Good afternoon,
Despite it being a short week, it was nonetheless a busy one, full of inquiry and fun!
In connection with our unit of inquiry, this week we focused on learning more about the six community members the children were introduced to last week through their photographs. First, as a whole group, the children thought of questions they might ask to find out more about each person. The questions they came up with were: “What is your favourite colour?”, “What do you like to eat?”, “How do you get to school each day?”, “Where do you come from?” and “What do you do for fun (when you’re not at school)?” Once we had agreed on the questions, the children were divided into small groups. Each group was first given a simple riddle to solve, which revealed which community member they would be meeting—Mr Manik (custodian), Mr Shreebash (gardener), Mr Hussein (security guard), Ms Amina (nurse), Mr Sekar (who cares for our farm animals), or Mr Mahmood (bus driver).
After solving their riddles, each group went to find their assigned person and took turns asking the questions, while the teacher recorded the answers. Later, we came together as a class to share what we had learned about each community member. It was a wonderful way not only to learn about these important individuals but also to build personal connections. For example, when one person said they liked eating pizza, many children excitedly shared, “I like pizza too!” Similarly, when another mentioned enjoying movies, several children happily noted that they love watching movies as well. You will see some photographs of this learning experience below.
This week we also spent time talking about what it means to be respectful — showing that we care about other people’s feelings by treating others kindly, just as we would want to be treated ourselves. To help illustrate this idea, we read the book Don’t Touch My Hair, about a little girl who loves her hair but feels upset when people try to touch it without asking. Eventually, she finds the courage to say, “Don’t touch my hair!” and life becomes much better because others start respecting her feelings and wishes.Throughout the week, we looked for opportunities to notice and celebrate moments when the children showed respect for one another.
Wishing you an enjoyable three-day weekend with your children. Kind regards,
Kristina, Rahma and Buthina
