It was another exciting week in Savanna! Our students enjoyed a wonderful variety of learning experiences and made the most of the warm summer days. From exploring small creatures around our schoolyard and listening to the sounds of cicadas to enjoying energetic outdoor pool play, making pizzas with vegetables from our garden, and practicing the Matsumoto Bon Bon dance with our Rainforest friends, the students continued to learn, create, explore, and have fun together! 🌏✨
In our music lesson, we learned two new songs. One of the songs was about cicadas, which connected perfectly to our current UOI about small creatures. The students were especially interested when we listened to the sounds of different cicadas, including the Abura-zemi, Minmin-zemi, and Higurashi. They were so fascinated that they asked us to sing the song again! 🎶🪰
We continued exploring the small creatures around us during UOI. We talked about the creatures we had found in the schoolyard and discussed where they lived and what they were doing. The students shared their observations and continued developing their curiosity about the living things in the world around them. Here are some of their observations:
“I found a bee on the ground. It was not moving.”
“I found a spider in a spider web. It was walking.”
“I found an earthworm on the ground. It was sleeping.” 🌿🐛🕷️
We also enjoyed a group activity about small-creature habitats. Each group was given a picture of a habitat where small creatures might live, along with pictures of different small creatures. The students worked together to think, discuss, and decide which creatures might live in the grass, near water, under logs, under leaves, and in holes and cracks. It was wonderful to see them share their ideas and listen to one another as they explored where small creatures might live. Next week, we will continue our exploration by learning more about small-creature habitats and the different environments they call home. 🐛🌿💧🪵🍂
The warm summer weather also gave us the perfect opportunity to enjoy lots of fun in the outdoor pool! The students made a whirlpool together and played with great energy. They also enjoyed playing with water in many different ways and swimming through hoops like crocodiles. Their creativity, imagination, and enthusiasm made pool time especially exciting! 🐊💦
We also enjoyed a special eggplant pizza party! The students used the eggplants and bell peppers they had planted and grown in our garden. Instead of using bread as the base, we used slices of eggplant and added tuna, corn, and cheese on top. They couldn’t resist eating the cheese that stuck to the cupcake liners! It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to enjoy the vegetables they had grown themselves and experience the connection between gardening, cooking, and eating. 🍆🫑🍕🌱
The Matsumoto Bon Bon Festival is approaching, so we have started practicing the dance in class. Three students from the Rainforest Class joined us to show us the dance steps, and we enjoyed dancing together. Thank you, Rainforest friends!
Here is the video link, where you can also watch and practice the dance with your family. 🎶💃🕺
Through music, UOI, outdoor play, gardening, and hands-on experiences, our students continue to explore and discover the world around them. Their curiosity and excitement remind us that learning can happen everywhere—even while listening to cicadas, swimming in the pool, enjoying a pizza made with vegetables from our own garden, and dancing with our friends! 🌏✨
