Birds Of A Feather...

TODAY'S ACTIVITY
Due to rain, we shifted our plans away from our paper kites to paper birds. Students colored their own paper birds and wove straps through them for handles. When moving the hand up and down, the paper mimics the movement of flapping wings. Playing with "toys" they made themselves was even more enjoyable than making them. Let's pretend it was the most exciting part of their day instead of the next entry.

THE BLUE ANGELS ARE GO!
The Blue Angels get vertical above Angel Island
We mentioned before that our own "Flight Week" was inspired by Fleet Week. We generally don't structure our activities to match holidays and external events, but we recognized a real opportunity here: to quell fears and anxieties about the Blue Angels' unavoidable loud noise. All week we have been doing flight and wind related activities. Yesterday we even supplanted storytime to pass around photos of the planes and discuss their concerns about them. Any one who knows me as a teacher, knows I do not give up storytime without good cause. I am pleased to say that all our efforts paid off. Those children who initially expressed the greatest anxieties were today confident enough to go outside and watch the planes rehearse loops and starbursts in the sky above. We have the dubious fortune of being located directly on a flight path. When a tight formation of four, joined by a fifth, flew a few hundred feet overhead, those that before were fearful were now the most enthusiastic, jumping up and down, pointing and cheering at the top of their lungs. Today, they conquered a fear. Friday, the flight schedule will repeat for their mastery. As Samantha so eloquently stated, "That's the noise is from their loud flapping wings."
CLICK HERE for some great historical photos of the Blue Angels in action!

TODAY'S STORY
Alfie Gives A Hand, by Shirley Hughes. Usha selected and read this book at storytime. While the narrative is quite wordy, it describes a child's difficulties with a security blanket, a birthday party and a somewhat "naughty" bithday boy. What preschooler wouldn't have a connection with those issues? The kid with the tiger mask hurts the feelings of one of his guests. Alfie ditches his blanket to be a "big boy" and help the guest feel better. He no longer "needs" the security blanket and enjoys his new friendship. Though decent, this story doesn't hold a candle to The Dream Pillow by our own Mitra Modaressi. Now that's a great story about friendship and a textile.