Greetings Spanish Lime Families,

September was a busy month for our classroom we had our annual peace march, classroom constitution signing, first great lesson of how the universe and earth was created, enrichment classes began and our classrooms bake sale! A big thank you to all our parent volunteers who helped organize, chaperone, set up, take down, bake, and supported our classroom this month! None of this would have gone as smoothly without all your efforts!

This month your child will receive The Second Great Lesson involving the coming of life. This lesson revolves around the Timeline of Life, a long chart with pictures and information about microorganisms, plants, and animals that have lived (or now live) on the earth. The great diversity of life is emphasized, and special care is paid to the “jobs” that each living thing does to contribute to life on earth. Mario Montessori (Maria Montessori’s son) observed a transformation in children who saw plants and animals as having a cosmic task. He empasisized that life is driven by meeting survival needs efficiently, evolving and moving towards invertebrates.

This lesson leads to the study of:

• Biology: cells, organized groups, five kingdoms, specimens, dissection, observation, use of microscope.
• Botany: study of plants, classification, functions, parts of plants (seed, fruit, leaf, stem, root, flower), types of plants.
• Habitats: location, characteristics, food chains/webs, adaptation, ecosystems, conservation.
• Ancient Life: eras of the earth, evolution, extinction, fossil records.
• Animals: classification, needs, similarities/differences, human systems, nutrition, hygiene.
• Monera, Protista, and Fungi Kingdoms: what they are, classification, observation.

Thursday, October 20 starting at 5pm there will be a lower elementary parent education night where you will get to observe the first great lesson presented to you and see what your child has created through research thus far! Hope you all can make it!

Many Thanks,

Sally Zeman