Our Three Rooms ... Are Actually Four Rooms!

Surely you have heard by now that we have been working in the Sky Classroom, in the Trees Classroom, as well as in the Studio! 

These three rooms house our four major areas of study, led by us — the four Sky and Trees teachers. 

You have been seeing pictures and hearing stories about our four areas where we learn, but here is the official rundown:

After our morning routine of worship, park, snack, reading out loud and rhymes and chants, it is then 10:20, and time for activity time! Activity time is our main time of curriculum and group work in the day, and lasts about an hour, beginning with a group meeting. 

The Trees Class joins the Sky Class on their nest and we have a group meeting.  

In the meeting, a new material, idea, or area of study is introduced. The teacher's take turns presenting, day by day, and later in the year this is when guest speakers (such as experts to inform our research) will most often present. 



Then the children go to work in one of four different areas where we learn. They most often visit 2 or 3 areas a day — sometimes all four! 

"What are these four areas?" you may be asking...

During activity time, the Sky Classroom is our literacy center. 

Most often, Ms. Green will be leading the children in activities that develop the children's drawing, knowledge of letters, and storytelling. Throughout the year, you will hear about different ways that the children will familiarize themselves with creating drawings, letter formation, the spelling of their names, and of the elements of a story narrative.

Very soon, the children will be introduced to the four major elements that make up any letter ... Big Line, Little Line, Big Curve, Little Curve. 

During activity time, the Trees Classroom is our math center... 

Most often, Mr. Johnson will be leading the children in activities that develop numeracy skills, such as one-to-one correspondence and conservation.  There is also a focus on spatial awareness through puzzles, games, and building materials — like blocks, of course!

We have just started building patterns as well!

During activity time, we use the Studio in two ways:

Ms. Chalmers leads the children in the drama area...

In some ways, this goes hand in hand with the literacy work of the Sky Classroom, helping children become aware of the narrative form and other storytelling elements by acting out a story. 



Through imaginative play, children's creativity is fostered as they become the authors of new stories. The children can also process or anticipate real-life events through role-playing.

Watch as our camp sight changes into a wilderness hike in the following weeks... 

In the other half of the Studio, Ms. Jordan leads the children in creating using visual art languages...

Visual arts are central to all we do at Mustard Seed School. This area of the Studio is devoted to visual arts is where the children will learn to work with paper collage, paint, clay, wire, fabric, and many other materials. 

Everywhere we go:
 Studio, Sky and Tress...

Everything we do:  

art, drama, literacy, and math... 

We are discovering the beauty of God's creation,
and our own beauty as a part of the creation.

We are discovering who we are.

After all...

You, Lord, always treat me with kindness.
Your love never fails
You have made us what we are.
We bless your name.