Dear Branch Families,
Hello! Hola! Hiya! G’Day Mate! Bonjour! Namaste!
What a unique and adventurous month we had exploring and discovering different parts of the world! Whether we were taste-testing new foods or creating cultural art masterpieces, the Branchers were busy taking it all in and enjoying every minute of our travels!
First stop: MEXICO!
Spanish is the language spoken in Mexico, so the Branchers were excited when they discovered they already knew some Spanish of their own! Whether counting to 10, singing our ‘Thank You’ song, or simply saying hello, our Branchers spoke Spanish daily. As we embarked on our grand adventure, we discovered that Mexico’s culture was bursting with beautiful colors, incredible celebrations, and delicious food. To participate in hands-on learning, we made sensational sombreros, textured cacti, and our own homemade corn tortillas straight from an authentic tortilla press! Mexico didn’t disappoint!
Next stop: FRANCE!
We enjoyed learning about the Eiffel Tower, celebrating the Bastille, and practicing French here. We learned about the holiday Bastille and how, in France, fireworks are lit off the Eiffel Tower. We created an Eiffel Tower cut-out for our art activityand added glitter fireworks! They turned out spectacular and beautiful!
Pack your bags; we’re off to ENGLAND!
Our trip to England was packed with so much information and history. We discussed and discovered many different grand buildings and architecture. One of the most intriguing was The Elizabeth Tower, aka The Clock Tower. The Branchers realized a grandiose bell inside the tower named Big Ben, along with many other exciting and intriguing facts centered around the famous landmark. We discussed different ways of travel in busy cities, with the double-decker buses being the most popular. Incorporating other art activities with our discoveries is always fun, so creating our clock towers (with moving hands), buses (with moving tires), and an iconic red telephone booth with a picture of them inside! Our trip to England would only be complete with a tea (decaf) taste test! What a sweet way to end our fun-filled trip.
Hello JAPAN!
Next, we learned about Japan, the food they eat, and the holidays they celebrate. There is no better way to explore and discover than through the eyes of a child, and while in Japan, we did just that! Kodomo No Hi, also known as ‘Children’s Day,’ was first on our bucket list to discover! This holiday is about celebrating and honoring each child’s strengths, accomplishments, and happiness and wishing them well! On this 5th day of the 5th month of each year, Koinobori (carp kites) are flown in honor and recognition of children! So, of course, we created our own ‘fish flags’. While visiting Japan, we also discussed the many different foods and specialties, particularly sushi. The Branchers enjoyed trying both dried seaweed and veggie sushi rolls! The Branchers soon realized it was quite an acquired taste! But they enjoyed challenging themselves using their chopsticks to eat lunch! Our trip to Japan was so informative, enlightening, and truly enjoyable.
Coming Up: Australia
Here, we enjoyed learning about the intriguing animals of the outback. We learned about the platypus, kangaroo, kookaburra, and koala. Interesting fact: female kangaroos are called doe, and their babies are joeys. We also learned the Kookaburra song. Every destination wouldn’t be complete without art! So, as part of our journey to Australia, we created some Aboriginal art. We printed out small silhouettes of kangaroos and glued them onto black paper. Then, each Brancher used Q-tips to paint the Australian dot art. Because they enjoyed the dot art so much, we tried our hand with another dot art project. The Branchers traced their hands using dobbers, creating a negative space art project characteristic of Aboriginal art. Each piece was unique and fun to experiment with.
Last Stop: INDIA!
Although this stop was brief, it brought excitement and wonder! While visiting beautiful India, the Taj Mahal was a must. The marbled majestic building had all of the Branchers in awe! We love learning a little about the food they eat at each stop we make. We learned about spices in India while reading the book Kalamata’s Kitchen by Sarah Thomas. The Branchers learned that “tempering” is heating a spice to bring out the flavor. The Branchers then used cinnamon, turmeric, and mustard seed spices to make some scented spice art. No trip is complete without a taste test, and traveling throughout India made us quite hungry, so Naan was undoubtedly appreciated at the end of our travels.
February will surely be another fun month for us in the Branch classroom as we learn, discuss, and discover teeth and dental care! Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? The dental study is going to be nothing but impressive! Let the learning begin!
Miss Gracen & Miss Heather
