Hello all,
“Letter U is for Up (in the sky) Week” was utterly unbelievable, unimaginably unique and uber-uplifting! Although the letter U is not the most common letter in the alphabet, the students managed to fill the sharebox each day throughout the week! Only a few of the shares actually started with the letter U while most of them related to the Up in the sky theme! By far the silliest share of Letter U Week was a package of UnUsed Underpants! There were also some great Letter U/Up (in the sky) books that were sent in each day! Well, “Letter U is for Up (in the sky) Week” has come and gone. Read on below to discover the learning that took place and fun that was had throughout the week!
The students spent Monday and Tuesday morning working one on one with the teachers to complete their Letter U identification/fine motor activity pages. The teachers were so impressed with how easily the younger students recognized the letter U and also how well the older students remembered all things “U” during their morning work! In the afternoon on Monday and Tuesday, the students created the twenty-first letter list of the year! As a whole group, the students took turns brainstorming and contributing words that begin with the letter U and also hunted around the classroom for letter U items! Take a look at the list that Tuesday’s group came up with!
How many letter U shares do YOU see?
Answer: Umbrella, Underwear book, U Alpha-bot, Uno and Ugg boots!
Wednesday morning was spent discussing the letter U theme of the week – Up in the sky! Joy filled the classroom as the students learned that they would be creating a very special and Unique “Up in the sky” art activity. For the project, the students created a rather large “Up in the sky” object that people ride on when heading far away from their homes! Can you guess what “Up in the sky” thing the students made this week? If you said, “An airplane!” then you are correct!
The students could hardly contain their excitement when the teachers held up the ENORMOUS airplanes! The teachers explained that the airplanes, like real airplanes, can actually fly! Since the airplanes were so HUMONGOUS, the students took two days to complete their airplane decorating! Once each student had a turn to paint, the airplanes were set aside to dry. Later that afternoon, the students completed the final week of their La Ropa (Clothing) vocabulary exploration. Take a look below to see some students working on part one of the project – decorating the fuselage (or body) of the airplane!
Since PPA students do not all attend school each day, the “Up in the sky” airplane project that began on Wednesday was tucked away on Thursday as the Two Days/Week students arrived at school and joined the Five Days/Week students. Thursday morning began with a reading of How To Catch A Star by Oliver Jeffers. In the story, readers meet a young boy who loves the beautiful stars in the sky so much that he is determined to catch one to keep! After trying a few different strategies to catch the star including climbing a tree, building a rocket ship, even trying to persuade a seagull to get the star for him, the boy becomes discouraged as the star in the sky is too far away. Just as he is about to give up trying, the heavy-hearted boy notices a peculiar thing on the beach – a star(fish)! Star(fish) in hand, the boy prances away happily!
For their morning work, the students grabbed stars of their own as they created a starry “Up in the sky” scene! With the addition of some Glow-in-the-dark paint, the stars not only look beautiful during the daytime but also at night!
After having Spanish class on Thursday, the students discussed stars, along with many other “Up the in Sky” things including planets, the sun, the moon, and more! In fact, they particularly loved learning how to say the following words in Spanish.
La Estrella – Star
La Luna – Moon
El Sol – Sun
Tierra – Earth
The “Up in the Sky” airplane decorating fun continued on Friday as the three day students returned to school! Just as they had done to the fuselage on Wednesday, the students painted the wings and tail fin of their airplane! Here is how the final project turned out!
In the afternoon on Friday, the students continued their exploration of “Up in the Sky” airplanes with a technology presentation! During the presentation, the students learned more about the various parts of an airplane, different types of airplanes, and of course, how airplanes work! Did you know that the engine inside an airplane pushes the airplane forward and the wings of the airplane help lift the airplane up into the air? Realizing that cars also have engines, one student wondered if cars would be able to fly if they had wings? The teachers smiled and said, “Maybe one day!” Watch below to learn a bit more about the different types of airplanes!
Although the week was spent learning all about things “Up in the Sky” – the students also observed something “on the ground” as their grass plantings from “Letter S is for Spring Week” really starting sprouting! Take a look to see these Super Silly Spring Seedlings!
Well, that is all for “Letter U is for Up (in the sky) Week”. As always, thank you for reading! Have a fun and safe weekend!
-PPA
REMINDERS:
April Tuition is due on Monday and Tuesday
Next School Closing:
School Closed for Spring Recess
Friday, April 3rd- Friday, April 10th
School Resumes on Monday, April 13th
