Hello Magnolia Families,

We’ve been so happy to enjoy some sunny days after all that rain! Although, it was pretty fun to set up an obstacle course inside Magnolia complete with climbing on a table, crossing a balance beam and jumping onto a gymnastics mat 🙂 As we continue our space and solar system adventures, we’ve also been busy with our sound of the week curriculum, creating inventions, and celebrating Tết- the Vietnamese Lunar New Year! Check out the fun below 🙂

 

Meet itl the inchworm

itl the inchworm says “i-i-i-i!” We noticed that the letter i is made of two simple marks: a standing line and a dot which hovers above it. We practiced tracing the letter i in the air and agreed the most fun was the dot at the top. We wondered which letters start with “i” and introduced some new works to the language shelf. We’ve also been reviewing letters that we’ve learned before and are learning how to recognize and name the initial sound a word makes.

A Maker Station and Spotlight on Inventions

Our “non-napping” group created inventions using recycled objects such as bubble wrap, foil, tape, cardboard, straws, and packaging foam. Friends started with materials then their ideas came to them. Check out some of the inventions- many of which would come in handy if they were real!

“Big Fat Cake” Mine is a big cake and it makes a cake. This is a fairy home and they have a jet mega that flies them to their fairy home. It has to go underwater then up then into a volcano then through the ocean. The pink things are little fairies.
It’s a “Pupé” that collects garbage. It shoots cannons from the straws and goes underwater.
It’s a “Blaster Bot” it blasts to go quickly underwater. The space shuttle goes into space.
It launches things up- its a “gingerbread maker!”
It’s a “Donut” that makes other donuts.
“Turn into Anything I Want Machine” It can turn into anything I want.
It’s an “Airplane” that only has one wing the airplane goes fast.
It’s a “Parachute”. If anyone’s in danger it can come help them.

 

Lunar New Year Celebration: Tết

Jordan’s mama Ann came into Magnolia to share about their family’s tradition of celebrating Tết! Tết celebrates the arrival of Spring and has similar and different customs as Lunar New Year celebrations in other Asian cultures. In Vietnamese culture, families gather to eat, create alters and have parades with loud drumming, fireworks and a lion dance. Ann brought a special treat of candied coconut for the children and teachers to enjoy and it was a delightful, sweet, and chewy snack! Since this is the zodiac year of the dragon, the children made dragons out of toilet paper rolls (thanks Magnolia friends for your donations!), pom poms, pipe cleaners, tissue paper and googly eyes.

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Magnolia Jam Band

Emily introduced some new instruments to the children, and told them about how musicians sometimes “jam” by improvising music together. Emily played guitar, the children played along- then when she stopped, she’d “spotlight” an instrument. Then, the child playing that instrument would have a solo. Mitch even joined in the jam with his harmonica!

More Fun Around Magnolia

♥Emily.Mitra.Darius