Over the past month various children have been unwell with common childhood diseases. One of the children who was away for several weeks is back with us and feeling much better. This was cause for celebration.
We decided to celebrate with a picnic and this was a perfect connection to our Unit of Inquiry about Where We Are In Place and Time (for a full definition please check the IB wall).
A long time ago when people came to Canada and wanted to settle here they had to build houses, farm and do all manner of tasks from dawn to dusk. It was very hard work and there was not much time for play. Even the children had very important roles to play. Everyone's work counted. Once houses were built, and especially in today's times, there was more time for play and picnics together with friends and family.
Many of the children offered some of their lunch (fruit and veggies) as part of the communal plate. The teachers made bread and jam and fresh butter with the help of the children. We all sat around the blankets and chatted about times gone by.
A long time ago, and even today, people put special objects up in their homes to bring them good luck or ward off evil spirits. We decided to make our own special object and some of the children helped make a string of cranberries which now hangs over the entrance door. Please have a look at it tonight when you come in and know that it carries blessings for a healthy year to you all.
If you have special sayings to share with us we'd love to hear about them. If you know some superstitions share that too. Yesterday we saw Wendy throw salt over her shoulder after some salt was spilt. Do you know where that superstition came from? Apparently, it helps ward off the evil spirit that would surely come after her for wasting the salt! Salt has been so important throughout history. Maybe this is something the children might decide to learn more about.
I marvelled once again at the level or respect the children showed one another at the picnic and at the concentration they displayed when stringing the cranberries. There are many children who like to sew. Maybe there will be room to make some corn dolls or even some sleeping mats with straw. Does anyone have access to some straw for us?
The children showed that they were feeling open-minded when they tried the raw cranberries and found them much less sweet than the kind some of them have dried in their lunch (does anyone have a fruit drier for us to use for the Inquiry?)
Have a wonderful week.
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