Lila B, 5, likes to wear sparkly clothes in the
summer. She has learned that there is only
one queen bee and if an egg hatches and it is
a queen she will shoo the other queen out. The
queen flies but takes her wings off when she
finds a new place. (This fact is actually true.)
Lila likes to play everything outside and she
likes playing with pretty much everyone even
her brother Rowan sometimes. Her favorite
bug is the bee and her middle name is even
Lila
B
Montessori Children’s Garden
Summer of Science July 2014
In Ms. Tina’s class they are studying about grasshopper,
ladybugs, lightening bugs, and weather. In group time the
class is discussing good and bad weather, what to do if
there is dangerous weather, and graphing what the
weather is. They are also learning about the parts of a
lightning bug and how to catch one. They are singing a song
about singing in the rain, pitter patter rain drops, and they
played the sleepy cricket game. In practical life they are
exploring flooding with a landform and water, bug catching
(with tweezers), and carrot and apple cutting.
In math they are playing a weather game and in language
arts they are naming severe weather, where weather
occurs, children sharing their experiences with weather.
Some of the children have been using the bug finger
puppets to make stories and then they are read at story
time.
In art the children are doing ladybug pasting, cricket
puzzle, firefly painting (with fluorescent paint), cloud and
rainbows and weather wheels.
In Ms. Emily’s class they are studying about ecology
and arachnids, specifically spiders and scorpions. In
practical life they have been spooning spiders, spider
making with playdough, spider scrubbing. In the sensorial
area they have been sorting recyclables, web weaving, and
cleaning up the “ocean” of litter. Rosie the tarantula is
visiting the class from Mrs. Honey’s room. We also have
tadpoles from Mrs. Jones’ backyard pond. In the math area
the children have spider counting books and games. They
are learning about the life cycle of the spider and the
parts of the spider. They have been talking about recycling
using cards. The songs have been the itsy, bitsy spider,
there’s a Spider on the Floor, and Little Miss Muffet. One
of the girls in the class (no names mentioned) said that
“Adorable means cute and pretty and I am adorable”. No
shortage of confidence there.
In Ms. Cathy’s class they are studying ants, bees and
soil. In the practical life area they are scrubbing a bee (not
exactly a practical application), spooning ants, and tweezing
bees into a honeycomb. In science the children are learning
about the bee life cycle, the parts of a bee, and the social
structure of ants and bees. They have planted flowers in
different types of soil and “making soil by rubbing rocks to
Gether. In the art area they are making toilet paper roll
bees, paper plate bees, stamping bees, and cutting ants.
Ms. Cathy has been singing “I’m bringing home a baby
bumblebee, and the Ants Go Marching with the children.
Sophie, has learned that some spiders are poisonous and
that spiders have 8 eyes! She has also learned to save
energy that you should shut off the lights when you leave
the room. Her favorite bug is the fly. She likes playing
outside in the sandbox with Stella and Caitlin (who was
sitting next to Sophie during this interview and said,
“What about me?”
Caitlin, is enjoying her summer learning about spiders and
knows that some are poisonous. She likes playing outside on
the monkey bars the best with Adah. Her favorite bug is
the rhinocerus beetle. Her favorite friends are Adah,
Neva, Reece, and Peyten
Carson, 4, likes getting the pool out in the summer time. He
has learned that some insects have wings and that
sometimes storms can be dangerous. He likes playing
outside in the sandbox. His favorite bugs are spiders and
his friends are Krishna, Ollie, and Norah.
Roy, has been learning about bees and that there is one
queen. He also knows that spiders eat and they make it into
a liquid and then they drink it up and then they wrap it up.
“Their webs are invisible but I can see them.” He then
pointed one out in the corner of the room (oops). His
favorite thing to play outside is motorcycles. “I actually
have a motorcycle toy and a helicopter with the number 3
on it.” Roy’s favorite bug is the pinch beetle and his
friends are Caitlin and Sam.
Karan, 4, likes coming to school and also likes going to the
pool. He has learned that insects also come in the ground.
He has learned also about strong storms. His favorite thing
to do is eat popsicles and also play outside. (There were a
lot of also’s in his answers!) His favorite bug is the spider
and everyone is his friend!
Addie, likes going swimming and going on vacation. She said,
“We went to China, but I didn’t see any animals there.”
She’s been learning about hard storms in class. Her
favorite thing to do outside is the worm bucket. She also
likes bumble bees cause they sting. (This joke has become
very popular.) She plays with Alice and Krishna.
Alice, 3 but turning 4 soon, likes coming to school. She tells
me that she just stays in the morning. She has learned that
insects eat leaves and other insects and that she actually
likes tornados. She likes playing outside on the monkey
bars with Alice. One time her mom got stung by a bee but
she has never been stung by a bee. She likes bees.
Eliza is enjoying her summer. She has learned that spiders
make webs and that you can wear jewelry in the summer
but not the winter (??). She has learned about what does
and doesn’t belong in the ocean. Her favorite thing to do
outside is play baseball. Her friends include Peyten,
Morgan, and Lila B. Her favorite bug is the spider.
Griffin, 3, likes playing with his daddy in the summer time.
He has learned that bugs can live under the ground. He
likes playing in the sandbox making things like ice cream.
His favorite bug is the bumble bee because he learned
about them. His friend is Max (pointing at him and saying
“that guy”.
Max, 4, likes playing outside in his tent. He’s learned that
beetles can crawl and live on the ground.
He has also learned that bees can sting when you mess with
them. “I don’t mess with them.” He likes playing hide and
seek outside. His favorite bug is a Daddy Longlegs because
he found one in his garden. His friend is Griffin Michael
Thomas Choo Choo Train (Griffin).
Reece is having a good summer and she’s learning about
bugs, spiders, and recycling. Her favorite thing to do at
school is play on the monkey bars with her friend Neva.
She likes flies!
Alexandra, 3 (holds up 3 fingers), likes to make bumble
bees. Alexandra had many comments and questions. She
learned that ladybugs like to see their mommy and that
they eat leaves. Her question was whether or not ladybugs
could talk
Neva is enjoying her summer. She has learned that there is
one queen ant and that she is the biggest and that all the
workers are girls. “Girl Power!” She has also learned that
spiders eat prey. Her favorite thing to do on the
playground is play on the monkey bars with her friends
Adah, Reece, Caitlin, and Kaelyn.
Adah, is enjoying her summer. “Yes, I mean no.” (giggle)
She has learned about smurfs (giggle) and stupid spiders
(giggle, giggle). Seriously, she has learned that spiders
have 6 knees on eight legs. She likes listening to The
Boxcar Children book. She likes jumping off the tunnel
outside. Her favorite bug is the bee and her friends
include Caitlin, Kaelyn, and Reece and the smurfs (giggle,
giggle, giggle)
Krishna, 4, tells me he likes going swimming and that he has
his own goggles. He’s learned that insects can eat different
animals. When it’s stormy outside and he is scared, he goes
to his mommy and daddy’s room. His favorite bug is the
bumble and he likes it when they sting. (laughter follows,
it’s a great joke for everyone!
Gavin, 5, has learned that all spiders have silk, all spiders
don’t make webs, and not all spiders use their silk to make
a bed. He has also learned that Rosie the tarantula stays in
her house. Good thing.
Gavin likes going to the beach and his favorite bug is the
stag beetle. His friends include everyone he knows.
Kaelyn, is enjoying her summer and she has learned about
ants. She says, “I learned to step on them but pick them up
and they don’t hurt me and then I put them in the flowers.”
She likes to practice reading and playing games but she
says she need to learn how to shuffle. Her favorite bug is
the ant. She likes swinging and swimming in the summer.
Her friends are Adah, Caitlin, Neva, and Reece
Eli, 4, likes wrestling with his daddy at home. His
favorite thing to do is play outside on the slide with
Ryan and J-Man. His favorite bug is the grasshopper.
It hops!
Mary, 3, is enjoying her summer. She has learned that
bugs eat eggs (?). She wanted to know where the dog
was (Hazel, the yellow lab, made a visit to their
classroom). Her favorite bug is the ladybug and her
best friend is Ms. Cathy.
.