Animals Around the World

    Throughout the month of January, SMART START studied Animals Around the World. 

🐘Read below to follow along with our young learners on this wild science and geography unit🐘

🦊 Forest ranger friends constructed habitats using recycled materials, a woodland creature, paint and glue. Creativity and imagination magnified as egg cartons became mountains, cellophane embodied ice, toilet paper rolls turned into tunnels and Styrofoam symbolized snowbanks. Binoculars were used to appreciate all angles of these masterpieces. 

🐧 Wednesday, January 20th was National Penguin Awareness Day. Our school recognized this time by dressing in black and white and placing a focus on endangered species. Peers played the game "Penguin Tower" and completed worksheets. Both activities challenged hand to eye coordination, cognitive skills, group cooperation, counting and more. The need to preserve wildlife worldwide was discussed. 

Here are "everyday efforts" the class comprised:

• Recycle 
• Do not litter/pick up litter
• Connect with and respect nature 
• Turn our yards/outdoor classrooms into an animal friendly space
• Learn about different species
• Share information with others

🧼 SMART START Zoologists eagerly anticipated a visit from Animal Adventures Rescue Zoo. The class collected food and cleaning donations to support the organization located in Bolton, MA. 

🐍 Ed, the owner of the outreach program, arrived with an abundance of animals ranging from native to exotic. Students were introduced to an armadillo, chinchilla, boa constrictor, porcupine, alligator, bearded dragon and more! This hands-on, engaging experience provided the opportunity for pupils to interact with the subject matter up close. In addition, all were fascinated by Ed's expertise on animal behaviors, diets, habitats and shared rescue stories. 

🌍 Regions and ecosystems inhabiting various animal types were explained during outdoor circle time. SMART START recently partnered with an educational company, "Fly Little Dragon" and we incorporated aspects of their Learn & Play Program into our curriculum.

Here are a few facts we learned: 

• Arctic: contains the Artic Ocean, and multiple countries (USA, Canada, Russia) animals include walrus, seal, arctic hare, snowy owl, polar bear and puffin.

• Rainforests: located in numerous countries (Africa, Asia, Australia) animals include: toucan, anteater, sloth, leopard, monkeys, tree frog and snakes. 

• Savannah: hot and dry environment, animals include: elephant, lion, giraffe, cheetah, hippopotamus, zebra and gorilla. 

    Afterwards, activity pages from "Fly Little Dragon" were used to reinforce our lessons. 

🕮 An assortment of themed centers were enjoyed: Monkey Barrell (connect and hang as many monkeys as you can), research display (observe and locate habitats using books and a globe), Hoot Owl Hoot (group effort board game) and a Jungle Puzzle (100 pieces/Kindergarten level). 

🧩 A language arts lesson was integrated into our unit review. Prekindergartners and Kindergartners completed puzzles to sound out, spell and rhyme animal types (Ex: B-A-T & R-A-T, D-O-G & H-O-G). Preschoolers practiced differentiating uppercase versus lowercase letters and their corresponding sounds using jumbo alphabet flashcards. 

🐒We hope you enjoyed reading about Animals Around the World studies🐒

🐅SMART START🐅

All About Cody!

   

    Kindergartner Cody was exceptionally prepared to be SMART START's student of December. Cody completed his 4th "All About Me" assignment to share at school. His expertise and superb public speaking skills were evident throughout each presentation. You are a stellar student, Cody!

Cody's Poster 

Class Presentations

    Cody's 6th birthday celebration at school was a special event. He brought in yummy brownies and goody bags for his friends. Classmates sang "Happy Birthday" to Cody in English and Spanish and gifted him with a science book. 

     At just 9 months old, Cody became one SMART START's earliest students. We have had the pleasure of sharing in all 6 of Cody's birthdays. Cody is the pillar of our S.M.A.R.T character building blocks: service, mindfulness, achievement, respect and trust and is an outstanding leader and role model for his classmates. It has been a privilege assisting you on your educational journey, Cody!

💙SMART START💙

Happy Holidays 2020

    Holiday Happenings at SMART START commenced December 1st! Young learners celebrated this magical month through a variety of engaging, hands-on activities. 

Please join our festivities below:

 📅 Christmas crafters created a Santa Claus countdown calendar. Materials used included: red paper, white poster board, Santa face paper plates, cotton balls and glue. 

Poem/Instructions: 

Santa's beard is very bare 

on his chin there is no hair 

so each day add a puff of white 

when it's full he will come that night!

HO HO HO CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

🤶 Mrs. Claus visited our school all the way from the North Pole! Students had a holly jolly time delighting in classic carols, music and movement games and placing their letters/wish lists for  Santa inside Mrs. Claus' "Letters to Santa" mailbox. 

Mrs. Claus At School

🍞 Merry and bright bakers measured and mixed ingredients to make gingerbread loaves. Older peers had the opportunity to put on oven mitts and place the bread in the oven all by themselves. 

Baking Spirits Bright

🎄 Everyone enjoyed trimming the tree and decking classroom halls while listening to traditional tunes. Afterwards, surprise presents for friends from home were placed underneath the tree to be exchanged at our holiday party.

Oh Christmas Tree

🎀 Yuletide traditions continued on as fine motor skills were challenged while weaving wreaths using Ribbons, string, bells and bows. "Snow" was sprayed as a finishing touch. 

Tis The Season

☕festive friends wore pajamas and brought cookies to swap with each other on "Holiday Hot Cocoa & Cookies Day" A Hot Chocolate center was arranged for all to make a custom cup of cheer. 

Oh What Fun

🧸 SMART START embraced the season of giving by participating in two donation drives. Classmates contributed and collected gifts for "Toys for Tots" and non-perishable food items for "Lazarus House Ministries" The children were grateful their offerings brought good tidings of comfort and joy. 

 

Giving Is Better Than Receiving

🕯 Hanukkah was observed on the first day of its season. The meaning of the menorah was taught and reinforced through a worksheet and group discussions. 

🕮 Winter holidays celebrated around the world were introduced at the indoor book display and outdoor story time. 

Here are some facts we learned:

• Hanukkah lasts for eight days
• The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black and green
• Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and is usually on December 21st.
• Santa Claus has many different names: Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas etc.

🧝 SMART START Elves were busy in their workshop making school-made presents for their parents. Hand sanitizer was formed mixing aloe & alcohol and sachets were constructed using scented pine cones, netting and ribbon. 

Elves Hustling & Bustling

🦌 Our holiday extravaganza was a joyous event! Pupils painted ornaments, played bingo, exchanged gifts, freeze danced and ate delicious treats. All were astonished when Santa Claus himself came to visit and deliver toys for our classrooms! 

Party Highlights

🎵 SMART START Chorus assembled to sing "Feliz Navidad." This enhanced our Spanish language studies as lyrics were translated to "Merry Christmas." In addition, classmates practiced their counting and colors in Spanish playing jumbo UNO.

Feliz Naviad

🎅 The enchanting essence of Christmas Eve was embraced through a fun finger play:

 

When Santa comes to my house 

 

           I'd like to take a peek               

         but I know he'll never come           

 

                    until I'm fast asleep              

 Finger Play Performance

⭐SMART START⭐

All About Brooke!

    Miss Brooke was ecstatic for her very first "All About Me" assignment and to be the star student of November. Brooke showcased her poster project at school with the utmost confidence. All of her friends were impressed by Brooke's animated presentation and her ability to rise to the occasion. We are so proud of you, Brooke!

Brooke's Poster

Class Presentations

    Time to celebrate Brooke's 3rd birthday! Brooke brought in ice treats and goody bags for her party at school to share with friends. Classmates sang "Happy Birthday" to Brooke and gifted her with a book on Amelia Earhart (who Brooke portrayed during women's history month). 

    Brooke has grown leaps and bounds since starting SMART START at just 15 months old! Brooke is bright, daring, full of charisma and enjoys life to the fullest. Although she is one of our youngest students, age holds no limits for her as there is not anything Brooke cannot do. You brighten everyone's day, Brooke!

💗SMART START💗

Thanksgiving 2020

    🍂Throughout the month of November, SMART START celebrated the essence of Thanksgiving. This served as a time to foster feelings of gratitude in our students through a variety of fun festivities. 

We are most thankful to partake in these special formative experiences with our young learners!🍂

Read about our Thanksgiving unit below :

  
    📚The history of  the holiday was discussed during both indoor and outdoor storytime times and book displays. 

Here are some facts the class learned:

• The pilgrims left England and sailed to the "new world"/North America on the Mayflower ship
• The Mayflower landed in Plymouth, MA and formed a colony. 
• Life in the new world was difficult for the pilgrims
• The first Native Americans to help the pilgrims were named Samoset and Squanto.
• The pilgrims learned how to fish, hunt, plant and more from the Native Americans
• Both the pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated their gratitude by having a feast together 
• This meal began the tradition of Thanksgiving 

    🎨Appreciative artists decorated napkin holders using paint, glitter and other materials. The children wrapped their finished product to be given as a gift, saved for Thanksgiving day or to be used as décor.

   🖉Our grateful group gathered in the outdoor classroom to share some thankful thoughts on an "I am thankful" pumpkin chalk board. 

  📑  To reinforce the significance of gratitude, classmates compiled a list of what they are "So Very Thankful For" as a homework assignment. These were displayed in our classrooms for all to admire.  

  🍞🧈  Beginner bakers beamed while making school-made bread and butter. Pupils patiently poured all of the ingredients together to bake the bread and used their muscles and a marble to mix the butter. Both tasted delicious!

   

  Bread Recipe 

   🥕🥔Festive friends eagerly awaited SMART START's annual "Friendsgiving Feast". All brought in an item to share for the event and participated in preparations at school. 

   💛 Prior to feasting, peers proudly performed a thanksgiving poem. 

   🍽  Our memorable meal was a school-wide effort!

Thankful & Grateful for our SMART START families! Without them our school would not be possible🧡

Click below to view more Thanksgiving highlights 

🦃SMART START🦃

Election Day 2020

    Election Day in the United States occurred on November, 3rd. SMART START observed this monumental event by educating our young learners on their right to exercise their vote. 

SMART START Election

    Pupils participated in a mock election at school to elect their new class president. The two nominees were Barny the Barn Owl & Freddy the Fox. Each candidate displayed their agenda and students scrutinized these at our "debate". 

    All received a ballot and proceeded to the polls. Those in support of Barny marked their ballot with a "B" and those in favor of Freddy signed their ballot with an "F". After much contemplation, classmates cast their ballots and received an "I voted (kids vote too!)" sticker.  

    Parties assembled to hear the anticipated election results. Ballots were counted and a winner was announced... Freddy the Fox! Everybody was excited to inaugurate their new class president. 

    The group gathered to reflect on the election process. This time served as an opportunity for every child to express who they voted for and why. It was impressive how informed and assured they were when discussing their "political views". Peers pondered over their opposing opinions, but learned a valuable lesson of respecting differences in their friends. 

Click below to view SMART START's Election Highlights 

Children are the future and we hope to instill in them that their voices matter and should be heard!

🗳SMART START🗳