First / Second Grade

Teachers - Heather Koleszar and Susan Fitzpatrick                                                          

1/2 News 

    Konnichiwa!  That is the Japanese greeting for hello!  The 1/2 classes are immersed in the wonderful and beautiful country of Japan.  We began our unit by learning where Japan is in the world, and also the symbolism of its flag.  The students are learning the names of the four main islands of Japan, as well as the surrounding countries and important landmarks to sharpen their geography skills.  They are also realizing that the size and population of Japan creates a lot of crowding, and that the Japanese people have come up with creative and clever ways to solve the problems of crowding in their country.

    As our theme study continues, we will be learning about the wonderful celebrations in the country of Japan, a favorite being Children's Day!  We will be flying our own carp kites to celebrate being children right here at the Taylor School!  The students are also looking forward to learning about daily life for children in Japan, the food that Japanese people enjoy, and the traditional customs of sumo wrestling.  We will be creating some beautiful art projects to showcase Japanese customs and celebrations, and we would love for you to stop by and see our work!                                                                                

    The year is quickly coming to an end.  The 1/2 classes are busy practicing for their Garden Show play on May 21st, and they are very excited to present their hard work to the Taylor School community in just a few short weeks.  We will be taking some fun end of the year field trips to the Pine Bush Preserve in Albany to plant our wild blue lupine seedlings, as well as a culminating trip to a Japanese restaurant to enjoy some Japanese cuisine and hibachi presentations! 

Enjoy the rest of the year, and have a wonderful summer!

Heather & Sue