This fresh air and exercise prepare our brains and bodies for optimal learning, and Mother Nature continues to be a great teacher. The deer have been very active on the milder days, and we continue to see footprints and other signs of animal activity in the snow. We have had conversations about Groundhog Day and the impending emergence of this furry rodent from hibernation. We have talked about shadows and what is required to make a shadow (light). We notice that our own shadows on the ground are very long in the early morning when the sun is still low in the sky. In the classroom, we have read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts about groundhogs, the history of Groundhog Day, and the fun that comes from putting our faith in the prediction of a rodent weather forecaster.
In other February news, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, February 14th. If your child wishes to bring Valentine cards to school, we have 30 students in our class. Please do not address your child’s cards with specific student names. Feel free to leave the “To” part blank or just address the cards to “Mon Ami.” Encouraging your child to sign his or her own name provides a great opportunity to practise printing for an authentic purpose.