K-1

Africa and.......

We are continuing to have fun with our study of Africa. Guests continue to enrich our study. In Language Arts/Social Studies the K/1's are studying the continents. They located the continents on the globe and maps. Also they can find Africa on the globe and can tell how to locate Kenya. They are learning directions and places near the equator. See below to find out what the children are doing in Science.

A very big thank you to Robert Gibbs for volunteering to teach the children about West African weaving - see below. Also, this week, the K/1's began weaving during math class. They are using hand held looms, yarn, and needle to create strips of simple patterns.

Max with his mom, our guest reader, reading Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain - a Nandi tale from Kenya, Africa. Max's mom also read one of Max's favorite books. Thank you for visiting!

The K/1's are studying climate. Kate used lamps, a globe, and thermometers to demonstrate how the sunlight hits the earth. The K/1's learned why it's so hot at the equator.

The children compared the temperature in Kenya with the temperature in New York State. The lamps demonstrate different angles of the sun.

Robert shows the children Mali and Cote d'Ivoire on the map.

Robert taught the children an African word which describes the importance of community: UBUNTU The word means: "I am because we are."

Robert produced and directed the video "Patterns of Life" The Art of West African Strip-Weaving for the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.

Along with the video Robert showed the children photos of patterns used in weaving. The children were quite interested in the colorful patterns. Robert also taught the children weaving words.