Primary ADM May Blog

Hello Everyone,

Summer is nearly here! As we begin moving onwards towards the K graduation ceremony and ensuing summer fun there have been some exciting new developments within our classroom as well! You may have heard your children mention some of the crawly and cuddly creatures that have visited our classroom recently. The annual primary tradition of hatching chicks has come and gone with the children showing great and gentle consideration in observing our hatchlings go from shell to fluffy baby chicks. The children took such great care in walking quietly and carefully around our incubator and brooder box and often playing gentle songs on the keyboard to soothe our community of chicks. We also held a naming circle in which the children chose quite colorful names for each new chick and the kindergartner’s helped create a dynamic sign proudly displaying their namesake’s. The students spent another week keenly observing painted lady caterpillars go from their juvenile stage to chrysalis to beautiful butterflies. Once each butterfly had successfully emerged from its chrysalis, we gathered on the lawn at Sister Cities to release them all back into nature. Toby’s family was generous in bringing us another exciting opportunity in the form of silkworms for the students to feed and observe. The children have been so fascinated by the silkworms’ process and it has been amazing for them to watch as the silkworms grew, began to spin their silk, and form their brightly colored cocoons.

Nature is a vital part of Montessori education and all these developments within our classroom help the children form a deep appreciation and curiosity for the nature and environment around them. Children are inquisitive and these opportunities to integrate nature into our daily classroom life has encouraged their sense of wonder to grow. Caring for chicks, butterflies, and silkworms is no small task and we have also been privileged to witness the mindfulness and sense of responsibility it encourages in the children. Often before a teacher could even ask the students would remind us it was time for them to feed the silkworms, clean out the chicks’ water, or alert us when a new chrysalis or cocoon had formed. This all has provided very enriching sensorial experiences for the children as well especially when it came time for them all to be offered a chance to hold one of the chicks.

Some upcoming reminders for the month of June:

(6/16): Primary ADM field day and last day of school (sign up for Parent Volunteers still available on MyGTMS)

(6/17): K Graduation Ceremony (no school for first and second years, K’s arrive at North Campus 8 – 9 AM)

(6/21): First day of Bridge Camp