Adapted to the Environment

Icy

Cold

Blubber (aka Crisco) keeps my hand warm in the frigid water.

This week we learned about Arctic and Antarctic regions. We learned how God designed animals to adapt to these cold environments. We may find ourselves in some tough places, too, but God can help us to adapt and even thrive wherever we are. If we rely on Him, He provides the means for us to bloom where we're planted.

Native people in Arctic regions built houses from ice.

Building an Igloo

Finished Product

Designing and Arctic Habitat

Seals in the Snow

Designing an Antarctic Habitat

We are thriving in our environment.

 

Reading, Writing, Researching

Reviewing Math Skills on Osmo

  

Writing

Really Happy to Be at School

Researching Arctic Animals on the iPad

Reading

Painting the Northern Lights

January delivered a few challenges, from Covid to cold weather. (And actually, the parents and teachers are probably the ones experiencing the most frustrations.) But in our class, we are persevering. Though we've had a few absences due to quarantine, the students are continuing to improve in their reading, writing and math skills. And they continue to discover the beauty and wonders of God's creation. 

 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5 (New Living Translation)

Here are a few more paintings of the Northern Lights.

And here are a few more photos of Osmo fun.

 

Lessons from Olaf

"Love is putting someone else's needs before your own." Olaf

This week we learned several lessons from Olaf: lessons about snow and seasons, lessons about friendship, and lessons about persevering through challenges. 

Our class reached the top of our compliment chart, so we celebrated by having a Pajama Day. It was Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Class Day, as we had our own Snow Day at school. We did some snow-related schoolwork, then took a break to watch Disney's Frozen. 

In the STEAM lab, we focused on the "A" part of STEAM---the arts. In conjunction with our Snow Unit in science, we made glittery snowflakes out of paper towel rolls.

 

We weren't exactly social-distancing when we took this picture. As I held up my camera to snap one child's photo, three others jumped in the picture. Just like Olaf, these little children like warm hugs. They love to be close to their friends, and they like to work together and help one another.

Our snow theme carried over to our language arts activities. We practiced fine motor skills as well as creative writing skills in this Olaf-themed  writing activity.

We even celebrated a birthday this week.

We learned a lot from Olaf this week. One of Olaf's famous quotes is: "Some people are worth melting for." When I hear this, I'm reminded of this week's Bible verse, John 3:16. God gave us the greatest example of love when He sent His Son to die for our sins. And day by day, as we persevere through rough times and carry on with our classroom activities, we are learning to love God and to love one another.  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 NKJV

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NKJV

 

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." I John 4:11 NKJV 

Starting Off Right in 2022

Hello, 2022! Our first day  back at school was sunny and cool, and Early Childhood celebrated with a balloon drop on the football field.

T1 students are hard at work in the new year. "Rigorous" has been a buzz word in education over the past several years, and our math curriculum has certainly been rigorous. On Friday T1 students paired up for some games to help reinforce mathematical concepts. I was excited to see how well the students worked together to solve math problems. 

2022 is going to be a great year for learning.

"As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens a friend."  Proverbs 27:17 CEB