January 2023: Winter, healthy bodies, and mindful living!

A peaceful month the new year brought. The children were ready to get back to school and jumped right in!

How are we already in the second half of the school year?! We are excited to observe the changing of seasons. Although we love a snowy winter, SimpleLife in the blossom of spring is always something to look forward to.

Books read to enhance learning experiences:

Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor
My Nose, Your Nose by Melanie Walsh
A variety of informational texts on human body systems

New songs we sang this month:

The North Wind - Elizabeth Mitchell

Bodies Exploration:

Nutrition, exercise, hygiene, well-being, body systems, and anatomy

How do you take care of your body?
When the children were asked how they can take care of their bodies we got a variety of answers, from healthy food and exercise, to sleep, and watching butterflies.

The children really enjoyed playing with the doctor tools. Some children even made doctor notes and medicine prescriptions for their sick patients. It’s not “just” play. Children are collaborating, communicating, creatively innovating, critically thinking, and building confidence. All skills needed for a successful adulthood.

We briefly learned about all of our body systems and what each does for us. Although, some of these may be abstract because they cannot be seen, the content is extremely relevant to the child. They were excited to learn about how they grow and become strong!

We used our 5 senses to taste and smell. We drew a body and traced our friends through the standing window. We listened to our hearbeats and breath.

All bodies are important and worthy.

Exploring Winter:

*"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."*
-John Steinbeck

Sometimes our winter exploration is in January… sometimes it’s in November or March! We were lucky to have a very wintery January. We had multiple snow days. We would like to thank all grown-ups for packing all the necessary gear in an open top bag for us! This not only helps the teachers keep track of snow clothes, but helps the children learn responsibility over their own belongings.

We explored ice and snow and how it changes in different conditions. Watercolor spray bottles were a fun way to enjoy outside on the bitter cold days. All the children were so brave and resilient on the coldest days.

We contemplated and discussed what happens to plants and animals during the winter. Our once prosperous garden is now dormant and frozen. Animals hibernate, hide away, or scavenge in the cold. We visited the SimpleLife nature trail to feed the ducks and watch them dive. The squirrel that lives in the walnut tree made himself at home and was seen running around the school yard each day.

Mindful Living:

Living with awareness in the present moment.

We helped the children be mindful by noticing. We encouraged them to use their 5 senses to notice the environment around them. We played the game “I Notice…” (Like I Spy).

Take a slow small bite. Chew it, taste it, feel it. We often forget to truly enjoy our food, let’s teach our children how to show gratitude to the food in front of them. Mindful eating also supports safety.

Mindfulness isn’t only being aware about what is going on around you, but within you. Does your body have needs? What emotion are you feeling? How do these things relate? We often tell the children to “listen to their body”, this is a skill that will help them become healthy, happy, regulated people.

Oh nature and its benefits. We just cannot get enough. Even on the coldest days we incorporate nature into our indoor and outdoor curriculum. Nature connects us to people, ourselves, our community, and the living world around us.

It takes time for children to be aware of their body movements. Balance, personal space, and coordination all need to be practiced for children to gain these skills.

Gratitude, kindness, and acceptance. Mindfulness is also the way you are thinking, judging, and treating people, animals, and yourself. At SimpleLife we promote a life of wellness and love where we show kindness towards others and ourself.

Freedom Day Celebration:

"If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day we celebrated the freedom for all children to go to school! We simply and briefly told the children that MLK helped the world by changing the laws so all kids could go to school together, regardless of the color of their skin. We read a book about how all bodies are different and that’s a great thing! The children really enjoyed making a paper people chain representing racial diversity.

We marched around our school, clapping and chanting celebrating inclusion! The children enjoyed taking turns holding the flag and being the leader.

All bodies are important and worthy.

Art Explorations:

Winter-scapes, Wood Sculptures, & Color mixing

Inspired by the lovely winter scenery the children used blue paper, white paint, and fuzzy cotton to create their own version of a winter wonderland!

We taught the children what a sculpture is and how it differs from a 2D painting. The children used wood glue and up-cycled wood pieces to create their own sculpture. Some children made an abstract sculpture and some made theirs represent something.

We experimented mixing colors and using our fingers to create swirls and imaginative creations. The children then made a memorable handprint to go into their portfolio.