Improv with Mike and Laura

Our improv cycle with Mike and Laura ended in early December. To celebrate, many parents and siblings visited the classroom to watch our final class. We demonstrated all the different games and activities we had learned.

Here's an example of the gift giving game we played.

We'll be using the games frequently throughout the year to help us in reading, writing and social studies. For example, during social studies we'll become different characters throughout time. We'll act out improvised scenes from important historical events. We'll even imagine ourselves in different locations (for example, a colonial kitchen) and use the items that would be there.

The Old Stone House

This year, we've taken two field trips to the Old Stone House.

First, we attended a Traditional Medicinals program. We learned about how different plants were used to treat different sicknesses in colonial times. Using plants, we ground our own treatments for pretend patients. Then, we went out into the gardens to hunt for different plants commonly used in colonial times.

Our second program was on the Gowanus Creek. We learned about the geography of Brooklyn hundreds of years ago and the role the Gowanus Creek played in determining where different groups of people would settle. We explored common animals and crops that flourished around the creek. After we learned more about one animal or crop, we taught our classmates about it.

We can't wait for our Colonial Crafts program in early January!

Art Studio

Art Studio with Robin began in early December, and we just had our second art studio class this week. This week we focused in on abstract mask collages.

First, we had our lesson with Robin where she introduced us to different kinds of masks found around the world. We studied the features of the masks and how the artists used different abstract shapes to show eyes, ears, mouths and noses.

Then, Robin taught us how to use different types of paper, scissors, our hands, and glue to make our collages.

We quickly got to work, and we created some beautiful collages. They are on display outside our classroom. Stop by and take a look!

Read-a-Thon for Hurricane Sandy

Our schoolwide Read-a-Thon to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief was a huge success! Altogether, we raised nearly $23,000 for three New York charities: the Red Hook Initiative, the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, and New York Says Thank You.

As a class, we enjoyed reading for 90 minutes straight while wearing our pajamas. We also had brunch while we read. Thanks to all of our families for sending in bagels, cream cheese and butter, and all kinds of fruit!