Greetings, everyone! Here’s a glimpse into our recent Unit of Inquiry learning and the meaningful conversations we shared together.

During our Unit of Inquiry lesson on growth, we talked about what growth means and who helps us grow. The children shared thoughtful answers, mentioning their parents, grandparents, cousins, brothers and sisters, farmers, and even themselves. It was truly amazing to hear their ideas and how aware they are of the people around them. They also reflected on the things they couldn’t do before but can do now. We were pleasantly surprised when some students shared that they once couldn’t speak English, read books, write, or understand certain things—but now they can. Their reflections went far beyond what we, as teachers, expected to hear. Thank you for sharing your growth, Rainforest!

During workstation time, our young learners engaged in a developmental activity where they learned how to fold origami paper to create a flower. They truly enjoyed this activity, especially because they could choose different colors and make a variety of beautiful flowers. This hands-on experience helped develop their fine motor skills, focus, and creativity while giving them a sense of pride in their finished work.

We celebrated the Setsubun Festival in our class by learning about the Japanese tradition of welcoming good luck and driving away bad spirits. Our students made their own “beans” using rolled newspapers and excitedly threw them at the oni monster who visited our classroom. As they threw the beans, everyone shouted, “Demon’s out, good luck in!” The activity helped the children experience Japanese culture in a fun and meaningful way.

TENNIS LESSON

In our tennis lessons, the children are practicing hitting the ball with good timing after one bounce. The skills they have learned throughout the year—such as body positioning and how to hold the racket—have really become part of them, and everyone is now able to hit the ball much more confidently. When they successfully hit the ball cleanly over the net, the Rainforest children cheer with a big “Yay!” and celebrate their progress with great excitement. 🎾

Thank you for taking the time to read and celebrate our learning with us. Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend, everyone!