Patterns, patterns
in the air
Patterns, patterns
we do share,
Patterns, patterns
make us care,
Patterns, patterns
everywhere!
Dear Second and Third Grade Families,
Our days have been filled with so much wonder and awe with the world around us. We started off the week really paying attention to the patterns that we might find in nature. In fact, it was the book, “A Collaboration with Nature” by Andy Goldsworthy, that inspired us to document such findings while outside.
How could we not, then, be intrigued by number sequences that we found while counting our patterns from the outside. Even our old friend Mr. Fibonacci was referenced when identifying patterns. We then generated our own colorful patterns with our good old pattern blocks and tried to create such designs that might stump our friends. Could they guess what shape would come next?
If patterns in nature and math weren’t enough, we also looked at patterns of kindness all around us. The catalyst for this discussions was the wonderful book, “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deeds” by Emily Pearson, where one person begins by doing five deeds and then each person receiving the kind deed follows suit. And yes, this also became a math problem that took us way into the billions place. Well, together we discovered that the more we try to do kind deeds, the easier it becomes to follow the pattern. This ultimately lead us back to our first unit of study on how one person can change the world, seemingly with one kind pattern at a time.
The teachers eagerly watched students notice, wonder, and think about all such patterns knowing very well that so many rich connections were occurring all the while. In fact, from what we know about brain research and learning, we can come to conclude that connections are HUGE when it comes to teaching. Our main task as teachers in to create an environment where the students’ brains can be filled with quickly moving synapsis. We love it even more, when such connections are occurring around the topics of what it means to be a kind human being.
Speaking of kind human beings, there is one person, a Dr. Mary Leck, retired botany teacher from Rider University, that we will be soon learning a great deal about. For starters, she single-handedly founded the Friends of the Abbott Marshlands in Hamilton, NJ. Together with this organization, she lead a clean up of the surrounding marsh and helped to build the Talpehaking Nature Center nearby. She basically took a dump-like area, brought awarenesses about its flora, fauna, and rich Lenape history, and cleaned it up very well. So as part of our unit on how one person can change the world, we will be visiting this sight on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.
Please know that for this field trip, we are planning on meeting Dr. Leck and interviewing her about her work with the marshlands. In addition to this, she will guide us through a hike where she will highlight some of the beauty that is found all around. There will be other activities that we will also partake of while at the Nature Center, but one of the most exciting will be viewing the current art exhibit by Joy Kreeves, local artist. Her nature art installation, as well as poetry, will certainly leave us inspired.
Now, in order for us to get ready for this trip we are asking for cooperation from our families. Since this trip will encompass us eating a waste free lunch while there, we would like to practice by bringing a waste free lunch on Monday, September 28th. Being that these students once studied a unit on the topic of trash to treasure, they will recall the plight of trash in this world. Hence, we will continue to reinforce the topic of conservation and sustainability for our planet. By continuing to attempt to bring zero waste lunches, we will be ending one type of pattern indeed.
We look forward to seeing you all at Back to School Night this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. where we will discuss these topics and others even further. As always, we are deeply indebted by your trust in regards to your children.
Warm Regards,
Asela and Anne
in the air
Patterns, patterns
we do share,
Patterns, patterns
make us care,
Patterns, patterns
everywhere!
Dear Second and Third Grade Families,
Our days have been filled with so much wonder and awe with the world around us. We started off the week really paying attention to the patterns that we might find in nature. In fact, it was the book, “A Collaboration with Nature” by Andy Goldsworthy, that inspired us to document such findings while outside.
How could we not, then, be intrigued by number sequences that we found while counting our patterns from the outside. Even our old friend Mr. Fibonacci was referenced when identifying patterns. We then generated our own colorful patterns with our good old pattern blocks and tried to create such designs that might stump our friends. Could they guess what shape would come next?
If patterns in nature and math weren’t enough, we also looked at patterns of kindness all around us. The catalyst for this discussions was the wonderful book, “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deeds” by Emily Pearson, where one person begins by doing five deeds and then each person receiving the kind deed follows suit. And yes, this also became a math problem that took us way into the billions place. Well, together we discovered that the more we try to do kind deeds, the easier it becomes to follow the pattern. This ultimately lead us back to our first unit of study on how one person can change the world, seemingly with one kind pattern at a time.
The teachers eagerly watched students notice, wonder, and think about all such patterns knowing very well that so many rich connections were occurring all the while. In fact, from what we know about brain research and learning, we can come to conclude that connections are HUGE when it comes to teaching. Our main task as teachers in to create an environment where the students’ brains can be filled with quickly moving synapsis. We love it even more, when such connections are occurring around the topics of what it means to be a kind human being.
Speaking of kind human beings, there is one person, a Dr. Mary Leck, retired botany teacher from Rider University, that we will be soon learning a great deal about. For starters, she single-handedly founded the Friends of the Abbott Marshlands in Hamilton, NJ. Together with this organization, she lead a clean up of the surrounding marsh and helped to build the Talpehaking Nature Center nearby. She basically took a dump-like area, brought awarenesses about its flora, fauna, and rich Lenape history, and cleaned it up very well. So as part of our unit on how one person can change the world, we will be visiting this sight on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.
Please know that for this field trip, we are planning on meeting Dr. Leck and interviewing her about her work with the marshlands. In addition to this, she will guide us through a hike where she will highlight some of the beauty that is found all around. There will be other activities that we will also partake of while at the Nature Center, but one of the most exciting will be viewing the current art exhibit by Joy Kreeves, local artist. Her nature art installation, as well as poetry, will certainly leave us inspired.
Now, in order for us to get ready for this trip we are asking for cooperation from our families. Since this trip will encompass us eating a waste free lunch while there, we would like to practice by bringing a waste free lunch on Monday, September 28th. Being that these students once studied a unit on the topic of trash to treasure, they will recall the plight of trash in this world. Hence, we will continue to reinforce the topic of conservation and sustainability for our planet. By continuing to attempt to bring zero waste lunches, we will be ending one type of pattern indeed.
We look forward to seeing you all at Back to School Night this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. where we will discuss these topics and others even further. As always, we are deeply indebted by your trust in regards to your children.
Warm Regards,
Asela and Anne