The Cover Is Not the Book

 "The cover is not the book, so open it up and take a look

 'Cause under the cover, one discovers that the king may be a crook.

Chapter titles are like signs, and if you read between the lines,

You'll find your first impression was mistook.

The cover is nice, but the cover is not the book."

We've been watching the new Mary Poppins movie, and this song from the movie reminds us of  the importance of not leaning on first impressions or judging by appearances. The students are learning to read, and once they're reading independently, they'll be able to investigate, find information, and make evaluations. Most important, they'll be able to read the Bible for themselves and discover for themselves the greatness of the love God has lavished on us.

" I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

 

And speaking of investigating....here are some pictures of our science lab investigations.

This week the students learned about matter.

Heat causes solids to change to liquid.

A solid (baking soda) and a liquid (vinegar) combine to form a gas.

And just for fun....

Cooperative Learning

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV)

 Around 445 BC, when the Jews were rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem, the people learned the value of teamwork and cooperation. With  an organized effort and a lot of hard work and prayer (and in spite of opposition), the wall was completed in 52 days. 

Cooperation is just as important in the twenty-first century. In T1, students are learning to collaborate. They're coming up with ideas, making plans, and learning how to work together to accomplish their goals. They're learning to take turns, negotiate, and do what it takes to accomplish their goals.

How Do You Like Those Apples?

 This week was Apple Week. The class weighed, measured, tasted, and experimented with apples. The students painted and wrote about apples. They made graphs showing their favorite ways to eat apples. They learned about the life cycle of an apple and how apples are harvested and shipped to the grocery store. 

So here are some pictures of the cutest kids in town making their observations, performing their investigations, drawing conclusions, and recording their results. 

  

Understanding God's World and Preparing for the Future

 "Humans alone are created as rational beings in the image of God, capable of a relationship with God and given by him the capacity to understand the universe in which we live."

--John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford

Science and faith are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they go hand in hand. In fact, Roger Bacon, formulator of the scientific method, was a Franciscan friar. In our science lessons, our students are learning to ask questions, to research, to investigate, and ultimately to give glory to God for the wonders of his creation.

 This week, T1 investigated magnetism. They were intrigued, and sometimes surprised, to discover which objects were attracted by magnets.

In our math lessons, as they learn to count, to work with numbers, and to apply mathematical principles, the students are learning about the orderliness of God's creation.                                            

                                                                       

At various times during the day ----at Free Centers time, in the STEAM lab, or when they finish their work early----the students have opportunities to explore and to build. In this way, we're nurturing our future inventors, builders, and engineers.

                                                                               Art

As beings created in God's image, we have the capacity to understand his universe. There's another aspect of being created "in the image of God;" like our Heavenly Father, we, too, can be creative. As the children learn about God's creation, they use their creativity and imagination to express delight and appreciation for the world he's given us. 

The students are learning to use technology. If it's used wisely, technology can be a tool for making our world a better place. I've been listening to talks by John Lennox, mathematician and Christian apologist. He discussed his new book, 2084, which deals with the advantages and disadvantages of  technological advances such as Artificial Intelligence. One thing is certain: the world is changing rapidly, and our children need to be prepared.

 As we teach our children about Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics, we are equipping them for the future. These kids are learning to be investigators, inventors, and imagineers, deep thinkers and problem solvers. And they're learning to see the world from a biblical perspective and to develop a faith that will be their anchor in the midst of change.