Dear Jefferson Families,
Our students are studying trees! We’ll be observing and comparing trees to learn about what lives
in them, what they’re made from, and who cares for them. We hope that this study will help children
explore and appreciate nature. As we study trees, we will use literacy, math, the arts, and technology
to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through
firsthand investigations. Please visit the classroom during the study to see all that we are learning.
If you are able to take a “tree walk” with your child, we would appreciate your help in collecting tree
parts to investigate. If you can, please take a bag to an area with trees and collect things that have
fallen, such as leaves, bark, acorns, twigs, flowers, fruit, or cones. See below for suggestions of other tree parts you can bring into the classroom.
- a variety of leaves
- small limbs, branches, twigs
- food from trees (fruit, nuts)
- pinecones
- evergreen sprigs or small boughs
- a live, potted tree
- flower clippings (may be kept in water)
- seeds
- tree “cookies” (cross sections of trees that show the rings)
- bark
We need your help to enrich the children's learning. If you work with trees, please let us know. Perhaps you’re a gardener, forester, tree trimmer, tree farmer, or nursery worker. Even if your job is unrelated to trees, you can be involved in our study. Extra hands always help!
What You Can Do at Home You can help your child explore and appreciate nature by learning about trees. Invite your child to talk about trees. Share stories about your favorite childhood memories involving trees and games you might have played around them. Wonder aloud with your child to encourage his or her thinking about trees.
- “I wonder why leaves fall from trees.”
- “I wonder what makes some trees grow so big.”
- At home, collect parts of trees, and encourage your child to sort them. Your child might also enjoy making a collage by arranging and gluing tree items on paper.
Abella
"In the mornings, Abella has been appropriately saying/waving hello to peers and adults when passing them! Abella has been attending to circle by completing motor actions that go along with the songs. She has been using the words of the week to fill in the blank when we are singing to our books. Abella's communication continues to grow, and we are so proud of her!"
-Miss Choy
Ryan
"Ryan has demonstrated being a wonderful worker and a fabulous friend since joining our classroom. He was a great leader during a recent bowling game during playtime."
-Mrs. Holtz
Dominic
"Dominic has shown leadership by helping the new students by guiding them to understand the routines."
-Mrs. Jaime
Emily
"Emily knows every single classmates name and is always the first to offer help opening lockers!"
-Ms. Hallerduff
Brooke
"Brooke is a fabulous friend, always trying to console a peer who may be sad. Thank you, Brooke, for lending a helping hand to friends in need."
-Mrs. Holtz
