This week, the Savanna class continued our exciting Sharing the Planet unit by becoming young explorers! Through outdoor investigations, discussions, and hands-on activities, the children discovered that small creatures can be found in many different places. Their curiosity and enthusiasm grew with every new discovery, and it was wonderful to see them learning through observation and play.
Our outdoor explorations took us to the park and around the school grounds, where the children searched for butterflies, dragonflies, ants, grasshoppers, bees, and many other fascinating small creatures. Every time they spotted something exciting, they couldn’t wait to call a teacher over with big smiles, saying, “Ms. Fronie, come here! I found a spider!” or “Ms. Shizuka, look! I saw a bee!” Their excitement was contagious and showed how engaged they were in their learning.
We also reflected on our previous visits to the riverside, Azumino Park, and Lavender Park by sorting photos and comparing which small creatures lived in each place. Their careful observations and discussions reflected the qualities of Thinkers as they made connections between different creatures and the places where they live.
During our Unit of Inquiry, the children drew small creatures they already knew and identified their body parts. Most of them were able to label features such as the eyes, legs, and wings of the creatures they drew. Later, during our schoolyard investigation, the children carefully observed small creatures in their natural habitats and recorded what they saw, where they found each creature, and what they noticed about them by drawing.
Our Show and Tell sessions have continued to be a highlight of the week. Since last week, the children have proudly shared fascinating creatures such as a baby shrimp, crayfish, a rhinoceros beetle, a frog, and a grasshopper, as well as books about small creatures. Their thoughtful questions, excitement to share, and eagerness to learn from one another demonstrated the Inquirer learner profile.
The children have also been enjoying the outdoor pool during the hot summer weather. They had lots of fun playing with sprinklers, dippers, plastic bottles, and hoops while staying cool with their friends.
In music, the children used Do-Re-Mi to play “Let’s Eat Delicious Bread“ on their pianicas. Everyone enjoyed the song and is becoming more confident in playing their instruments.
As we continue our inquiry, we look forward to discovering even more about the amazing world of small creatures and learning how we can care for and protect them. Thank you for reading our blog and have a wonderful weekend!
