Silkworms

Liam (age 5), above, our naturalist, asked for many days if the silkworms were big enough to hold yet. 

Finally, the children got to hold the worms. It was an exciting day.

April is silkworm month at Windsor. As you've heard from your pre-kindergartners, we have live silkworms in the classroom. The children have been very critically observing them. Many complex questions about the worms come up, some which we have to look up together.

The children will observe the full silkworm life cycle, as it unfolds before their eyes. We had about 50 eggs, about half of which hatched within the past couple weeks. The children take turns feeding the worms mulberry leaves twice a day, a task they take great pride and joy in.

Karate (first few lessons)

Windsor has partnered with a karate school and many of the children (4 years and older) have started their lessons. Rather than focusing on "fighting," the lessons are really about instilling respect not just for others, but for one self.

The children are building their concentration, discipline, listening skills, and focus.

They are challenging their bodies and improving coordination, endurance, strength, etc.

And it's just a whole lot of FUN with their friends!

Check out the videos and feel free to contact me if you'd like to sit in and watch.

the swamp:


focus, boys!


kicking:



-SS

Guest Reader: Grandma Bonnie

We had a very special visitor all the way from Texas: Bonnie, grandmother of Liam and Mateo. Bonnie has been an elementary school librarian for over twenty years! This is quite evident... she is one amazing storyteller.

With lots of eye contact, changes in tone, facial expressions, and actions, she had the children completely engaged during our goodbye circle.

All of us--children and teachers alike--sat back and enjoyed ourselves.

On behalf of everyone at Windsor. thank you, Hughes family, for sharing your treasure of a grandmother!


-SS

Juggling Fun!

Today we had a very special visitor: Bugsby the juggler! He put on a juggling performance for all the preschoolers and babies.

He also talked about juggling and taught the children to juggle.

A highlight during the performance -- Bugsby juggled an apple and two balls, and as he was juggling, he took a bite out of the apple. Liam seemed more interested in the apple, insisting that he he wanted a bite too. :-) Samantha was so excited she couldn't stop jumping up and down! Michael was wary at first, but eventually joined in on the juggling fun.

Bugsby was wonderful, but, honestly, I most enjoyed observing the children's expressions and reactions. All the children, irrespective of age, had faces full of such wonder and amazement.

-SS