February Newsletter
February was a month full of discovery, creativity and celebrations in our classroom!
We began the month by exploring Planet Earth. The children learned that our planet is made of land and water and discovered what lies beneath the surface. Through books, discussions and drawings we explored the layers of the Earth: the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. The children created a double-sided craft showing the sea and land on one side and the colourful inner layers of the Earth on the other. These were displayed on our windows so we could admire both sides. Our exploration continued with volcanoes around the world. The children were fascinated by our volcano science experiment, watching the “lava” bubble and flow. We also talked about natural phenomena such as earthquakes and discussed what we should do to stay safe during one. Sensory activities like moon dough creations encouraged the children to explore different textures while imagining the surface of the Earth and the moon. We read Rosie’s Hat by Julia Donaldson and Peppa Pig’s Recycling Fun, which helped us think about ways we can take care of our planet by recycling and saving energy.
The second week was focused on love and friendship as we prepared Valentine’s Day. After reading In My Heart by Joe Witek, the children shared what makes their hearts feel happy and loved. They created DIY love magnets, Valentine cards for their “special someone”, and explored the letter V for Valentine through fun literacy activities. The children also enjoyed movement games such as Musical Number Hearts and a fun Valentine letter delivery relay. We also celebrated Tsiknopempti with our family BBQ and would like to thank everyone who joined and contributed. In preparation, the children made colourful carnival hats, masks and pictures. We had our own Carnival Costume Paradein the classroom and played fun games such as Pass the Carnival Hat and Keep it Up Balloon Game, finishing with relaxing carnival colouring activities.
As Clean Monday approached, we explored the theme of things that fly. Through stories and experiments the children investigated which objects fly best in the wind. They created flying figures and paper airplanes and designed beautiful butterfly kites, discovering the symmetry of butterfly wings before flying them outside in the yard. We also talked about Clean Monday traditions and created colourful legume mosaics using beans and lentils. One of the highlights of the week was our visit to the Cretan Animal Park, where the children saw many animals including ponies, miniature pigs, goats, birds and a camel named Caroline. They enjoyed the guided tour and the opportunity to feed some of the animals.
The last week of the month and as we moved closer to spring, we began exploring the changes in nature. Through stories such as The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle and The Enormous Turnip, the children learned about plants and how they grow. They planted their own lentil or bean seeds and discussed what plants need in order to grow strong and healthy. The children also explored spring through process painting, movement games and dramatic play. Acting out the story The Enormous Turnip together was a joyful experience that encouraged teamwork and imagination.
We look forward to continuing our discoveries and welcoming the beautiful spring months ahead!