Notes

With February’s frigid temperatures and multiple storms hopefully behind us, we and the children are anxiously awaiting spring and all of the changes that will come later this month. Our Robin’s long journey is continuing as he/she moves closer to New Jersey. After flying through the milder more spring-like weather in the Carolinas, the Robin flew over Washington DC and was able to see the beautiful white monuments and reflecting pool. We have miniature replicas of these, so as we present the lesson we can show both pictures and the statues of the Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the Capitol. Then on to Philadelphia with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Soon we will be celebrating the Robin’s arrival at Parkside and environs. Our books, complete with covers should be done by late March or early April.

March is the month of the Planets at Parkside. We will be studying the Solar System with the hope of imparting to the children an understanding of its vastness and our place in it. Our students have always been interested in the mysteries of outer space, and, to help with a more concrete understanding of the world beyond ours, we will have in each classroom a basket with true to form and color replicas of each planet. Also, Mrs. Valentine has hung from the classroom ceilings inflatable planets surrounding a large inflatable Sun to illustrate its role as the center of the Solar System. This is easy to see in her placement of each planet and that planet’s position in relation to the Sun. We will study the individual characteristics of the planets, both those made of rock and those made of gas. We will also be talking about comets, asteroids and meteors and the number of moons of each planet. As always, our books, puzzles, matching and punching work, counting exercises and art projects will reflect the Solar System theme.

In Practical Life, color mixing becomes more challenging as the children, using the eyedropper, pinch dots of that color onto cards of each primary color and then mix the dots with a toothpick to achieve a secondary color. Shoe polishing, celery cutting and mirror polishing continue, and silver polishing will be brought in. Towards the end of the month we will introduce coffee grinding, one of our most popular activities. In Language, the children continue to enjoy our “Picture Story” work. This activity encourages creative verbal and written communication. They are also having fun with their photo/label matching as described last month.

Also in March, Mrs. Donohue will be making Irish soda bread with the children, and we will be punching shamrocks and Irish flags in the Language area, and creating shamrocks at the art table.

As temperatures hopefully rise this month, we will be watching for the early spring blooms, including the pussy willow bush and the earliest and tiniest of the bulbs we planted last spring, the crocus. We may also see the branches of our forsythia bushes near the playground show their first green shoots before the yellow blossoms emerge. Surprisingly, last year, before the end of March, daffodils and hyacinths also bloomed, but last winter was much milder than this one.

In her extensive work with children and in all of her writings, Maria Montessori believed that children learning from other children is key to a successful classroom. As our year continues and our students continue to gain confidence in their work choices, abilities and social relationships, we understand the importance of that belief.

“Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.”

Henry Ford