October 2018 Class Updates
For the International Day of Peace, all of the students made white paper flowers and performed songs of peace for special guests attending Elders Day. The students served snacks and drinks. The Elders were then able to view the classrooms in action.
In the Otter classroom, the students are enjoying bubble making, pouring, spooning beans, sweeping, and working with a baster to transfer liquids. They have also received lessons on static addition, sound cylinders, sandpaper letters, and cursive handwriting. The author of the month is Jane Yolen, author of What to Do with a Box, among other children’s books. The Otters welcome new Montessori student-teacher, MacKenzie Henry, mother of two MSCS students. She will be a part of the Otter class while completing her training.
The Owls are learning about fall, the chlorophyll in the leaves and the changing colors. They are singing the song, “The Leaves are Falling Down,” and Ms. Clare has translated “So Many Colors of the Rainbow” to Spanish to sing with the Owls. They are enjoying bird watching and using their outdoor classroom spaces. They made “mud soup,” shucked corn, and practiced hammering pegs into a pumpkin. The Owls had a lovely visit to the Transylvania County Library.
The Kinders are looking forward to a trip to see the craft show of the Transylvania County Handcrafters’ Guild on the Brevard College campus. They will meet artists, view the crafts, and have some creek play time.
The Acorn students have been affected by weather this month. During Hurricane Florence, they talked about the weather and some children chose weather research topics. Then, after much excitement for the campout, it was rained out and they were forced to adapt. Fortunately, they rescheduled their Black Balsam hike and had beautiful weather. They are busy working on spelling and literacy skills and have had visits from their “reading buddies” from TVS.
The Monarch class has a lot going on! Their butterflies are emerging from their chrysalises and Bake Sales have begun. Service Learning Projects are kicking off in the categories of Poverty, Environment, Water, or Animals. Maria Whitehead, a MSCS parent, spoke to the students about The Nature Conservancy. The trip to Buffalo Cove was as amazing as ever. They learned primitive skills along with their theme of Ancient Civilizations. The students studied irrigation using bamboo to move water from one location to another.
The Coyotes spent 4 spectacular days on Lake Jocassee canoeing, camping, and testing the water with equipment from NC State University. They camped on a private island and saw waterfalls only accessible by canoe. Back in the classroom, the Coyotes have eagerly tackled their Shakespeare studies of Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. A speaker from the Highlands Biological Station shared with the class about watersheds and human impact. They also visited the Oconee Nuclear Power Station to incorporate their lessons on water, energy, and molecular studies.
Written by Jennifer Stewart