We started Unit 2: Counting Quantities, Comparing Lengths. Please notice the family letters in your child’s folder explaining the goals of this unit. We looked at the book, Anno’s Counting Book and noticed how it was organized. Every page showed a number, amount of cubes to match and pictures representing the number. We practiced showing numbers on our fingers and even learned how to show 11 and 12 fingers. First we flashed a group of ten fingers and then held up one or two more fingers to show more than 10. We also started discussing measurement and how we can compare objects to determine which one is longer and which one is shorter. 

Science 

The children are learning to be scientists! They are listening to many books about different scientists and noticing that being curious and wondering can lead to  amazing discoveries. We learned how neuroscientists study the brain. The children learned about different parts of the brain and what they do. They learned about the part that helps us remember and store information (hippocampus), the part that is the thinking center and helps us focus/make good decisions (prefrontal cortex), and the part that is our security guard and controls emotions (amygdala). We used a glitter jar to show how the brain acts under stress and scatters information. Mindful breathing is one way to help us calm down when we are stressed so we can think clearly again. We will practice mindfulness each day.