Klahanie School
December 2016 Newsletter
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening
Whose woods these are I think I
know.
His house is in the village
though;
He will not see me stopping
here
To watch his woods fill up with
snow.
My little horse must think it
queer
To stop without a farmhouse
near
Between the woods and frozen
lake
The darkest evening of the
year.
He gives his harness bells a
shake
To ask if there is some
mistake.
The only other sound’s the
sweep
Of easy wind and downy
flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and
deep,
But I have promises to
keep,
And miles to go before I
sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
November 2016 Reflection
Our classroom
has been a buzz from all the special earth projects we have embarked on. The children helped each other kindly
while making their Thanksgiving meal.
The Elder students set the table and escorted their younger friends to
seats. We sang, we thanked, we
shared love with one another.
Jordan began adding to our circle time darling Spanish songs and
finger-plays the children love!
Thank you Jordan for all your gifts. Our time this month was full of adventure and big projects
the children loved.
December Curriculum Topics
“In the wilderness is the
preservation of the world.”
Henry David Thoreau
This year’s
shortest day of the year is on Wednesday, December 21, which will also mark the
longest night of the year. Every year, the winter solstice marks the turn of
the calendar as autumn ends and the winter begins. And from an astronomical standpoint, the winter
solstice means that the two opposite points in the sky to which the Earth’s
axis of rotation points change very slowly. Over the course of about 26,000
years, a complete circle is created. Culturally, winter solstice was used
to mark a number of events, including sowing of crops, mating season for
animals and monitoring winter reserves of food.
In respect of this amazing wonder our
earth experiences, our class will slow down. Life can be very busy for children and families during the holiday
season and we would like our classrooms (inside and out) to offer calm
environment to explore and play.
We will sing many varying holiday songs as well as many opportunities
for quiet. We introduced a small
bell and singing bowl. When
either instruments sings, we pause and count for five seconds then resume
activity. We hope the practice can create some sensory positive imprint during times when life is busy and whirling around, we can find inner calm from a
pause. This could be a positive addition to family life.
·
Orcas:
We continue our look at Orca family pods migration and life cycle. Alumni environmental specialist educator and islander,
Maria Metler introduced the wonders of Orca Puget sound life and we continue
that guide to understand this important J Pod community.
·
Conifer
Trees
·
Owls: Local owls and habitats (this as well as the topics listed below will roll into January).
·
Water
Forms: liquid and solid introduction.
What is a snowflake and can we read snowflakes if magnified? Also the geometric wonders such a small
object can hold.
·
Winter
Solstice and Festivals of Light holidays
Reminders/Thank You
·
Cold Days! Please & thank you for remembering to layer your child and pack layers in backpacks: zip-up
sweaters and hoodies are fantastic!
Please pack extra socks and share with your child he (can be
mismatched): socks are great mitten substitutes when needed!
·
Thank
you Elizabeth Shaw for the Play-dough!
·
Please
help this Holiday Season & consider donating a New Toy(s) & Books for a
local Holiday Toy Drive for children in need through our Vashon Maury Food Bank
and backpack program. With
inquiry, an entire family could be sponsored.
·
Happy Holiday Break! No School: December 15-January 2nd 2017
SOUNDS OF THE
WINTER
By Walt Whitman
SOUNDS of the winter too,
Sunshine upon the mountains—many a
distant strain
From cheery railroad train—from
nearer field, barn, house,
The whispering air—even the mute
crops, garner'd apples, corn,
Children's and women's tones—rhythm
of many a farmer and
of flail,
An old man's garrulous lips among the
rest, Think not we give
out yet,
Forth from these snowy hairs we keep
up yet the lilt.
