Tuning Into Our "Sharing the Planet" Unit of Inquiry

Dear Monkey Class Families,

As we approach the mid-term break, I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a wonderful and rejuvenating holiday with your loved ones. I hope this break brings you exciting adventures, precious moments, and plenty of time to relax and recharge.

Sharing The Planet 

This past week, we delved into our "Sharing the Planet" unit, beginning our exploration of the wonders of the natural world around us. I'd like to highlight some of the activities we engaged in as we delved into this unit and share some of the valuable conversations and moments of sharing we've witnessed.

During circle time, we explored various images where children selected a picture to share what they saw. All the images were connected to the natural world. After displaying all the images, we asked the children if they thought these were all linked to the natural world. We inquired about their perceptions of the natural world and what they believed it included and excluded.

It was intriguing to gather the children's existing knowledge before delving deeper. This initial insight will guide us in exploring the connections between what they already understand, what they are curious about, and what they are yet to discover.

During arrival play, we set up a provocation with animals alongside a variety of resources. Children had the freedom to explore, and it was fascinating to observe their interactions with the materials. A common trend was the children creating food for the animals, leading to scenarios like animal BBQs with marshmallows or feeding them sticks and stones. Some children also connected the white loose parts to ice, sparking a conversation about polar bears living in icy habitats while pandas couldn't survive there. When asked to explain why, their responses were simple: "just because it can't," followed by a pause and a shrug. Children also explored size and shape, searching for the right-sized wooden disks for the animals to stand on or build homes. Some children piled them up in a bowl, creating protective structures. Together, we crafted a few beautiful trees, witnessing the children's collaboration and resource-sharing.

A delightful unrelated connection was made when the children associated sticks and stones with characters from a previous story we read, "Stick & Stone," which was shared on the blog last week.

In our classroom, we have two large globes that captured the children's interest. It was fascinating to observe how different children interacted with them, including those familiar and unfamiliar with globes. The children learned from each other, with some asking questions like "What is it?" and classmates sharing their knowledge, saying things like "I have one at home," "It's a globe," "It's Earth," "We live on Earth," "I live in Hong Kong," and "I know it's Earth because Asia is on it."

Home and School Partnership

As we look ahead, I would appreciate it if you could share any holiday experiences that involve exploring the natural world with me, it would greatly enrich our learning and discussions as we tune back into the unit after the break.

I encourage you to involve your child in this process. Show them the photos you plan to share and ask for their thoughts on whether the images represent nature. This interactive activity will not only deepen their understanding but also foster a sense of ownership in our classroom community.

Please click on your class album below to add the photos.

Sharing The Planet - Monkey AM       |       Sharing The Planet - Monkey PM

Open Play

This week, we started full open play, and the children have all adjusted really well. Despite our Monkey Class being closed during this time, the children have been wonderful at exploring different areas on the K1 floor, venturing to the playground, and even having snack time in the Dolphin Class. We have also introduced quiet reading time at the end of open play to allow for a smooth transition while many of us drink water and go to the toilet.

Google Photos & Spotify Playlist

Here are the links to our class photos: Monkey AM Class  |  Monkey PM Class
and our Monkey Class Spotify Playlist


Wishing you all a fantastic mid-term break filled with joy and relaxation. I look forward to seeing all the children back in the classroom on the 14th of October.
Until next time, take care!

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