Friday Follow Up-November 13, 2009

This week in science, we finished our amazing unit on the Five Senses. We did an overview of the senses and discussed how we use them and why they are important. All of the students had the opportunity to make their own playdough! Next week, we will start our unit on Fitness, Nutrition, and the Human Body.

The Buddy Program was wonderful this week. The participants had a great time playing as a team and getting to know the games. The Green Acres students are coming up with some wonderful ideas and activities to do for the remaining weeks. I'm thrilled about how well the program is going.

This week in the Social Club, we had fun making Hand print Turkeys and decorative mugs. We took advantage of the nice weather and had extra recess outside. When the weather turned rainy, we had fun playing an array of physically challenging games in the sensory room.

In drama we have continued to work on using our bodies and voices to communicate information and ideas. We have also been working on our ability to work together as an ensemble with games like "slow motion snowball fight" and "magic word" where performers work together to communicate a word without using their voices.

In fitness, we played balloon volleyball and hit balls in the air with paddle sticks. We also have been working on our softball unit. The kids worked out force outs and began hitting off of the T-Stand. In dance on Friday, we played freeze copy dance and worked on the dance routine for the Hebrew Home.

In yoga this week, we practiced gentle stretches, Downward Dog and Tree pose. e did an activity around the fall; imagining our leaf shapes, blowing leaves with a yoga breath and using a chestnut to roll under our feet. All of these worked on becoming aware of our foundation-our legs, like the tree trunk. Everyone kept their chestnuts as a reminder that fall is a time of year that gives us gifts.

It was another fun week in music! In the Primary class, we played our favorite movement games like "Bear Hunt," "Bop Til You Drop," and "Instrument Pass." We learned Thanksgiving songs, such as "5 Little Turkeys," and sang one of our new favorites, "Open Shut Them." In the Inters classes, we did our favorite games such as "Count and Move" and "Freeze Dance." This week we also got to use the new sets of rhythm sticks to play games such as "Greased Lightning" and "When The Saints Go Marching In!" We got to practice keeping the beat with our rhythm sticks. In the Uppers Classes, we continued to prepare for our trip to the Hebrew Home next Friday, Nov. 20th.

This week in art, we focused on the HUMAN BODY and the way that our bodies are put together. The students took turns giving me the names of body parts and as the parts were listed, I constructed a "new friend" starting with the head and working down to the feet. After my example was completed each student was given cutouts so that they could organize and create a person of their own! Once all of the pieces were glued down and their "friends" were posed, the students made each of theirs unique by creating clothing, faces, and a background! Every student came up with a different idea and I was astounded with the finished products. Please keep an eye out for the new artwork on the walls at The Diener School.