What an exciting week filled with so many special events! There was so much for the children to enjoy, discover, and experience.
First up, our bus trip!
We weren’t able to go on our spring excursion due to bad weather, but this time, the weather gradually cleared up, and we were welcomed by beautiful autumn sunshine. It turned out to be a perfect day for an outing!As part of our Unit 3, Express Our Feelings, we visited the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, hoping to give the children an opportunity to experience different forms of expression through art.As soon as we arrived, the children were fascinated by the impressive artwork at the entrance. As they explored, we heard comments such as, “Oh, there’s a butterfly!” and “I wonder if that’s a tulip?” They were curious and excited to discover different shapes and designs.There were also many international visitors at the museum, and some children confidently greeted them with a cheerful “Hello!” It was lovely to see them enjoying not only the artwork but also the opportunity to connect with other people.After the museum, we headed to Agatanomori Park! The children had a wonderful time exploring the colorful playground equipment and enjoying the various play structures. After all that active play, their tummies were ready for the best part of the day: lunchtime!They had been looking forward to their lunchboxes since the morning. It was so sweet to see them showing each other what they had brought and saying, “That looks delicious!” Thank you, families, for preparing such wonderful lunchboxes filled with love and care!
Next, let’s take a look at our UOI!
In Unit 3, Express Our Feelings, we continue to explore emotions through different everyday situations. We encourage the children to think about their own feelings and those of others by asking questions such as, “Why do you think that person feels that way?” and “When do you feel like that?”
Here are some of the children’s thoughts:
- “They are sad because they have tears.”
- “I feel sad when my friend takes my toy.”
- “They’re happy because their mouth is smiling!”
- “I feel happy when I eat chocolate pancakes!”
- “They’re angry because their face looks scary.”
- “I get angry when I have a fight with my friend.”
The children are sharing their ideas based on what they observe and their own experiences.We are exploring not only feelings such as happiness, sadness, and anger, but also other emotions and sensations, including feeling scared, surprised, hot, or cold.One feeling that seems a little more challenging for the children to imagine and put into words is feeling “troubled” or “having a problem.” We would love for you to continue these conversations at home, too. You might ask, “When do you feel troubled?” or “How does it feel when you don’t know what to do?” These little conversations can help children become more aware of their feelings.
We also went on our very first neighborhood walk!
Before heading out, we talked together about our walking rules and practiced by taking a lap around the playground. Once everyone was ready, it was time to set off!The children are usually reminded to stay inside the school gates, so stepping outside for the first time was quite an exciting moment. As they took their first steps beyond the gate, we heard an enthusiastic “Wow!”They especially enjoyed feeling the strong gusts of wind whenever big trucks passed by. It was lovely to see them noticing and enjoying the different sights, sounds, and sensations along the way.Even the open space near the small hill behind the school, which might look like an ordinary empty field to adults, became a treasure chest of discoveries for the children!They searched for insects, played with autumn burrs (the little plants that stick to our clothes), and collected sticks and stones. What may seem like simple things to us can become exciting treasures and opportunities for exploration through children’s eyes.On our way back, the children told us, “That was so much fun! Let’s go again!” It was wonderful to hear them expressing their excitement and wanting to explore more.We look forward to going on many more walks, enjoying the changing seasons, and discovering new things together!
And finally, the Halloween Party we had all been looking forward to!
The children had been counting down to Halloween since the beginning of October. Not only the children but also their families came dressed in such wonderful costumes, instantly filling the atmosphere with Halloween excitement!We don’t often get the chance to meet friends from our Minami-Matsumoto Campus, so it was a special opportunity for everyone to come together, see familiar and new faces, and celebrate as one big community.There were so many smiles and happy moments throughout the event. What a wonderful Halloween celebration!
And there’s more exciting news!
Starting next week, a new teacher and a new friend will be joining our Waterfall class!Our Waterfall family is about to grow, bringing even more excitement and new experiences. We can’t wait to see what wonderful moments are ahead!
