That's a Wrap!
/Our last week was filled with fort-making, garden delights, and water play. Most of all we savored our time together. Have a wonderful summer and we will see you in September!
May Reflections and Mathematical Investigations
/This week marked Ms. Lucy's final visit of the school year! We spent time in the studio together doing many of our favorite things- sculpting with clay, creating collaborative drawings with paint pens, and building block compositions. What a wonderful year of making and creating together! On Tuesday, Ms. Robin came in for another fabulous lesson, this time with a real world math twist. We became researchers for an imaginary automotive company, on a mission to find out which car color sells best. As cars passed by our school, we used tally marks to collect data, then transformed our findings into bar graphs to make the results clear and easy to read. White cars won by a landslide! To close out the week, we reflected on all the fun and learning that filled the month of May before putting together our June calendar. It's hard to believe there's only one week of school left.
Caring for our Environment and Celebrating our Learning
/There is something beautiful about children who care for their environment. This week, our community put real energy into caring for both our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Students have been sweeping floors, tidying up after themselves, and keeping shared supplies organized. Our herb garden got some extra love too, with careful watering rounds that gave everyone a chance to slow down and notice what's growing.
We're still savoring our wetland trip from a couple weeks ago! Below are a few more favorite photos from our time exploring that incredible ecosystem together. Every visit into nature reminds us why caring for the world around us matters so much.
Our studio work this season came full circle in a meaningful way. It started with each child carefully crafting clay beads. This involved rolling, shaping, and adding texture by hand. Once the beads were fired, we moved into glazing, choosing colors and applying layer after layer. Then came the most collaborative step yet: working together to thread those beads onto a wire armature, bending and weaving until we had something quite beautiful.
Last night, our classroom filled with families ready to witness a year's worth of growth. Guests moved through the room admiring our clay sculptures, leafing through memory books brimming with work from across the year, and gathering around the collaborative wire sculpture. It was a joyful experience watching our students narrate their own learning to the people who love them most.
We ended the week with a fun ELC tradition called Bump Up Day. Our second graders visited the Sea Lion classroom to get a glimpse of what's ahead as they prepare to become third graders next year. Meanwhile, our first graders rose to the occasion beautifully, serving as guides and hosts to upcoming Whales students. They showed them around our space with pride and warmth. We can’t wait to welcome these new community members into our classroom next year!
Wetland Explorations
/The last two weeks have been filled with riddle-writing, wetland exploration, and colorful ceramics.
Last Friday, we ventured to Fernhill Wetlands with the Whale class. Students worked alongside Pacific scientists to observe a variety of birds, created layered wetland scenes with oil pastels, used the Merlin Bird ID app to identify several species, and collaborated to solve 34 wetland riddles! Some young scientists also discovered animal skeletons, a garter snake, and a rabbit. A special highlight was getting to know some of the Whale students who will be joining the Otter community next year.
This week, we were delighted to receive buddy letters from Ms. Aimee's class in Hawaii. We used our new art supplies to write and illustrate letters in return. Students also decorated covers for their memory books and continued exploring a variety of materials in the studio. We can't wait to welcome families to our classroom next Thursday evening!
Kaleidoscope of Learning
/It has been a vibrant and generous couple of weeks in the Otter classroom. Our community has been bursting with new materials, new skills, and new learning!
In the studio with Ms. Lucy, we have been busy on multiple fronts: designing studio spaces, creating clay beads, and diving into the art of color mixing. Students have been learning how to mix colors to create a wide range of shades, and our easel has become one of the most popular spots in the room, with students eagerly collaborating on paintings together with a rainbow of colors at their fingertips.
And speaking of colors, our classroom received the most incredible wave of generosity from our families these past two weeks. We now have the start of our very own set of clayboards (we've been borrowing them up until now!), gorgeous watercolor pencils, a vast array of acrylic markers, and fifteen new paint jars so we can mix a true kaleidoscope of colors. Students put these beautiful new materials to work right away, using them to create heartfelt Mother's Day gifts and a variety of other wonderful projects. Families also gifted us math games to expand our mathematical thinking, including some that are introducing us to multiplication and visual reasoning. We also received stunning new read alouds that are sure to spark rich discussions and a Zenimal meditation animal, which we've been using for whole group guided meditations. The Zenimal is also available for individual students who need a calm and quiet reset. A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to every family who contributed. These materials are already creating such rich learning opportunities, and we are grateful.
Students have also been hard at work on their wetland riddle projects. Working in pairs, students are researching a wetland animal, writing riddles, and creating an original art piece to accompany them. One of the most important parts of this project is the partnership itself. Dividing work, offering feedback, and navigating the sometimes tricky experience of creating something collaboratively. Students are also learning about the value of drafts, creating multiple sketches and receiving specific feedback before moving on to their final piece. Next week we will be posting our riddles around Fernhill for the community to enjoy. We can't wait to go on our wetlands field trip to solve the riddles ourselves!
We also had a very special guest this week: Uncle John, visiting from Hawaii. He taught us a handful of Hawaiian words and introduced us to Konane, a Hawaiian version of checkers. It was a wonderful window into a new culture, and students were quite intrigued.
It has been a couple of weeks full of color, collaboration, creativity, and community. We feel so lucky to be learning together.
Tall, Tall Towers
/We had a week full of presentations, art, writing, community, and some seriously tall towers in the Otter classroom!
Our final geology presenters took the stage this week, and they did not disappoint. Each student did a wonderful job projecting their voice and using scientific vocabulary to explain their concepts with confidence and clarity. It has been such a joy watching our geologists grow throughout this unit, and these final presentations were a proud moment for the whole class.
In the studio, our artists continued glazing their clay pieces, adding color and personality to the cups, bowls, beads, and sculptures they've worked so hard to create. We can't wait for families to see them at next month's Celebration of Learning.
One of the week's highlights was a special visit to the Seals classroom. Our preschool neighbors were busy learning about the letter O, so we showed up as a class of Otters. Each student carried a picture of something that starts with O, to help with their alphabet project. It was a wonderful moment of community and connection, and our Otters loved getting to support the younger learners.
We also launched our next big writing and art project this week, with students pairing up and selecting animals to research. There is a lot of excitement and curiosity about what we'll discover, and we look forward to seeing those research skills put to work.
And finally, engineering teams quite literally took things to new heights this week. Using Kapla blocks, they constructed towers so tall they surpassed their teachers in height. As you can imagine, this took immense amounts of persistence, care, and collaboration. There were many crashes and failures before experiencing the elation of success.
It was a week of wrapping up, launching new adventures, and reaching new heights!
Clay Explorations and Geology Projects
/It has been an energetic and creative couple of weeks in the Otter classroom. We’ve been busy with clay, science showcases, and engineering adventures!
In the studio, our clay work has been in full swing. Last week students created a wonderful variety of clay beads, experimenting with all sorts of interesting textures and shapes. This week we moved into glazing, carefully adding color to all the pieces we've created over the course of our clay exploration. When the fired pieces came back, students were absolutely delighted to see the transformation. They are hoping to share their work with families at next month's Celebration of Learning. It is going to be a beautiful display.
We also wrapped up our geology unit in style. Working individually or in teams, students chose their own ways to demonstrate their scientific knowledge, and the results were impressive. Some teams performed volcanic eruptions to illustrate how igneous rocks are formed, while others created dioramas, colorful posters, and poems. Still others staged demonstrations of erosion and eruptions right in our engineering sandbox. The creativity, depth of thinking, and pride students brought to these projects was wonderful to witness.
And don't forget—our encaustic art compositions are now hanging in the hallway! Please stop by to admire them the next time you're in the building.
Engineering teams have kept right on building throughout all of this, continuing to take on challenges using our building kits, Rigamajig, Kapla blocks, and the sandbox. The persistence and problem-solving on display during engineering time never gets old.
Reimagined Classroom Design and Encaustic Art
/Last week students returned from spring break to discover their classroom had been completely reimagined. A new light room invites exploration with a light table where students can experiment with creating designs and patterns. Our studio area has been reorganized with dedicated homes for a wide variety of materials—wire, paint, watercolor, clay, and an assortment of collage materials. When Ms. Lucy visited on Monday, she led students in the meaningful work of categorizing and storing materials together, helping everyone feel ownership over the space from the very start.
The redesign brought other exciting additions as well. We now have an easel for large, collaborative art pieces and a sensory table for exploring measurement, dumping, and pouring—which has been a wonderful hands-on complement to our math work around fractions, measurement, and volume. Our math area has grown too, with new tools including rulers, tape measures, meter sticks, and scales available for exploration. And in the block area, a variety of loose parts are now woven into building and play. Each morning, students arrive and make a plan for where they want to explore and which materials they want to work with. After their exploration time, we gather at morning meeting to reflect and share what they discovered, learned, or wondered. It has been a beautiful way to start the day.
We also followed along with the Artemis II launch last week, reading articles and watching snippets of coverage that sparked rich conversations about science and social studies. Then later in the week, Ms. Sara returned for part two of our encaustic art project. We revisited the difference between abstract and realistic work and added a special wax blend to the pieces we began before break. Our framed creations will be on display in the hallway next week—keep an eye out for them!
Our geology unit continued with a focus on metamorphic and igneous rocks, and we had a very special group of teachers join us on Thursday—our college buddies who attended the Rice Rock Museum field trip with us! They planned and led small group lessons connected to our geology studies, and it was wonderful to learn from them. As we wrap up the unit, students are choosing their own ways to demonstrate their knowledge of a geology concept. Some are writing and performing skits, others are using clay or paint to show what they know. We can't wait to see how they share their learning.
One more exciting development: students have taken over writing the daily parent board! Each day, the Outstanding Otter is in charge of sharing the day's highlights with families. It has been a joy to watch them step into that role.
Last week was a time of new beginnings, creative exploration, and student-led everything—the Otter classroom is buzzing with energy and we are so excited for what's ahead.
Music Performance
/This week we wrapped up our music term with Ms. McKenzie by performing some favorite songs for our friends in the Seals and Whales classrooms. It was such a joy to share what we've been working on, and the pride on students' faces said it all. You can view a recording of both the Whales and Otter class performances below!
Leprechaun Magic and Rice Rock Museum
/What a week of discoveries—big and small—in the Otter classroom!
We started the week by finishing up our leprechaun traps, and on Tuesday the moment of truth arrived. We eagerly checked each trap and found... no leprechauns! But we were delighted to discover tiny leprechaun footprints and a stash of chocolate coins left behind. It seems our traps were more impressive than we realized.
In the studio with Ms. Lucy, our clay work continued to develop beautifully as we explored utilitarian forms, creating functional items like cups and bowls.
On Friday, we headed out on a much-anticipated field trip to the Rice Rock Museum. Working in partners with a chaperone, students explored the museum on a mission—searching for examples of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks and looking for evidence of earth's processes, both the ones that happen in an instant and the ones that unfold over thousands of years. They came back to school buzzing with interesting facts and observations to share with the group.
Engineering Challenges and Artistic Explorations
/It was a week of building, making, and creating in the Otter classroom—with a little leprechaun mischief mixed in for good measure!
Engineering teams were busy as ever during choice time, tackling Mr. Peter's challenges with creativity and determination. One team successfully built a hydraulic robotic arm, while others dove deeper into the world of circuitry. Still other teams took on a different kind of challenge, constructing giant structures out of Rigamajig materials and discovering just how much engineering thinking goes into building big.
In the studio with Ms. Lucy, we continued our clay explorations. Students used a variety of techniques to sculpt animals and other representational objects.
Friday was a special one, as artist Sara Hemmer visited our classroom to share her expertise. She introduced students to the difference between realistic and abstract art, sparking great conversation and curiosity. Then she guided us through the first step of an encaustic art project—a technique we are very much looking forward to continuing after spring break!
In anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, students also put their imaginations to work designing leprechaun homes, playgrounds, and traps to lure any visiting leprechauns. The creativity and detail that went into these was impressive—and a little sneaky.
We also wrapped up the term with our last PE session, going out on a high note with a rousing game of Jedi dodgeball. Safe to say it was a hit.
It was a full and joyful week of engineering, art, and imagination!
Layers of Learning
/What a week of science, writing, engineering, and art in the Otter classroom!
We kicked off Monday with a much-anticipated moment—students arriving in their tie-dye creations! We had so much fun admiring each other's work and talking about how the designs have evolved over the years. Students reflected on this experience compared to previous years and shared what they've learned from their mistakes along the way. It was a wonderful reminder of how much growth can happen when we approach creative work with patience and an open mind.
Our young geologists continued to bring in their rock collections this week, and our study of sedimentary rocks took off in exciting directions. We read books, watched videos, and examined real specimens to investigate how sedimentary rocks form. Students were especially surprised to learn that these rocks take many, many years to develop—and that you can often spot distinct layers of sediment or even fossils preserved inside them! To bring the concept to life, we created our own pretend sedimentary rocks using sand and a cementing agent, which helped students understand the slow and fascinating process in a hands-on way.
In Writer's Workshop, we connected our geology learning to our writing by introducing the PLEASE writing strategy—a tool to help us plan, organize, and craft strong paragraphs. Students began working on expository pieces explaining how sedimentary rocks form, while putting their new science knowledge and writing skills to work at the same time.
During studio time with Ms. Lucy we continued our clay exploration, this time using the pinching method to create representational structures. It's exciting to see students' growing confidence and intentionality as they work with this material week after week.
Meanwhile, during choice time, engineering teams continued making impressive progress on Mr. Peter's engineering challenges, practicing persistence, problem-solving, and collaboration with every session. One team reached a major milestone this week—successfully assembling a robotic arm with a hydraulic system. It took much persistence and teamwork to reach this milestone.
We can’t wait to see what fun unfolds next week as we continue our studio and engineering work, expository writing, and our geology explorations.
Clay, Color, and Creativity
/We had a creative and curious week in the Otter classroom, filled with clay, rocks, and a splash of color!
We were thrilled to welcome Ms. Lucy and Mr. Gary back into our studio this week to begin exploring the language of clay. Students playfully experimented with shaping and forming clay into a variety of shapes, then combined those shapes to build larger structures. We talked about the texture of clay, where it comes from, and how it feels and behaves differently than other materials we've worked with. We also learned to use slip—a mixture of clay and water—to join our pieces together. It was just the beginning of what is sure to be a rich and ongoing exploration.
Throughout the week, students brought in their personal rock collections to share during our geology unit study time. We made careful observations, compared specimens, and asked so many wonderful questions. We also checked in on our rock tumbler and noticed something surprising: our rocks are getting smoother every week, but some have become so small from all that tumbling that they're washing away with the liquid—we actually have fewer rocks than last week! This sparked some really rich thinking about what's happening inside the tumbler and where those tiny pieces go.
On Friday, we took part in one of our most beloved ELC traditions—tie-dye with Mr. Mark! A huge thank you to Mark for the many hours of time and effort he put in to make this experience possible. It was joyful, colorful, and a wonderful way to close out the week. We can't wait to see everyone walk in on Monday wearing their one-of-a-kind creations.
It was a week full of shaping, observing, wondering, and creating together—and there's so much more to come.
100 Days Smarter (and Sweeter!)
/We had a milestone-filled week in the Otter classroom as we celebrated our 100th Day of School!
Students proudly shared their “hundreds collections,” bringing in 100 rocks, shells, books, Legos, pencils, cars, stuffed animals, and more. We counted to 100 in a variety of creative ways and had rich discussions about how different groups of 100 can take up very different amounts of space. One hundred pencils looks very different from one hundred stuffed animals! We also examined our ELC calendar and used our math skills to calculate how many school days remain—about 75 more days in our year together.
On Wednesday, we celebrated a special Otter birthday, and Grandma Robin joined us to read Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. We used a map to determine where the story takes place and connected our geography skills to the text. Then, combining our reading, math, and science knowledge, we carefully followed a recipe to make our own thunder cake. Measuring, mixing, observing changes in ingredients—and of course tasting—made for a delicious and meaningful learning experience!
Meanwhile, our engineering teams have been hard at work on Mr. Peter’s engineering challenge. One team successfully followed detailed and tricky directions to assemble a working robotic hand. Their perseverance, collaboration, and attention to detail were impressive to watch.
It was a week full of counting, cooking, building, celebrating, and learning together—100 days stronger!
Friendship, Imagination, and Hidden Treasures
/Last week was full of imagination, friendship, and exciting discoveries!
We took a special walking field trip to Theatre in the Grove to see a production of Winnie the Pooh. The play explored themes of navigating life’s big changes, friendship, and the power of imagination. Students were engaged and thoughtful audience members, and it sparked wonderful conversations back in the classroom.
In studio time with Ms. Lucy, we began exploring still life drawing. Students chose characters that might live in the Hundred Acre Wood to represent in their artwork, carefully observing shapes and details as they drew.
Valentine’s Day brought lots of creativity and joy! Students designed and built their own Valentine envelopes and boxesto collect cards from friends. On Friday, they delighted in passing out thoughtful notes and small gifts to one another—it was truly a sweet celebration of friendship and kindness.
Out in our meadow, we caught more glimpses of the bunny, who has officially been named Pixie by the class. Students continue to observe Pixie closely and share their noticings.
As part of our geology unit, students buried a variety of rocks and gemstones in our engineering sandboxes. They are eagerly anticipating unearthing these treasures to incorporate into their building projects next week.
We also checked on the rocks in our rock tumbler, which have been tumbling with sand and grit for one week. Students were amazed to find the rocks already feeling smoother—and even more surprised to discover that we started with 24 rocks and now have 43! This led to a lively discussion about how rocks might break apart or chip during the tumbling process. After examining them closely, we returned the rocks to the tumbler with fresh grit for another week. We can’t wait to see what happens next!
During music with Ms. McKenzie, we sang songs celebrating love, friendship, and courage, including I Am Brave, Sharing With You, K-I-N-D, and Change Sings. Students are building new rhythm skills while also strengthening executive functioning as they practice singing, dancing, chanting, and pausing together.
We also launched a new art project called “Map of My Heart.” Students are drawing and painting heart maps that highlight the people, places, and passions most important to them. We’re excited to continue developing these meaningful pieces next week.
It was a joyful, thoughtful, and creative week in the Otter classroom!
Launching our Geology Unit
/This week was filled with movement, music, creativity, and new discoveries. Outside, students have been joyfully moving their bodies, dancing to music, and playing games of tag. It’s been wonderful to see them using the outdoor space so freely and collaboratively. During studio time on Monday with Ms. Lucy, students revisited their wire structures in a new way. They used both words and drawings to represent and describe their creations, stretching their thinking about how artists communicate ideas beyond the materials themselves. On Tuesday, Ms. McKenzie joined us for a session of expressive music-making. We sang and danced to songs including Sharing With You, I’m Just Gonna Dance, K-I-N-D, and Big Feelings. Students also took turns playing a gathering drum, practicing rhythm, listening, and turn-taking. A small group of students proudly presented their Jane Goodall biographies, sharing what they learned about her life and contributions. Presenting to the class continues to build confidence and strong communication skills. We also launched our geology unit this week! Students began learning about the changes that occur on Earth’s surface, discovering that some changes happen quickly while others take place slowly over many years. We examined a rock tumbler, and each student selected a rock to tumble. Students made predictions about how their rocks might change after four weeks of tumbling with grit and water—scientific curiosity is officially underway.
Biographies and Buddy Letters
/Over the last two weeks, our classroom has been busy with learning, exploration, and collaboration—both indoors and out!
In our outdoor classroom, students have been keen observers of the natural world. We’ve spotted our meadow rabbit multiple times and noticed that its belly appears to be getting bigger. This led to thoughtful wondering about whether the rabbit might be female and possibly pregnant. Students also discovered new piles of droppings and observed the rabbit creating tunnels in the bioswales. We noticed earthworms venturing out into the meadow and appreciated a clearer view of our pond after Mr. Mark trimmed the surrounding plants.
Outside students have also been demonstrating empathy and problem-solving. When a classmate needed help crossing the monkey bars, they collaborated on an idea to provide extra support by having two students hold a thin board under her feet while she practiced. With teacher support and close supervision for safety, this creative solution allowed her to participate more confidently—an excellent example of teamwork and care.
In math, second graders have been exploring two- and three-dimensional shapes as well as fractions. We read Grandfather Tang’s Story, learning about the ancient tangram puzzles that are still used today. Students worked together to solve tangram challenges, created their own designs, and even made up stories using the tans. We also tackled the challenge of building 3D paper shapes—a tricky task that required patience and perseverance!
In literacy, students each chose an inspiring individual to research and write about. They created informational writing pieces to teach others about that person’s life and contributions to society. Students practiced presenting their work to partners using loud, clear voices, and then bravely shared their presentations with the whole group—an experience that took real courage.
We also wrote letters to our new buddy class in Hawaii. Many students fondly remember Ms. Aimee, who taught at the ELC last year and now teaches second grade in Hawaii. We’re excited to partner with her class for a pen pal exchange in 2026, building connections across the ocean.
Finally, excitement was high when Mr. Peter brought in new engineering materials for us to explore. Students have been working in teams to solve engineering challenges, many involving Technic LEGO sets that require careful attention to instructions, collaboration, and persistence.
It’s been two rich weeks filled with curiosity, compassion, and courageous learning. We’re excited for upcoming learning adventures as well, including a field trip to see a local play and our new geology unit in the coming weeks.
Reconnecting and Rebuilding Routines in the New Year
/We were so happy to be back together after winter break and spent this week reconnecting, rebuilding routines, and easing back into learning as a community.
In writing, students reflected on their winter breaks and shared highlights from their 2025 experiences. Together, we talked about hopes and resolutions for 2026, and students created memory book pages capturing their goals and dreams for the new year. It was fun to hear their thoughtful reflections and hopes.
Our engineering area was buzzing with creativity as students designed rigamajig cars and explored new Zoob materials, building patterns, chains, and imaginative structures through hands-on problem solving.
In math, learning looked different across grade levels. Second graders have been working on adding and subtracting two-digit numbers with regrouping, while first graders have been building two-digit numbers using base-ten blocks and practicing addition with multiples of ten (such as 20 + 40).
During morning gathering, we’ve been connecting math and science by reading and discussing the daily weather report. Students use this information to plan how to dress appropriately for outdoor time—real-world learning in action!
Out in our cedar classroom, we were delighted to catch another glimpse of the bunny who calls our meadow home. In art, we began a winter tree project, planning with lines and shapes to create interesting and expressive tree designs.
It’s been a joyful and productive return, and we’re excited to continue learning together in the new year.
Bread Celebration
/We had a wonderful, cozy bread celebration today. Students were delighted to wear their pajamas to school and bring their favorite stuffed animals. We gathered as a whole school to sing by candlelight and share a story. Then we dined on cinnamon swirl bread and cheesy bread with our Sea Lion friends. Wishing everyone a restful holiday season. We will see you in the new year!
Gift Making Center
/The last two weeks flew by in a flurry of excitement and activity in our classroom! Students were deeply engaged across all areas of learning, bringing creativity, curiosity, and perseverance to everything they did.
One highlight was our gift-making center, where students used a wide variety of supplies to create thoughtful cards and gifts for loved ones. This space buzzed with focus and care as children planned, designed, and proudly completed their creations.
Mr. Peter’s Wednesday visits continued to be a favorite. He generously donated a marble run for students to explore foundational physics concepts, along with origami materials and a balloon-making kit. These hands-on tools sparked curiosity and problem-solving. Students also loved continuing their explorations of ramps and pathways using our new magnetic tile gift set. Throughout these experiences, students demonstrated impressive persistence and grit—trying, adjusting, and trying again as they refined their designs.
We were also lucky to welcome Ms. Lucy into the studio to explore a variety of materials with us. This week, we incorporated sparkly items and materials that represent light, a theme that feels especially meaningful this time of year. Students experimented, observed, and reflected as they created.
In addition, we put our math and science knowledge to work to bake four loaves of cinnamon swirl bread in preparation for our upcoming bread celebration. Measuring, counting, observing changes, and working together made this a rich and delicious learning experience!
Finally, we spent time discussing family traditions and wrote memory book pieces about students’ favorite traditions. These writings were full of warmth, reflection, and personal connections, and it was a joy to hear students share what is special to them.
We are greatly looking forward to tomorrow’s pajama day and bread celebration. It promises to be a day filled with cozy togetherness and community.
