This week, the Savanna children started preparing for our Sports Festival and deepened their understanding of small creature habitats through our UOI learning.
For our Sports Festival preparation, we started practicing our Paraballoon performance. The children are trying their best to remember the different formations and movements we need to create with the paraballoon. They have been practicing making a back bridge with their bodies and working together to move at the same time. We visited the gym on Monday and Friday to practice, and everyone showed great teamwork, effort, and determination. We will continue practicing and doing our best as we get closer to the Sports Festival!
In our UOI lessons, we explored small creature habitats. The word “habitat” was a new vocabulary word for the children, and they were excited to use it during our discussions. Instead of saying a small creature’s “home” or “house,” they learned that we can use the word “habitat.” The children discovered that a habitat provides small creatures with the things they need to live, such as food, water, a place to sleep and rest, and a safe place to live — just like humans need a home.
After learning about habitats, we had a fun paper-folding activity where we created our own paper boxes. It was a little challenging, but the children enjoyed the process because, before making the final box shape, they discovered that the paper could transform into different shapes, such as a hat, a house, and a boat. When everyone finally completed their paper boxes, they were so proud and happy with their creations.
The next day, the children worked in groups to decide which small creature they wanted to create a habitat for. They thought about what their chosen small creature needs and how they could create a suitable habitat. They worked together to design and build their own small-creature habitats using paper boxes. Then, we went outside to collect natural materials such as soil, grass, flowers, stones, and leaves to complete their habitats. It was wonderful to see the children sharing ideas, cooperating with friends, and using their creativity to design a suitable home for their chosen small creatures.
The Savanna children are also taking great care of the rhinoceros beetles we keep in our classroom. Every morning, they help refill their food, moisten the soil, and make sure the beetles have a safe and comfortable environment to live in.
The children’s curiosity about small creatures continues to grow in many ways. They enjoy using building blocks to create their own insects and other small creatures. They also love listening carefully to the cicadas singing outside the classroom, wondering, “Is it a Minmin cicada or an Aburazemi?” They eagerly look through field guides to identify the different species and learn more about them.
In our Phonics lesson, we finished learning and reading short /a/ CVC words. To review the words we have learned, we played a fun game of Musical Chairs. The children enjoyed moving to the music while practicing their reading skills. Most of the children were able to read the words independently and showed great confidence in connecting sounds together. Next week, we will begin exploring short /e/ CVC words.
We also celebrated two of our Savanna friends’ 5th birthdays this month! They enjoyed a fun birthday party at school with their friends. The children had fun playing a shadow game, guessing animal shadows and naming them. We also practiced the Matsumoto Bon-Bon dance together.
It was a wonderful week filled with teamwork, creativity, learning, and joyful moments. The Savanna children continue to grow as confident learners who enjoy exploring new ideas, supporting their friends, and discovering more about the world around them. 🌿🐞🎂
