As our class is intensely connected to and interested in the nature around them, we brought catterpillars into our classroom.  We will watch the progression as they metamorphosis into a butterfly. We are reviewing and discovering for ourselves all the stages of this miraculous process.  
Some of the reactions to this new center in our class:

Wow!!!! 

What is it?

 Why do we have them?

Look this one is moving!

This one is sleeping!

When will they turn to a butterfly? 

How will they eat?

We will attempt to answer all of these questions and wonder along with the children. 

We introduced the caterpillar calendar. A calendar which will help us understand all the changes that the caterpillars are going through.  We will mark each day. are they still small? did they grow? did the make the chrysalises? Etc.  Morah Estee and Sara 

Outdoor Play Makes Children Smarter

Atlanta Parent magazine this month had a feature article that caught my eye in the library: Outdoor Play Makes Smarter Kids. The author, Stacy Losalzo lists 20 reasons to play outside. I read through the reasons and was reaffirmed in our school's philosophy of the importance of outdoor play.

I thought about what I had observed just this past week during our class's outdoor time. Today on the ship a few of the children were playing together. Motty was a baby dragon, Luba was the owner who came and bought the dragon.  Theo was a cat roaming around, but after a while decided to become a monkey. Menny was a monkey and Sholom was a dog and a monkey. They played together, climbing in and out of the ship, talking together with the different "animals" cooperating with each other in a very imaginative way.  This was proof of reasons #'s 3, 7, and 13: It stimulates creativity, it is imaginative and it improves communication skills.

Last week, Luba and Eden, both dug up worms. A few weeks ago, we followed a baby robin as it hopped around the play area, trying to get back to its nest. Proof of reason # 8: Being in nature develops respect for other living things.

Today we planted another tomato plant. Felix, Dovi, Jonah and Motty helped dig a hole to put in the plant. Alex watered the plants.  This is a new variety called the heart tomato. The tomatoes are a cherry tomato in the shape of a heart. Some of the tomatoes should ripen shortly. Proof of reason #2. It brings together informal play and formal learning.

Outdoor play is just one more way that our children learn through play! 

Reason #20: It is fun!

Morah Ruth