A Day in Monkey Class

Dear Monkey Class families,

I hope you have all had a lovely week. Every year I try my best to capture short burst of our days at school to share with you so here it is,  'A Day in Monkey Class' video. I hope this provides you with a better visual of our school life. You can also watch the video with your child to see what they share about their time at school.

As the children in Monkey Class grow more confident and comfortable in their environment, it's natural for their routines to change. Some children who used to prioritise snack time may now choose to play instead, while others who previously ignored snack time now enjoy it as a social part of their day. In the coming weeks, we may observe various behaviours emerging as the children gain confidence to express themselves and test boundaries. These age-appropriate behaviours are explored through a variety of daily activities, including interactive stories. Together, we are fostering a safe and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported.

Who We Are

Within our ‘Who We Are’ unit we have continued to learn more about each other not only through play but also during circle time activities. These activities encourage children to share their favourite colours, hobbies, and family members, helping to connect them through shared interests. We also incorporate numeracy by counting how many friends have similar preferences or family sizes. Stories have played a crucial role in developing a sense of community within our classroom, helping us understand how to create an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, loved, and heard.


One story that really sparked conversation among the children was The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. The children connected with the themes of sharing and the challenges it can present. We discussed strategies for when they don’t want to share or play with others. Through role-playing different scenarios, we agreed that taking turns is a good solution. We emphasised the importance of using words to express our needs in those moments. Here are some phrases you might hear in the classroom as the children learn to work together and take turns:

“Please can I play?”
“I’m still playing.”
“I need five more minutes, please.”
“I will give it to you when I’m done.”
“We can play together.”
“We can take turns.”
“Here you go, your turn.”
“Thank you!”
“I’m done; you can play.”

Here are a few other stories that we have really enjoyed over the last few weeks 

Birthday Celebrations

In Monkey Class, we have a special love for celebrating birthdays and each other. Birthdays hold great significance for children at this age, and while we would love to celebrate each child on their exact day, we don't want anyone to miss out due to weekends or holidays. That's why we gather once a month for a delightful Birthday Celebration, honouring all those who had their birthdays during that month. We also understand that not all children enjoy being in the spotlight, so by celebrating monthly with friends, these children feel more comfortable and at ease.


Please click on the links below to see a short snippets of our celebration.

Monkey AM Birthday Video       |       Monkey PM Birthday Video    

Coming Up...

In the coming week, we will begin our new unit of inquiry, "Sharing the Planet." The central idea for this unit is: People wonder about and inquire into the natural world through their curiosities.

I would love to share more about what we will be doing, but each year the students' interests vary significantly from class to class. In the past, we have delved deeply into topics like space and conducted animal research projects, even learning from friends with extensive knowledge about different species. For example, we discovered that African and Asian elephants look and behave differently. One year, a group of children was particularly passionate about recycling, which led us to primarily use recycled materials for our arts and crafts projects. We have also had children bring in seeds from home and insist that we plant seeds they found in their snacks to see if all seeds really do grow. The possibilities for inquiry are endless, and I can't wait to see what adventures await us this year!

We will also continue to explore our "Who We Are" unit of inquiry throughout the year, and I will keep sharing information about this unit as we progress. The next focus will be on developing our classroom essential agreements together.

Google Photos & Spotify Playlist

Just as a reminder, here are the links to our class photos: Monkey AM Class  |  Monkey PM Class
and our Monkey Class Spotify Playlist

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead. Until next time, take care!

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