The Planets

Dear Parents, 

On Tuesday we began working on the first four planets closest to our sun. We used balloons and papier-mâché. The children worked in small groups to dip and stick strips of newspaper to each balloon. Everyone worked patiently to thoroughly cover the balloons. 

The next day, while half the class was tumbling in the big room, the rest of us added another layer of newspaper to our planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. We also added color using tissue paper. 

The children reported that in tumbling they had acted like robots. We read in one of our space books that we send robots to study other planets. Everyone walked like a robot to the big room to play. 

During circle, we jumped up on the count of three, leaving Earth all together, if only for a split second. We also read: The Planets, Earth, and A Is For Astronaut.

We made Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune in a day. We used pipe cleaners, styrofoam balls, wooden sticks, bubble wrap, brown paper, and duct tape. We still need to make Saturn, Pluto, and the sun!

We went to the bagel shop — twice. They accidentally double-booked, so when we arrived, there was another class just beginning their turn. We went back to school to play in the big room for fifteen minutes. When we returned, we learned that the temperature for bagels is 500 degrees, the baker arrives at 3am, plain is one of the most popular bagels, and they boil, and then bake the bagels. We noticed some simple machines inside the oven as its wheels turned. 

Next week we begin building our space ship for our trip to the moon. 

On Thursday, February 12th @9:30am, parents are invited to watch our Blast Off! 

It will take about 15 minutes. Other than that, it will be a regular day.

Have an earthly weekend,

Therese

Trains, Planes, and Outer Space

Dear Parents,

We had two more family shares this week. They went splendidly!

We got our train set out and the class has been going to town on it. Friends were excited to see familiar trains from our subway system. Some wondered aloud how to build the bridges. All knew how to drive the trains. 

During tumbling sometimes we see the children balancing on a beam. 

After reading Mae Among the Stars, we painted our Jackson Pollock-inspired outer space mural. We used lots of black paint and rollers, then white and silver paint to sprinkle on the stars. Two children said, “We’re making the galaxy!” 

We made a list of things that fly: airplanes, helicopters, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, ducks, bumblebees, and more. We read Air Force One. The children wanted to read it again, and again. We later added spaceships to our list. 

The next day we used part of the mural to make a black hole. One of the children said, “It’s where stars are born.” Everyone took turns poking holes in the paper so the starlight would shine through. We hung it up and “ooooooed” and “ahhhhhhhed” when the light shined through. 

We started cutting our big boxes to get ready for our spaceship building. But first we need to make all the planets! 

Have a spacey weekend,

Therese