From Kites in the Park to Researching Big Ideas

If you strolled past our space this week, you might have seen plastic bags turned into flying kites, children curled up in giant library armchairs with stacks of books, or paint-stained hands finishing up colorful rooster portraits. It was one of those weeks where learning moved seamlessly from the classroom floor out into the neighborhood and back again.

Here is a glimpse of what our days looked like together.

Exploring the Map We started the week zooming out on our map studies. As part of our Around the World exploration, we took a closer look at our home state of Pennsylvania and the surrounding Northeast region before we pack our imaginary bags for the rest of North America.

Making Art 

We added a new dimension to our mornings: dedicated art time. The kids collaged their own personal art journals and experimented with tempura paint sticks to explore primary colors, setting the foundation for the design concepts we’ll play with all year.

Midweek brought National Dot Day, which we celebrated by reading The Dot and diving into full-color circle art creations.

Physics in the Park One of the highlights of the week happened when we took our learning down to the park. After reading The Boy Who Harvested The Wind, we decided to test air flow for ourselves. The kids paired up to design, decorate, and test their own kites made from plastic grocery bags.

It quickly turned into a real-time engineering lab. When the breeze was light, the kids noticed that flat kites struggled, but intact grocery bags caught the air much easier because of their volume. When one bag developed a tiny pinhole, they immediately started predicting why that specific kite flew the smoothest. The park was filled with giggles, trial-and-error, and real scientific curiosity in action.

Storytelling and Library Visits We wrapped up the week with a trip to the local library, spending time getting familiar with different sections and finding quiet corners to read. We also dove into story structure using classic read-alouds like Caps For Sale, learning that setting isn't just a location—it’s time, era, and atmosphere. Inspired by the book, everyone crafted their own custom hats (just in time for Hat Day!).

Curiosity Club

Over in Curiosity Club, students were completely dialed in, researching topics they care about and brainstorming how they want to present their findings in the coming weeks. Independent research topics include: tornadoes, hamsters, the ocean, and space. 

Math

Math groups were in full swing and included whole and small group instruction, 1:1 time, and math games. 

Looking Ahead We’re heading into next week ready to start our narrative writing unit, move on to new word patterns, and dive headfirst into apple season—complete with making homemade applesauce together and writing out our own recipes to share at home.

Learning here is active, connected, and driven by real curiosity. We can't wait to see what next week brings!