Marybeth & Lora’s Class Notes

2026 is off to a strong and joyful start! We begin each day by tracking the return of the sun and charting the sunset in a graph, making visual the length of the days as we move from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox.

The snowy weather provided the perfect backdrop to our winter walk to Bridge Gardens, where the children observed the many shades of blue, grey, and even orange and red, that make up the winter landscape. The oldest children in the class used some this imagery to write Haiku.

As part of our study of cycles, we are exploring the reasons for day and night and how these natural patterns affect the living things around us. This curiosity has led us to investigate animals that are most active in the dark. Our growing interest in nocturnal animals has inspired a class-wide research project focused on owls. The children are working collaboratively in teams to find the answers to the class's most burning questions about these wonderful creatures. Once their research is complete they will report back to the group, helping us build a deeper understanding together.

Simultaneous to our book research, the children have begun dissecting owl pellets and recording their observations and discoveries. As a class we’ve also begun learning the poem, Welcome to the Night, by Joyce Sidman. In the coming week, the children will begin crafting masks of their favorite nocturnal animals to wear during a special recitation of the poem.

Our first chapter book of the year is none other than Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The children have been riveted by this tale of wonder, magic and unforgettable characters.