I Love My Family!
Posted by kellyyeh
In Mandarin, Lower School students recently finished a unit learning about the family members, by making a Finger Family and singing songs! We also used American sign language to sing ” I love my family.”
Fee Fie Foe Fum
Posted by Betsey Young
Fee Fie Foe Fum – Wish you could have come…… Once upon a time, grades One and Two went to the Downtown Cabaret to see “Jack and the Beanstalk”. What a fabulous time we had! With silly songs and a twist on the classic, grade 2 celebrated the end of their fractured fairy tale unit and grade one witnessed the fun of a modern spin on a treasured tale.
All Is Well
Posted by Megan KirkFirst graders did a wonderful job performing at assembly! In first grade, the dance style we have been focusing on for the past few weeks has been ballet. Students did an excellent job showing their Port de bras, Rond de jambes, Tendus, and Relevés! They also did a beautiful job singing this peaceful song.
Glockenspiels!
Posted by Megan Kirk
This was an exciting day for first grade students! We learned how to play the glockenspiel! I love using this instrument because it is laid out just like the keys on the piano! First we learned how to properly hold the mallet for the best sound to ring out of our instruments. Then we played each note of the instrument on the steady beat. Next students took turns experimenting with the sounds they could make! The students really liked performing a glissando which is a slide from low to high or high to low using the white keys. Finally students were taught about the C chord. This is made up of the notes C, E, and G. Each student composed their own short “C Chord Song” using these three notes. They were wonderful!
A Mindful Maze Moment
Posted by Maureen Diallo
Years ago my Mom came across a set of ball mazes while out shopping one day. She gave me a call and asked if I could use them in my classroom. At the time, I had no idea what I would do with them, or how I would use them with my first graders, but I gladly accepted the offer! Playing with these simple plastic toys brought me back to my childhood when I often received a ball maze in a party favor bag at a birthday party. Boy, did it take a lot of concentration and patience to get the ball to the center of the maze! Then an idea popped into my head, I could use the ball mazes as a mindfulness activity. A simple childhood toy had now become a Mindful Maze Moment! Much like life, choosing the right path can be tricky. A challenge such as a ball maze takes a lot of patience, perseverance, and concentration. Using a ball maze in our classroom has become another way to breathe and focus on the moment, no matter what is going on around you!
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Posted by kellyyeh
Chinese New Year was on January 22nd and it is the biggest holiday in Asia. Many people celebrate Chinese New Year, not just Chinese people but also people in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos. Lower School Mandarin students also celebrated the biggest Chinese holiday by learning songs and stories about Chinese New Year and about the Chinese Zodiac. We also created art projects to decorate our classroom and the Dining Room and had a fun time making dumplings with the older students!
