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Classroom Happenings

Currently Reading…

The Primary class is currently reading The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

Book Description

Narnia: A magical land full of wonder and excitement. A place where you will meet Aslan, the bravest of lions, and a beautiful but wicked Witch. There are lots of other fabulous creatures too: giants and dwarfs and animals that talk.

It all begins when four children — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — discover a strange old wardrobe. Stepping inside, they find that it’s stranger still, because behind all the fur coats there is a wondrous land of trees and mountains, all glistening with snow.

The White Witch has spread an icy winter everywhere. Only Aslan can defeat her and reverse her wicked spell. The children must find the lion before it is too late. If they fail, the Witch will make them her prisoners forever.

In the fifty years since it was written, The Lion, the Witch And the Wardrobe has become one of the great classics of children’s literature. Now younger children can share the magical experience, stepping into a world of enchantment that will forever lure them back.

Garden Discoveries

Saxophone Concert at Hopewell

On April 26, the primary class enjoyed a concert performed by Aimee Booth, Christi Brogden, Bob Cowles, and Anne Jeffres. The saxophone quartet played five songs: The Pepperoni Polka; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; Go Tell It On The Mountain; The Demise of the Zephyr and Jump, Jive and Wail. The Zephyr told a story about a ride on a Zephyr (we could hear as it took off and floated in the air). Then a squadron of airplanes started to fight with the Zephyr and we heard the staccato of their tempers rising. Finally we heard the Zephyr spring a leak and descend to the ground.

We also learned about the family of Saxophones, the quartet played four different kinds: A Soprano, an Alto, a Tenor and a Baritone. We learned that the largest (the Baritone) had the deepest tone and the Soprano (the smallest ) had the highest tone. We learned that the holes (or Keys) in the instrument are there to make the instrument larger or smaller depending on the tone desired. It was a great way to start the week, many thanks from all of us at Hopewell to the quartet for sharing their music with us.

Owls

Our new favorite animals are Owls. We have read and studied owls, and have watched these owlets and their mother barn owl live in Florida: www.ustream.tv/theowlbox

Group Discussions & Activities

Two important words: Respect and Responsibility

We looked at all of the loving work our families did to help our school during our volunteer day. They helped to create new learning opportunities from our gardens to our geography folders. We also looked at the repairs that were made, from the wobbly chairs to re-painting the tables. We all talked about being more respectful of our class, for example, “I will be very careful with my pencil so I don’t accidentally write on the tables.” “I will keep all four legs of the chair on the floor!” “I can’t wait to water the garden!” (though it seems that Mother Nature has that well in hand for the moment), come on sunshine!)

Most recently learned songs:

Hooray for the World

Chorus:
Hooray for the world! I’m glad to be on it
Hooray for the world! I’m glad to be on it
Hooray for the world! It’s a special place
We’ve got Mother Nature and the human race

The world’s got buffalo, the world’s got bees
The world’s got jelly fish swimmin’ in the seas
We’ve got beavers and bears, bats and bugs
Miniature poodles and slimy old slugs…Oh
(chorus)

We’ve got moms and dads, uncles and aunts
Brothers, sisters, grammas and gramps
We’ve got neighbors next door, kids down the street
Everywhere we go we’ve got new friends to mmet…Oh
(chorus)

I Think You’re Wonderful

I think you’re wonderful
When somebody says that to me
I feel wonderful, as wonderful can be
It makes me want to say the same thing to somebody new
And by the way I’ve been meaning to say
I think you’re wonderful too

Teaching Peace

Chorus:
Teaching Peace all the world around
You and me every city every town
One by one in our work and in our play
We are teaching peace by what we do and what we say

It’s up to us to show we care
Reaching out to everybody everywhere
So take my hand and come along
It’s time to teach the world a brand new song
(chorus)