We had another busy week in school!

Turkey, Bunny, and Ladybug have all continued to blow through their math review. It’s always a great relief to me to see that they retained what they learned the previous year. I’ve looked ahead, though, and next week we’re finally getting into some new material…I hope they’re ready!

Turkey and Bunny had their first science test this week, and they both did an excellent job. They have moved on to a study of air, which has included learning about humidity, something we are all quite sick of at this point! Ladybug is excited to learn about whales, and I’m looking forward to learning about narwhals with her (an animal I didn’t even know actually existed until a few years ago!).

We read about Commodore Perry and the re-opening of Japan to the west in history this week. We also learned about the Crimean War, and talked some about how you could already see World War I coming at that point. The first history test of the year was also a success for my students!

Ladybug has continued her literature story of The Blue Fairy Book. We couldn’t believe how different the story of Cinderella was in that book compared to the Disney version with which we’re familiar. Turkey and Bunny began their study of Treasure Island, a book which I have never read before…we’ve read the first three chapters, and I’m just as curious as they are to see what happens next!

Chickadee has continued to learn what sounds the letters make, and has added shapes to her studies. I was surprised to learn that she didn’t know “circle,” but was very familiar with “triangle”…I have no idea why! We have read a lot of books together…it’s a good thing she doesn’t get tired of hearing the same stories over and over!

We had a field trip day on Thursday again this week. First, we visited the Flags of Valor installation on Art Hill in Forest Park. I sometimes find it hard to believe that none of my children were born before 9/11, but it’s still a big part of their history. They were just as overwhelmed by the magnitude of the display as I was.

From there, we went to the St. Louis Science Center. The children always want to build an arch while we’re there, and it’s getting easier to get it done now that they’re taller!

I bought tickets to the Star Show while we were there. Unfortunately, the StarBay was closed for renovations, but we did get to see a show in the Unisphere, which was basically an inflatable dome. While the location was a little unusual (we had to crawl into it on our hands and knees, making my skirt a poor fashion choice that day!), our timing was excellent, because they were doing a special presentation on the OSIRISREx spacecraft’s mission to the asteroid Bennu, which we watched launch on NASA TV Thursday evening.

Even more excellent timing…yesterday was Star Trek’s 50th birthday, and we got to see the special exhibits set up at the Science Center!

I’m kind of enjoying this every-other-week pattern of field trips…I’ll have to see what I can come up with in another two weeks!