Ms. Phee & Ms. Fennessey's Classroom Blog: August 2016

Crash! Bang! Boom!

The Physics of Sound

During the week, children explored sound in a variety of ways. We learned that sound travels through vibrations. Children felt the vibrations on their own throats when they hummed. We also looked at different ways to create sounds. The class was particularly interested in sound they could make with their bodies and musical instruments.

Children were able to work with a drumming expert to explore a variety of large drums

Children using drums, ukuleles, and a finger piano to create a their own band

The class visited a piano in the school and experimented with the different sounds they could make

Children use pots and pans outside to create loud crashes and bangs

While talking and signing into a microphone, children noticed their voices changing

Vibrations from hitting the drum made the small pieces bounce. Children tried different speeds and strengths and watched what changed

To demonstrate all we learned about sound and music this week, students joined other classes and had a parade throughout the school

Where the Wild Things Are!
Studying Animals and their Environments

Each day of this week, we have explored a new group of animals and their habitats!

Day 1: The Savanna

We researched the savanna and learned there are only two seasons- a very wet season and a very dry season. We also talked about the different animals we would see in the savanna. The children were especially interested in the giraffes. This interest inspired us to start working on a project that ended up lasting throughout the entire week! Each day children worked to create a large, 3-D representation of a giraffe. They started by using paper machete to create the giraffe's body parts. Afterwards, they thoughtfully connected each piece to create the giraffe's body and then painted over the newspaper with the glue mixture.

John and Zayn using paper machete

to create legs for the giraffe

Jad, Emman and Emily worked
on creating a savanna with the rock blocks,
tree blocks and citi blocks.

Day 2: Forests/Woodlands

The children dipped the animals
paws into the paint.
They compared and contrasted
the animals paw prints.

To learn about forests, we talked about trees and different animals the children would find in the forest. Some children used a variety of materials to create their own trees. This day was extra special because Science Alive!, a traveling animal group, came to show the school real animals!

Conner worked on adding branches
and leaves to the tree trunk.

Jad used the large print books
to learn about different types of animals

Jad and Conner helped
Ms. Phee create tree trunks

Day 3: The Arctic

As a class, we discussed the different types of animals that can be found in the arctic. We talked about how the animals attributes can help them survive in the cold weather. Many children noticed how arctic animals were white, and had fur or rubbery skin.

Zayn, Anna and Zayn worked
on painting the various parts of the giraffe.

Miles, Zayn, Conner and Jad worked
on creating a home that would
keep them warm in the arctic.

Jad, Emily and Kate explored
the arctic animals in the water table.

Day 4: The Desert

On Thursday, we discussed the animals that make up the desert biome. We watched a video on how snakes travel through the sand. During explorations the children worked on creating their own snake with beads and wire. We provoked the children's thinking about the desert with a sand tray, rocks, and desert animals.

The children pretended
their animals were in the desert.

Abby and Miles worked together
to construct the giraffe.

Day 5: The Ocean

The children were very excited about exploring the ocean. Many of the children had previous knowledge about the animals in the ocean. We read "Under the Ocean" and discussed the animals that lived near the ocean, in the ocean and on the bottom of the ocean floor.