle, the children noticed how the book used fun rhyming and photography to showcase art in a unique way. Inspired, we set off on our own investigations!
With ladles, spoons, and even their bare hands, the children explored the insides of the pumpkins using all five senses. Their descriptive words were priceless! Some squealed, some laughed, and all were fully engaged in the messy, tactile fun! Once emptied, the pumpkins became the canvas for our classroom Jack-o’-Lanterns. During Daily Discovery, the children painted, glued, and decorated them, turning each one into a true masterpiece. You might be wondering what we did with the insides of those pumpkins! The children carefully separated the seeds from the “guts” and got creative with the seasoning, adding sugar and cinnamon to some, and olive oil, salt, and pepper to others. After baking, they got to use their final sense and taste the fruits of their labor. Some loved them so much they went back for seconds, while others politely said, “These aren’t for me.” We were so proud of the kiddos for trying something new and embracing the full pumpkin experience!
On Wednesday, we revisited the pumpkin life cycle and created our own pumpkin life cycle-themed patch using a variety of art materials. Keep your eyes peeled next week; this colorful, creative display will soon brighten our classroom wall! Speaking of pumpkin patches, the children were thrilled to finally “pick” a pumpkin from our classroom patch to make their very own! With colorful pushpins, thumbtacks, and plenty of paint and glitter, each child transformed their pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind creation.
To wrap up our exploration of the pumpkin life cycle, we read “Pumpkin Jack,” a story about a little pumpkin that travels through the seasons, learning and changing along the way. Inspired by the story, we placed our very own classroom pumpkin, unanimously named Little Jack by the children, into a jar with soil. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll observe, draw conclusions, and hopefully watch the pumpkin life cycle unfold right before our eyes!
Each child also planted their very own pumpkin seed in a jar, giving us the exciting possibility of growing a real-life SK pumpkin patch. The children were intrigued as they imagined what might grow, and we can’t wait to see how our tiny seeds and Little Jack transform over time!
Alas, the day had finally arrived, our much-anticipated Halloween celebration! The children proudly showcased their amazing costumes during the parade, beaming from ear to ear. Then came a true test of bravery: every single student courageously made their way through the haunted house created by our fantastic 5th graders. Thank you, 5th grade, for making it so spooky and fun!
Next, we headed out for one of our favorites, the hayride, with a very special thank you to the Ferris family (Mylah’s family) for generously giving part of their day to make this possible. Back in the classroom, the celebration continued with delicious treats, dancing to Halloween songs, and hands-on messy fun! The children dove into oobleck, slime, and witchy potion-making on the light table, mixing glitter, bones, spooky eyeballs, and colorful water, all while pouring, dumping, and stretching to their hearts’ content. It was a day full of practical magic!
We hope you have a weekend filled with lots of treats and minimal tricks with those little ghouls and goblins! We’ll be putting up a Christmas tree if anyone needs us!
Miss Arden and Miss Hanna
HALLOWEEN PARTY:
SEL BREATHING BUDDIES:
PUMPKIN INVESTIGATIONS & PUMPKIN LIFE CYCLE:
PUMPKIN PAINTING:
WITCH’S BREW MATH:
ALPHABET BREW & PHONICS:
DAILY DISCOVERY & EXPLORATIONS:
