February 12th
weekly letter
February 12th, 2010
Dear Families,
It has been a boy dominated week in our class this week, as Kaitlyn is out of town on a family trip.
The highlight of the week was probably our movie date on Wednesday. The kids enjoyed it, laughed at all the jokes, and seemed to remember a lot of lines. It had some cute parts, as well as some parts which seemed a bit too commercial.
This week, we started to explore the Chinese traditions for ushering in the New Year, such as people buying new clothes or getting a haircut to start afresh. The Chinese clean their house to get rid of “evil spirits” and make their room “good.” We also read about other symbols of this holiday. We talked about the Chinese Zodiac; how the years are named after 12 animals. We looked up each child’s “animal sign.” The older ones are sheep, while the younger ones are monkeys. This New Year will be the year of the Tiger, so we’ll read and learn about tigers. We also will read about a very special animal which lives in China, the panda bear. We will look at the construction of the Great Wall of China, and build one out of sugar cubes next week.J
We also are reading about how Valentine’s Day celebration started and about some symbols of this holiday. It’s thought to have started with Valentine who was jailed in the Roman times, and fell in love with his guard’s blind daughter. He wrote a letter to her and signed it ”from your Valentine.” When she read it, her sight came back. If that isn’t love, was is? J We made some 3-D hearts and cards for you, to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day.
The kids really enjoyed hearing about George Washington. We talked about him being the first president and how the Americans fought with the ‘bad guys’ British and won in the end. We know that he didn’t lie (the fable of the cherry tree); he didn’t live in the White House they (there wasn’t one yet); that the nation’s capital is named after him; and that ‘big white tower’ is named for him too. We made some awesome art of the White House. This Friday, we’ll talk about Thomas Jefferson. Next Thursday, we are going to the Carter Presidential Museum. We made a picture collage (similar to the one on our door) to send to President Obama to wish him a happy President’s Day.
We are introducing book reports for the end of every month. We’d like you to read an appropriate book with your child, and have them write a few sentences about it. Also, let them draw some pictures about it.
Have a great long weekend,
Ms. Kate
