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Learning Together Joyfully: May Merriment & Regrowth

Welcome back parents, educators, grandparents and care-givers!  May is often a beautiful month, full of flowers and sunshine with much to be celebrated as the spirit of may-time merriment, passed down through generations, remains to this day. May celebrations highlighted include Teacher Appreciation Week from May 1 – 7, Cinco de Mayo on May 5 and Mother’s Day on May 8. The month of May can also be a time for all to focus on regrowth as we encourage children to enjoy the outdoors and help plant a garden, or watch birds hatch, or cycle, or learn to ride a bike. As children begin to think more about summer holidays, their focus and concentration may be decreasing so you may wish to reflect on how to positively impact their cognitive development by including brain breaks, or flow activities to deeply engage children at home or at school. You will find many books, ideas and activities to support children as you play, learn and grow together!

Jean Piaget, French psychologist, separated children’s cognitive development into 4 stages, showing how they progressed to more advanced thought patterns as they got older. It is important to keep in mind that each child develops at their own pace and some may need an individualized approach to support their development. Cognitive development is how humans acquire, organize, and learn to use knowledge. It involves acquiring language, developing knowledge, exploring, thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving. Cognitive development means how children think and figure things out to better understand the world around them. Having well-developed cognitive skills enables children to become independent and self-reliant in directing their learning. By helping children develop their attention, perception, memory, logic, and reasoning, you are lighting the fire that will motivate them to become lifelong learners.

There are many benefits gained from the simple act of reading and listening alone, however, by using the opportunity to add some questioning techniques, you are developing important cognitive skills that will support children to think more strategically. The purpose of questioning children during reading is to: check on prior knowledge; actively involve them; increase their motivation; focus their thinking on key ideas; and check and clarify their understanding. One approach is to ask children questions to make predictions about the story. For example, have them predict:

  • The content of the story from clues on the book cover and title;
  • What happens at the end of a story (by stopping half way through the story);
  • What happens in the beginning (if you read the end of a story first);
  • What could happen or change if a character makes a different decision.

1.  Read and Sing together 📚

Check out your school and public library or bookstore to buy or borrow the following recommended books.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 1 – 7. Most of us can remember teachers who made a lasting contribution to our lives. This is the day we say thank you to all the wonderful educators who inspired us, believed in us and changed us in some important way. Educators or parents – one of the ways you can celebrate this week is to share some fun books with children about teachers. Parents may wish to have their child complete this downloadable template All About My Teacher for their child to share their appreciation for their teacher. 

  • How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson This is a funny story that will help children appreciate how much patience and effort is put into teaching. A little boy explains to Mama Slug how to teach Little Slug to read. Here are a few of his reading rules: Attach labels to Little Slug’s favorite things; Read out loud to him; Point out words that repeat; Sound out words; Make a vocabulary list; Be patient! 
  • Miss Nelson is Missing! By Harry Allard and James Marshall. The kids in Room 207 were misbehaving again. Spitballs stuck to the ceiling. Paper planes whizzing through the air. They were a challenging class!  So begins this quirky classic, first published in 1977 and still relevant today as a lighthearted reminder to show our appreciation to those we value – especially teachers! The students offer little respect for their good-natured teacher Miss Nelson, but when the witchy substitute Miss Viola Swamp appears on the scene, they start to regret their own wicked ways. This is another funny story for children to reflect on the patience and effort of teaching.
  • The Best Teacher Ever by Mercer Mayer. Little Critter has the best teacher around. Miss Kitty even makes math class fun! Join Little Critter as he searches for the perfect gift to show Miss Kitty, his teacher, just how special she is to him!
  • When the Teacher Isn’t Looking and Other Funny School Poems by Kenn Nesbitt. Who knew school lunches and detention could be so funny? Do you attend a school like the one Kenn Nesbitt describes in this funny collection of poems? There’s a frenzied food fight in the cafeteria. For show-and-tell, kids burp the ABCs. Recently, “pet days” have been banned (and for good reason). And the funniest things happen when the teacher isn’t looking. Kids and teachers rate these rhymes A+ (and you will, too).

MOTHER’S DAY BOOKS – MAY 8

As we celebrate and honor Mothers and caregivers in schools, Mother’s Day can be an opportunity for parents and educators to teach children about the diversity of family structures. Our world is a melting pot of different family configurations, beliefs, cultural norms, and personal practices. Families come in many different structures and sizes. Today, many families are made up of LGBTQ+ parents, single parents, separated/divorced parents, step-family members, multiethnic family members, foster/adoptive family members, multigenerational families, and biological guardians. One of the most important gifts we can give our children is to help them feel good about the uniqueness of their family and help them learn to accept, respect, and include people whom they may experience as “different.” Young children often have questions when they notice families that seem different than their own. There may be different values and structures, but in the end…it’s about the love nurtured in any family. Mother’s Day provides an opportunity to share these ideas with children about families, diversity, and inclusion.

Here are a few ideas to guide the conversation with your children. Read more about how to help children understand diverse families. For educators, you may find this family diversity vocabulary list helpful to initiate a discussion about ways for all students and their families to feel welcomed and a part of the school community.

  • The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman.What is a family? Once, it was said to be a father, mother, boy, girl, cat and dog living in a house with a garden. But as times have changed, families have changed too, and now there are almost as many kinds of families as colours of the rainbow – from a mum and dad or single parent to two mums or two dads, from a mixed-race family to children with different mums and dads, from families with a disabled member to those with a mum or dad in prison. This book takes a look through children’s eyes at the wide varieties of family life: from homes, food, ways of celebrating, schools and holidays to getting around, jobs and housework, from extended families, languages and hobbies to pets and family trees – and concludes that, for most people, their own family is the best one of all! 
  • The Family Book by Todd Parr. Some families have two moms or two dads. Some families have one parent instead of two. Some families live in a house by themselves. Some families share a house with other families. All families can help each other be strong! The Family Book celebrates families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether they’re big or small, look alike or different, have a single parent or two, Todd Parr assures readers that every family is special in its own unique way.
  • Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around our earth, across cultures and generations. At a time when the lessons of tolerance still need to be learned, this book urges us to accept our differences, to recognize our similarities, and-most importantly-to rejoice in both.
  • On Mother’s Lap by Anne Herbert Scott. A warm, tender story of an Inuit family and of a young boy’s realization that there is enough room on mother’s lap for both him and his sister.
  • A Day with Yayah by Nicola I. Campbell. Set in the Okanagan, BC, a First Nations family goes on an outing to forage for herbs and mushrooms. Grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life to her young grandchildren.
  • Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. This book depicts everyday aspects of Muslim children’s lives as it describes one girl’s delightful game of dress-up with her mother’s head scarves. She feels her mother’s mother’s love with every head scarf she tries on. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life.
  • The Best Mother by C. M. Surrisi. When Maxine wakes up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, she wonders if the problem might be her mother. What if she could try out a new mom who doesn’t make her brush her teeth or comb her hair? Enlisting Mom to help her with the search, Maxine interviews various prospects to be her new mother at the park, the toy store, and the zoo. Unfortunately, these other mothers present a host of new problems and concerns. Maybe her “old mother” was the best mother of all? For every child who’s ever wondered if the grass is greener, this book affirms that there’s nothing better than your own mother’s love.
  • The Story I’ll Tell by Nancy Tupper Ling. When a young boy asks his mother to tell him how he came to their family, she shares a beautiful bedtime tale that culminates in the  story of his international adoption. A young child asks his mother to tell the story of where he came from. “I might tell you how you came from a land far away in a hot air balloon. The basket slowly drifted down like a feather into our yard. I dropped the firewood I was carrying and ran to you. ‘You’re home now,’ I said.” Or maybe it was a lark——and not a stork——that brought the child to the mother. Or perhaps he was rescued from a dragon! Each lyrical and fantastic tale contains a small kernel of truth that pieces together the baby’s journey from China into his new mother’s arms.
  • Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. This bookshelf staple is a wonderful opportunity to talk about familial bonds—and how the love of foster families is special, too. Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. Two pages of notes at the end of the story provide factual information about bats.
Stellaluna 25th Anniversary Edition
  • How to Raise a Mom by Jean Reagan. Kids will love imagining what it would be like if they were in charge of their moms! From packing supplies for an outing to waiting patiently in long lines, it isn’t hard to figure out where the kids in this story learned all their tricks.
  • Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer. When Stella’s teacher announces that her class will have a Mother’s Day celebration, she wonders whom to invite. She has two awesome dads, but no mom. After much thought, she arrives at the perfect solution.
  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams. Like countless moms, the one in this story works hard to provide for her family. The multi-generational love between women in this family is worth revisiting every year.
  • The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin. A young girl wishes her mother’s garden were filled with beautiful flowers like all the neighbours. Her outlook changes when her mother uses their “ugly” produce in her delicious traditional Chinese cooking.
  • In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco. Marmee and Meema’s household is full of kids, chaos, and love. Patricia Polacco challenges readers to think inclusively about what makes a family.
  • All the Things I Love About You by LeUyen Pham. Mama lists the reasons she loves her little boy: the way his hair sticks up in the morning, the way he says “Mama” (even in the middle of the night), and the way he laughs. Simply written and beautifully illustrated, this book speaks to the unconditional love between a mother and her child. Children and parents alike will treasure this heartwarming book and, in reading it together, appreciate the small actions that make love grow stronger every day.
all the things i love about you
  • Love you Forever by Robert Munsch. A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him: “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living. My baby you’ll be.” So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions and brought tears to many. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 35 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of copies in Spanish and French).  Unsure how to sing the song, Robert Munsch sings it here. 

GardensAll.com

GARDENING BOOKS

Gardening at school or at home is an exciting and fun activity for all ages of children who can further develop their respect for the earth and love and appreciation of nature. Spending time in the garden offers children opportunities to develop their: Physical development as they dig, rake, plant and eat healthy foods; Emotional Growth as they enjoy a sense of joy and delight watching plants grow as butterflies and ladybugs share the garden; Spatial skill development as they gain an appreciation of how things grow and need space; Mathematical skills as they count, measure, compare, and see patterns; Character development as they learn patience, take responsibility, and build self-confidence. Enjoy sharing the following books with children which will hopefully inspire you to plant and grow a garden.

  • What’s inside a Flower? This book effortlessly pairs together child-friendly flower facts and pretty illustrations. This gorgeous nonfiction picture book will pull children into the magical world of plants! Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers–from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry.
Flower identification
  • Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root . This book, with rhyming words, shows children that being a gardener doesn’t mean you have to live in a special place. “For any farm, here’s all that you need: soil and sunshine, some water, a seed.” Children in the book make planting in old crates, buckets, and discarded items look completely doable. The way they turn an empty lot into a vegetable garden and neighborhood farm stand will get anyone’s green thumb twitching. As you read the story, ask children to listen and identify rhyming words.
Book cover for Anywhere Farm
  • The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner. With their engaging tone and fascinating facts, this book raises children’s awareness about the role Bees play in our environment through a Q&A format. The perfect introduction to bee conservation. Children learn all about the world of bees, their adventure from flower to flower, how much they matter, why they are declining, and what we can do to help. 
Book cover for The Bee Book, as an example of Earth Day books for kids
  • The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jenn Green. Did you know that trees take care of each other and that the whole forest is connected? This gorgeously illustrated book gives a new appreciation for a tree’s amazing capabilities. Discover how they communicate and warn each other of predators, how they nurture their networks, record the past, and anticipate the future to ensure their survival. There’s so much more to trees than meets the eye. 
The Magic and Mystery of Trees
  • Lessons From Mother Earth by Elaine McLeod. This gentle story demonstrates the First Nations’ tradition of taking care of Mother Earth. Tess has visited her grandmother many times without really being aware of the garden. But today they step outside the door and Tess learns that all of nature can be a garden. And if you take care of the plants that are growing, if you learn about them — understanding when they flower, when they give fruit, and when to leave them alone — you will always find something to nourish you
  •  A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston. This book has gorgeous illustrations and amazing plant facts. Learn about unique seeds and the plants they become in this beautiful and informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts, making it perfect reading material at home or in the classroom.
Gardening books!
  • A Seed is the Start by Melissa Stewart. Beautiful photography and lyrical text pair with comprehensive picture captions in this award-winning author’s story about the surprisingly diverse world of seeds. In this National Geographic Kids title, learn all about the plant cycle, from how seeds grow, the fascinating ways they travel, and what it takes for a seed to become a plant.
Book cover for A Seed is the Start
  • From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons. Do you know how a seed begins? What pollination is? How flowers, fruits, and vegetables get to be the way they are? The mystery of how seeds are formed and grow into plants is revealed for young readers in this informative book.
  • Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner.Follow a garden over the course of the year to see how it grows and transforms throughout the seasons! This book is part of a seasonal series that is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, and ripening fruit. But down in the dirt there is a busy world of earthworms digging, snakes hunting, skunks burrowing, and all the other animals that make a garden their home. In this lyrical book, discover the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves…and down in the dirt.
Seasonal series

CINCO de MAYO – May 5 –  is a celebration of the 1862 Battle of Puebla and victory over France. In North America, it is usually a day celebrating Mexican culture and traditions, especially music, food, and dancing. Celebrations sometimes feature parades and parties featuring Mariachi bands, Mexican folk music, Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine, and costumes. The following kid-friendly books provide an opportunity to teach children more about our Mexican neighbors and their celebrations. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

  • Celebrate! It’s Cinco De Mayo by Janice Levy.  Everyone is celebrating the holiday in their own way. “Mama marches in the parade. Papa plays in a mariachi band. Abuelita cooks a special meal.” This is a simple history and good introduction to the holiday interspersed with the story of a young boy celebrating Cinco de Mayo with his family. This bilingual book features a section with “find what’s missing” pictures and simple crafts perfect for any child’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. 
  • Max Celebrates Cinco de Mayo by Adria Worsham. Max is invited to a fiesta at José’s house where they are celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Food, music, dancing, and a parade are all part of the celebration.
  • Cinco de Mayo by Ann Heinrichs. Viva México! Pinatas, floats, and tasty food all play a role in the holiday that remembers Mexican independence. Kids learn the historical significance behind the festivities and gain an appreciation for the exciting traditions and rich cultural celebration associated with this celebration.
  • Cinco de Mouse-O! by Judy Cox. Mouse goes on a hilarious Cinco de Mayo adventure. Along the way he smells some yummy candy in a piñata hung high up in a tree for the Cinco de Mayo festival. He NEEDS to have one! But first he wants to eat some mouse-meal-sized tamale crumbs and watch heel-stomping dancers in bright-colored dresses. Everything will be perfect so long as he stays away from the cat following him down the street. 
  • Marco’s Cinco de Mayo by Lisa Bullard. Marco loves the food, parade and fun of Cinco de Mayo. This year he’s one of the dancers. As he listens to the mariachi music, Marco thinks of the brave Mexicans at the first Cinco de Mayo. Find out the different things people do to celebrate this holiday!

SONGS 

Children need time to process their learning and time to refocus. They need opportunities to move and get their wiggles out!  Research shows that short brain breaks during work time have many benefits. They reduce stress, anxiety, frustration and can help kids focus and be more productive. They can support children to enter a state of flow so they are fully immersed in a task. Teaching folk dance is also a great way to get students moving, listening to the music, and working together.  It can also be a great brain break or stress relief. Enjoy singing some of these songs as you and your children engage in the merriment associated with May!

SPRING AND BRAIN BREAK:

A STATE OF FLOW:

CINCO DE MAYO:

GARDENING:

MOTHER’S DAY:

 

Soul Shine Photography

SPRINGTIME GARDENING The garden is a sensory wonderland where children can be involved in purposeful digging or learning more about a sense of time, patience and responsibility or participating in and understanding more about the life cycle of plants. The garden is a place for families, friends, and communities. Lessons in conservation, recycling and nurturing the planet may seem like high reaching topics, but even a small seed of knowledge and caring for the earth is never wasted on children. Whether you start with seeds in cups near a sunny window, pots outside your door, or a plot of land, your whole family or class can participate in something that is sure to cause a sense of wonder in children of any age.

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

  • Sprouting Seeds Activity: Engage children in a Science experiment and Sprout beans, corn, tomatoes and watermelon. By planting four different types of seeds, children are able to observe which seeds germinate for shorter or longer periods of time. Children plant the seeds themselves and water them as needed. They watch the growth of the plants, which encourages observation and discussion skills. Sprouting a lima bean (or any of these seeds) in a labeled zip top bag is a relatively simple science project for kids.
  • This Plant Life Cycle Learning Pack includes counting activities, word cards, puzzles and games which can be great follow-up activities following Sprouting Seeds.
Living Life and Learning
  • When considering activities that support cognitive development, video games or television shows can make a difference. Research suggests that it is most beneficial for children when the virtual and physical worlds are combined in interactive computer games. Parents and educators are encouraged to ensure that content is educational and to remember that creating knowledge and intelligence is an inherently active process. Children thrive in environments that encourage investigating and experimenting with adult involvement as they build their understanding of how the world works.
Download free copy of this poster at
6-star-cutting1.pdf (wordpress.com)

There are many benefits for children to practice scissor cutting, as it: Strengthens hand muscles & Independent movements of each finger (writing, painting); Builds bilateral coordination skills (two-handed coordination); Determines the dominant hand (dominant cuts and helping hand holds and rotates); Enhances visual motor skills (eye-hand coordination) & perceptual tasks (directionality); Builds hand grasp (applied when fastening buttons and holding a pencil); and Encourages focus and attention which can put children into a state of flow.

SCISSOR CUTTING ACTIVITIES:

Flow is the fulfilling, focused state of learning that children and adults naturally experience during hands-on activities they love. In flow, children learn how to learn. Activities that lead to a state of flow are often child-directed, where children explore topics that they choose and are personally meaningful to them. Child-directed learning environments motivate children to learn because they are engaging in an activity for the sake of the experience, and not because they expect some reward at the end. It’s important to note that adults can play an important role in child-directed play by setting up developmentally appropriate learning environments, or by selecting specific materials or resources for children to use. Asking exploratory questions, such as “Why do you think that didn’t work?” or “What is another way to use this material?” is also important to deepen children’s understanding of and curiosity about the world around them.

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

FLOW ACTIVITIES:

  • A flow activity or station is a place created for children, to be in the zone, or being in flow. It is a place where children can dive deeply into an activity they love without being interrupted, and where they can experiment with a multitude of skills and discover their natural talents. Children can experience flow when they engage in hobbies or activities such as reading, doing art, gaming, dancing, gardening, cooking, learning to ride a bicycle, running, or other sports.
    • At home or in the classroom water play is a fun flow activity where children learn how to focus on their self-chosen activity and make small and big decisions as they follow their course of action.
    • Create a place where children can keep their most treasured objects. Offer one or more appealing spaces where children can display their treasures.

SPRING AND GARDENING

SPRING AND BABY BIRDS

  • Plan a visit to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary Range
    • Their May Program is called Growth and Survival of Young Birds. May is a month of tending Mother Nature’s garden and watching young birds appear throughout the Sanctuary. Generally, by Mother’s Day, at least a few Canada Geese, Mallards and Wood Duck hens have become mothers and are escorting their young downy children from pond to pond or snoozing on the grass.

CINCO DE MAYO ACTIVITIES

  • If interested sign up for the Cinco de Mayo Printable Pack – Fun with Mama that includes flashcards, word games, puzzles, patterning, and counting activities. 
  • Activities to involve children as they learn more about Cinco de Mayo.
    • Watch and learn interesting Facts About Mexico.
    • Pass the Sombrero Game – Like musical chairs, children pass a hat and when the music stops, the person holding the hat is out. Make things more entertaining by giving contestants the option to do a Mexican hat dance for a chance to get back in the game.
    • Sing some Cinco de Mayo songs
    • Speak the Language – A great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with children is to learn some Spanish. Kids will have fun learning to pronounce all the new sounds. Start off with these easy phrases, do some counting, 
    • Play Marbles – Marbles are still very popular with children in Mexico. Get a variety of marbles in different sizes and colors and let kids play this classic game.
    • Watch how easy it is for children to make a pinata.

MOTHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES

A brain break is giving a children’s brain a break from work,  stress, or whatever they are learning and focusing on at the time. They are usually short periods of time that allow children to refocus, refresh, recharge and then to go back to what they were previously doing. Brain development is part of cognitive development. Children’s ability to process information with adult involvement plays a significant role in their cognitive development. Consider listening to learn more about Piaget’s Theory of Learning and Children’s Four stages of Cognitive Development.

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: 

  • Riding a Bike
  • Nature Neighbourhood Walk
    • Time spent in nature and being active outdoors is beneficial to children’s health and overall well being. It also helps to improve their resiliency, focus, attention and social skills. Enjoy Springtime by taking children on a nature walk around your neighbourhood, park or along a nature trail. Here are some fun things to do while you and your children are outside:
      • Look for signs of spring together.
      • Enjoy spring flowers and pick a few (when is it alright to pick flowers?).
      • Dig in the dirt and collect worms.
      • Jump in puddles and get wet.
      • Go on a scavenger hunt.

NUTRITION:

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

GARDEN YOGA

Childhood101.com

THE STATE OF FLOW 

BRAIN BREAK IDEAS

FAMILY DIVERSITY:

Quotesgram.com-

PIAGET – COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

  • Read to learn more about Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development.
  • Ways adults can foster children’s cognitive development: 
    • Organize environments to encourage exploration and problem-solving
    • Encourage them to explore different ways of solving problems.
    • Read aloud daily and ask thought-provoking questions
    • Communicate about thoughts and feelings
    • Provide children with choices and prompt them to make thoughtful decisions.
    • Provide healthy nutrition and enough sleep crucial for developing brains.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK