Launching Our New Unit: Buildings/Structures

Handle with care...

With the launching of our new IPC unit Buildings/Structures, our unit lesson this morning was a bit of a tricky one. Children found that building a house of cards is not as easy as it sounds! Our assignment, to build a simple card structure together with a partner using a deck of playing cards, proved to be a challenging one. Children made many attempts, and with cooperation and a tad of help, simple constructions slowly evolved out of the piles of playing cards on desks. The most successful efforts didn't always last very long however, as we found that the slightest breeze or a little jolt to the table (often caused by simply getting situated in a pose for the camera), sent our structures tumbling down. Ideas were shared and successful examples copied and we ended the lesson very excited about what else we will be doing in the coming unit.

If you have a deck of cards at home, why not have your child show you how it's done and give it a go!

Completing The Magic Toy Maker

We successfully completed our IPC Unit The Magic Toymaker and marked our unit exit with an open house, where children shared their learning journeys with their parents. Thank you to all families who were able to take the time to come and celebrate with us. There will be other open house events to come if you weren't able to make it to this one.

Autumn Days and Indoor Shoes

Autumn days are here, filled with extraordinary beauty and colorful vegetation, and in Denmark, a good bit of rain. To avoid tracking mud inside our classroom, I ask that you please send indoor shoes with your children to change into after the outside breaks.

The Velveteen Rabbit

There must be something innate in us (maybe I should speak for myself) that give us a sense that toys are kinda alive. For example, when my kids step on or play rough with their stuff animals/dolls, I find myself wincing and end up scolding them to not treat their toys in such a matter. Perhaps it's more of teaching them proper behavior or respect. But, why did I wince? Did I think that the toy really got hurt or did my kids' behavior upset me? I can't help but answer yes to both...

During our daily read aloud on Fridays, we took 30 minutes or so, for a few weeks, to read the children's story, The Velveteen Rabbit. The book tells the story of a toy rabbit, loved by the boy who owns him. When the boy becomes ill with scarlet fever, all of his toys, including the rabbit, are thrown away and new ones bought for him. However, a magical flower fairy collects the toy rabbit and turns him into a real rabbit.

It is quite a touching story, and has a magical and happy ending. It teaches children about empathy and has some poignant quotes. Grade 1 simply adored it!

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

Jægersborg Deer Park

Grade 1 had a wonderful trip to Jægersborg Deer Park on a brisk autumn day on October 8th. Along our route through the huge ancient oak trees, children were busy trying to spot Red Deer, Fallow Deer and Sika Deer, and ended up seeing a mixture of these at close hand. During this time of year, visitors have a special opportunity to experience the Red Deer’s bellowing call when competing with other deer during the rut, and Grade 1 weren't let down. Children found it quite entertaining when their teacher starting to imitate the call and was greeted with return calls from a nearby Red Stag. It was a unique and enjoyable day  with lots to observe and experience. A big thank you to the mums who accompanied us!

Designing Board Games

Designing and making our board games was hard work and required a lot of concentration. In the end, children came up with some very elaborately designed games!