Exploring Our Feelings- Aurora (October 6-10) – International School of Nagano

Hello wonderful parents and friends,

We started Unit 3 of our UOI with our new inquiry about “Feelings.” Our Line of Inquiry 1 focuses on “There are many different feelings.”

To begin, we asked the children to draw how they felt that day. They were so excited to use mirrors to look at their own faces! The children observed how their mouths, eyes, and eyebrows changed when they smiled or made other expressions. Many laughed while imitating their happy faces with big smiles and open mouths!

After finishing their drawings, we talked about the question, “How are you today?” Most of the children proudly said, “I’m happy!” while showing their artwork. To help them think about other emotions, I showed a sad face—and right away, they guessed, “Sad!” The children then enjoyed trying out and naming other feelings like excited, scared, angry, surprised, proud, and nervous.

It was a joyful start to our new inquiry about feelings—learning that there are many different feelings and discovering how to recognize and express them in fun and meaningful ways! 💖

Park Exploration 🌳

We took a lovely stroll to the park to enjoy the fresh air and the cool breeze. Our young learners walked carefully and followed the rules responsibly, demonstrating their principled nature even outside the classroom. Along the way, they admired the beautiful scenery, talking excitedly about what they saw.

At the park, the children showed confidence and independence as they played. Climbing up and down the play structures was easy for them—they were thinkers who knew how to manage their actions and make safe choices. It was wonderful to see them enjoying nature, being active, and showing care for one another throughout our little adventure.

Students’ Choices During Indoor Play 🎨🧩

During indoor playtime, the children enjoyed choosing the toys and activities they loved. Many explored their creativity with building blocks, while others played with cars, dinosaurs, or other favorite toys. Some engaged in imaginative play, creating stories and scenarios with their friends.

It was wonderful to see the children confidently making choices, enjoying their interests, and sharing. Indoor play provided them with the opportunity to express themselves, develop social skills, and learn through engaging, meaningful play.

Halloween craft

The children were very excited for the Halloween party! As part of the preparations, each class made crafts for the decorations. Aurora created Halloween hats, painting ghosts and monsters with orange and white with their palms. The students were thrilled to see their finished creations! 👻