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There was no excitement in our classroom today. No.....no excitement at all. We could hardly contain ourselves and I'm sure I was asked at least every ten minutes if it was time to go yet. And of course, with all the excitement there comes some silliness and inattention, so I feel that I did my fair share of nagging this morning. You all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Now multiply that umpteen times. All that aside, I think the kids truly enjoyed the performance this afternoon (even the little duck who took a nap as soon as the lights went down) and I am very disappointed the only performances were today as I would highly recommend it. It was produced by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia and was a puppet with black light affair. Three of Eric Carle's stories, The Little Cloud, The Mixed Up Chameleon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar were performed. The whole theatre was a 'no shush zone' and the children not only enjoyed the show but discussed it with their neighbours at the same time, predicting, confirming and pointing out details. There was clapping and laughing and jumping up and down. And at the end the two puppeteers showed us how the puppets and black lights worked. I took as many pictures to share with you as I was able until the volunteer rather forcefully tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me that she had already told me no photography was allowed. Maybe she had done her fair share of nagging this morning too.  Just a quickie- it was a quiet week and other than our field trip next Tuesday to the play The Hungry Caterpillar, next week should be too.
 Did you have a good day? Team Awesome had an awesome day! The children were so well behaved at the morning assembly that they earned two points on the You/Me game. I was so proud of them! At the end of the assembly, after we had watched two children from every class lay a wreath underneath a cross with the words 'We will remember' while another class sang In Flanders Fields, one of the children turned to me and said, "Mrs. Bowden I feel very emotional." Truth to tell, I always feel emotional at the Remembrance assembly too. And I couldn't help but wonder what must have been going through the minds of the two veterans sitting next to me this morning.
And of course it was our first Fresh Air Friday, which was a huge success. There was running, jumping, yelling, digging, hiding, sticks, sand piles, water, mud and so much more. It was so much fun we might have to increase it from one day a month to two!
Mrs. Farber and her class invited Team Awesome to crash their iPad buddy time this afternoon. So we did. The children were partnered up with a grade six student who introduced them to a math app and an app of their choice on the iPads. We only had 25 minutes but the children enjoyed themselves. (Have I told you to click on the pictures to make them bigger?) We all have those memories from childhood: jumping into a cool lake on a hot summer day, intently watching ants on the march or spending hours just laying back and looking at clouds. And whether we realized it or not, those moments in the outdoors helped shaped our views on the world around us. But those kinds of memories are fading fast for many young people today. The statistics are alarming: in a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own and kids 8 to 18 spend an overwhelming 53 hours a week using entertainment media. Within the space of what feels like very little time, the way children understand and experience nature has radically changed. Today, kids are aware of the global threats to the environment, but their physical contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading. It is becoming exactly the opposite of what most of us experienced growing up. There is an increasing divide between the young and the natural world. And of course, there are environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual implications because of that divide. Why Fresh Air Friday? Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance. Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues. It also improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness. Outside play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression. Nature makes you nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships. Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment. Need I say more? Our first Fresh Air Friday will be this week, come rain, shine or snow. We will be walking down to the river to explore so dress your child for the weather and expect some dirt.
Did the children come home begging you to let them join Earth Rangers? Did they have stories about seeing a fox and having a barn owl fly around the gym? The Earth Rangers joined us a BEST today and the children were excited - just listening to the sounds of the animals behind the screens was enough to raise our excitement level to almost fever pitch. The Earth Rangers were partially sponsored by Highland Valley Copper and came all the way from Ontario. They will be making 26 presentations in Kamloops this week alone. Earth Rangers is dedicated to educating children and families about biodiversity and empowering them to take action. They use the extraordinary power of live animals to teach students about the issues facing Canadian wildlife and encourage them to become members. By becoming a member of Earth Rangers, children, with support from their families, make a commitment to engage in actions that directly contribute to the protection of wildlife. Members receive a welcome package, including a personalized membership card, and throughout the year, receive communications with engaging content, fun challenges and updates. EarthRangers.com is one of the largest online environmental communities for kids in Canada and the ideal destination for kids interested in conservation and biodiversity. The website features over 25 environmentally themed games, videos about species in the wild, environmental news, interviews and fun facts about animals and best yet, its all free. Check it out! |
