Gardening, Worms, Big Giants and More!

 

Our Garden

 

Heike checks out the new timbers for our garden.

 As part of our playground development efforts, we have added a small raised bed.  With the wonderful help of David Levinson, Heike's dad, and the High School, who donated the timbers, we were able to get the framework done in early spring.  Next, we consulted with Howard Hill, HS science teacher and Community alum, who suggested we do an indigenous plant prairie garden.  That way we could teach children about "natural" plants and the garden would require minimal care, especially during dry spells.

Then it was time to involve the children and quite fortuitously, we were approached by HS social worker, Charo Mendoza, who wanted to know if a group of HS ESL students could do an activity with us for Dia de Los Ninos  (Day of the Children).  What a  great opportunity to get to know some "Big Giants" (as we are the "Little Giants"), learn a little about another culture and prepare our garden for plants.  We spent the whole morning together reading books, singing songs, and putting the soil in our garden.  At the end, we exchanged friendship gifts and the Big Giants left us with a yummy treat of Arroz con Leche (rice pudding).

 

We were then approached by Mr. Kracht, another science teacher whom we met when his class was outside next to our playground.  He and his Big Giant Scientists offered to help us plant some natural prairie plants in our garden!  We love when we get to work with the Big Giants and they were indeed a big help in getting our garden started! 

 

 

 Our newly planted garden provided a natural segue into an exploration of our five senses.  Mrs. Nemcek began this with a student-driven discussion about our senses, what they are and how we use them.  The exploration, which began with our sense of sight, will last through the next few weeks.  You can see the students using their sense of sight to identify the different prairie plants in our garden!

 

 

Worms with Mr. Fay

 

This year we have built a nice relationship with science teacher, Aaron Fay, who hosts us for "playdates" from time to time.  Recently, Mr. Fay gave us a worm farm to take care of!!!  We have learned so much about worms including...

• worm waste (worm "pee and poop") is very good for plants
• worms move by stretching their muscles
• worms have five stomachs
• worms also help gardens by burrowing in the soil which adds air and plants like that
• worms change our food waste into nutrients for the soil
• worms are Garden Superhelpers!

Thank you, Mr. Fay!!!

Mr. Fay shows us the different levels of the worm farm.

He showed us how to add wet paper towel for the worms "beds".

Mr. Fay helped us move the worm farm to our classroom.

 

May Day Celebration

 

 

 

On May 1st, we learned that children all around the world celebrate spring.  To join in the celebration, we did a dance around our own make-shift May Pole and we made May baskets that we anonymously delivered to our friends around the high school.

 Little Giants at Play

 

Some very clever builders create a ball chute.

 

 


  

Brooke and Emmett play with cars and
Ava displays her rainbow unicorn Pegasus.



Elsa and Kate enjoy painting.



On one of the first warm days, we all enjoy a snack outside.

 

Teddy Bear Tea Party

The invitations have been sent for this very special event!  Thursday, May 23rd we will be hosting a Teddy Bear Tea Party. Each student may bring ONE teddy bear or stuffed animal to the party. We will be sure to take lots of pictures. :-)

 

 

Community All School Picnic

 Highland Park Community Nursery School & Day Care Center's annual family event will be held on Thursday, May 30th @ 5:00pm at Sunset Park. Families are invited to bring their own picnic dinner and join in all the fun.  We will provide cake and water melon for dessert!

 

 

Spring Family Potluck

Just a reminder that Tuesday, June 4th @ 5:00pm is the Little Giants Potluck.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone there.  If you have not signed up to attend and/or bring a dish, please do so that we know how many attendees to expect.

 

 

Reminder: Starting Thursday, June 6th, any child attending through the end of the school year will need to bring a packed lunch.  We will provide milk.