Kindy: Raven study, Community & Airplanes
Community involves growing together and focusing on the Chugach Bs: respectful, kind, safe, production & positive. Raven learning will include story writing, drawing, art, making a raven mask and science. Caycee & Jihee shared that the kids really become aware of ravens and their behaviors outdoors. They pay attention and show such excitement about Ravens arounds them (ravens are often in a group, what they eat, their vocal noises, etc).Kids will make paper airplanesand fly them. They will compare observations and differences with distance, design and flight tricks.
Teachers Caycee and Jihee shared that kids are having fun being in class with their classmates and teachers and that their enthusiasm to be in school is wonderful to see. It's inspiring to see kids display and develop encouragement of each other.
Primary: Penguins
The penguin study involves learning about 17 different penguin species. Kids will learn geography from the penguins' habitats, math through the height/weight measurement comparison of the child and their penguin species. Students will create penguin art and a research project. They are taking breaks and reading the Mr. Poppers Penguins book.
Erika shared that elders are taking turns leading in the class. Kids are looking out for each other, collaborating and building teamwork. They are also increasing their stamina in their reading, writing and showing they are up for a challenge. There is daily movement in class including yoga which the kids enjoy.
Celeste shared that there is lots of laughter, a love of learning and reconnection with friends. It's wonderful to see distance heart bursts and distance hugs; the kids are genuinely enjoying being with each other. Students are offering kindness to each other. Lauralee has shared Boom Wackers, which are plastic tubes in different musical notes/keys. Kids are using them to make music. They are working in groups and utilizing teamwork to play songs with all the Boom Wackers.
Emily shared "children are settling into our daily routines, laughing, and enjoying being back with friends. Elders have quickly stepped into the role of being elders and learning what a big job that can be. " Our days have been filled with reading just-right books, automaticity with math facts within ten (+ and -), regrouping, building words, using strategies to sound out larger words in our reading, and using their creativity in their writing journals. Here is a snapshot made by a few friends, about what our days have been filled with!"
Middle: Finishing up Alaska Studies & starting Middle Ages
Heidi shared that kids are excited about their Alaska Native artifact share. They have researched, written about and created an artifact and will present their findings to their classmates from their
Alaska Studies. Kids will learn about Alaska geography with their salt dough relief maps of Alaska. Heidi shared that it's nice to be able to get back to project based learning with the kids in classrooms again.
Mikelle shared that kids are studying measurement and date: they are collecting data and creating graphs on our ever-changing daylight. Students are also exploring fractions and decimals.
Genie shared "Children are working on the final pieces of their Alaska Native studies. These next weeks, they're making Yup'ik-inspired clay masks, doing research on a chosen Alaska Native group, and creating an artifact connected their chosen group. After spring break, children will make salt dough relief maps of Alaska and all their wonderful work will be presented."
Upper: Revolutionary War & touch on Westward Expansion
Students will conduct Socratic seminars on Hamilton the musical and from pop culture. They will participate in historical fiction book clubs and begin to learn about Westward Expansion. Upper teachers shared that it's wonderful to see kids' energy, laughter and engagement with others. Due to COVID, upper students aren't able to mix among the three classes, but they have a stronger sense of community within their (class) family group as a result.
Upper students also recently worked with spoken word artist and Chugach parent, Kima Hamilton on poems for Black History Month. The writing prompt was, “Black history is my history because…” We will be sharing a few of the student poems in this Scoop.
