January 2025
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear families,
It’s so exciting to be back and to see how much everyone has grown and accomplished! Though it’s only been a short time, we’ve already settled into a rhythm filled with community, learning, and plenty of hard work. I’m especially grateful to Ms. Prabha and Ms. Carmen for holding down the fort while I was away and keeping everything running smoothly!
Now, we're fully immersed in preparing for the upcoming sleepover—teams are busy organizing meals, arranging sleeping spaces, and making sure every little detail is taken care of. It’s truly inspiring to see the children step up as leaders, showing both focus and dedication in every task they take on.
Even with the cold fronts rolling in, our gardens continue to thrive, thanks to Ms. Laura’s unwavering care and attention. She’s not only keeping the plants safe but also leading engaging lessons and activities with the kids.
We can’t wait for the Sleepover and all the fun and learning that’s sure to come!
Thank you so much for your continued trust and support!
Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Families,
Happy New Year! We hope this newsletter finds you well as we step into 2025 with renewed energy and enthusiasm. The students have had a wonderful transition back into the classroom this month.
This month, the children had the incredible experience of planning and participating in our classroom sleepover. The level of thoughtfulness and teamwork they demonstrated in organizing the event was remarkable. From creating schedules and setting up the space to deciding on activities and preparing meals, everyone had a hand in making it a memorable and enjoyable experience. It was heartwarming to see the joy, camaraderie, and sense of responsibility in their efforts. Opportunities like this epitomize the essence of Cosmic Education, as children develop a deeper sense of community, independence, and interconnectedness.
The excitement of the sleepover has set the tone for the months ahead, particularly as we begin preparations for our big trip in April. This upcoming journey promises to be another opportunity for growth, exploration, and shared experiences that deepen their understanding of the world around them. More details about the trip will be shared in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Warm regards,
Ms. Shelby
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Parents,
Happy January! It’s been a busy and exciting month in our classroom as students have been working hard across various subjects and projects. We are thrilled to share the highlights of what we've been up to, as well as some upcoming events.
Practical Life Skills: Sleepover Planning Our Upper Elementary students have been putting their practical life skills into action as they prepare for our highly anticipated sleepover. They have worked as a team to:
Create a packing list to ensure that everyone has everything needed for the event.
Plan the sleeping arrangements in our classroom based on the space available, using measurements to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Design dinner and breakfast menus, researching the cost of ingredients, and calculating quantities needed for the meals.
Develop a cleaning system to maintain a clean and organized environment during the event, ensuring that everyone contributes to the space’s upkeep.
Plan community-building activities to strengthen relationships and ensure that the event is fun and engaging for everyone!
This sleepover will be a great learning experience in organization, teamwork, and problem-solving. We can’t wait to see everything come together!
Going Out: Desert Sonoran Museum Preparation In preparation for our upcoming field trip to the Desert Sonoran Museum, each student has selected an animal, plant, or mineral/gem to research. They’ve worked hard to:
Present their findings to the class, practicing important speaking and listening skills.
Create visuals to accompany their presentations, deepening their understanding of the topic and developing their ability to communicate clearly.
We are excited for the trip, and the students are looking forward to seeing the real-life examples of the plants and animals they have researched!
Math: Building Our Foundations In math, we are continuing to strengthen our understanding of key concepts:
Squares and cubes: Students are exploring square and cube numbers and how they are used in real-world contexts.
Math fact fluency: Building speed and accuracy in math facts is a focus.
Polygons, angles, and lines: We are learning about the different types of polygons, how to measure angles, and how lines work in geometry.
Coordinate planes: The students are learning how to plot points on a coordinate plane and understand the relationship between the x and y axes.
Balancing equations: A few students have already started to balance simple equations with one variable, working on this crucial algebraic skill.
There’s a lot of excitement as students tackle these foundational math concepts!
Language: Writing Personal Narratives In language arts, we are focusing on personal narratives to develop writing and storytelling skills. Students are learning to:
Brainstorm ideas, then create an outline to organize their thoughts.
Write rough drafts, then revise and edit to make their stories stronger.
Write or type a final draft using proper keyboarding techniques.
We are also working on peer editing skills, allowing students to review and improve each other's work. In addition, we continue to practice parts of speech and work on correcting sentence fragments and run-ons.
Science: Animal Stories & Genetics In science, we are diving into the fascinating world of animals and genetics:
Some students are creating animal stories, weaving together their research with creative writing.
Others are comparing the characteristics of different animal classes, exploring how animals are grouped and what makes each class unique.
Students are also researching the costs and care of animals as potential classroom pets, weighing the responsibilities and benefits of bringing animals into our learning environment.
A group of students has begun a unit on genetic human traits, studying how traits are passed down from parents to offspring.
We’ve also introduced nature journaling, combining art and writing to observe the natural world around us.
History: Introduction to American History In history, we are learning about American history, with a special focus on key events. Some students have selected significant events to research in more depth, such as D-Day and its impact on the world. We are also continuing to build note-taking skills to help students synthesize and organize historical information.
Music: Sharing and Collaborating In music, our classroom is filled with beautiful sounds as students:
Teach each other songs on the keyboard, sharing knowledge and learning from one another.
Use other instruments like the melody harp and ukulele to accompany the songs.
Some students are learning how to read rhythm patterns, deepening their understanding of music theory.
It’s wonderful to see how the students express themselves through music and collaborating with their peers!
That’s Amore Fundraiser: Save the Date! To help raise funds for our upcoming San Francisco trip in April, we will be hosting a fundraiser on Friday, February 14th from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. The event will feature:
Pasta dishes prepared by students and teachers.
Handmade art created by the children, including jewelry and Valentine’s cards.
Please mark your calendars and consider joining us to support the class as we prepare for this exciting trip!
Thank you for your continued support and for all that you do to make this year a success. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warmly,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner Parents,
January has been a wonderfully productive and exciting month!
The children worked incredibly hard in preparation for our upcoming trip to the Sonoran Desert Museum and the much-anticipated sleepover. They collaborated in mixed groups with students from the Falcon classroom to plan, research, and organize for the trip. The research included learning about the museum’s exhibits. Students focused on the Sonoran Desert animals, plants, and gems/minerals they were most excited to see. Their curiosity and dedication were evident as they dove into each topic. Additionally, the children created models and put together presentations to share what they learned. They were also given the opportunity to plan their route at the museum to ensure everyone had an opportunity to see what excited them the most.
The preparation work for our event included everything from budgeting, creating proposals, mathematical calculations, conducting surveys, creating both breakfast and dinner menus to accommodate our group’s preferences and needs, and measuring and mapping out our sleeping and eating spaces as well as the adjustments needed to fit everyone together. These activities were wonderful opportunities to practice collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making, fostering social connections and teamwork within our community.
One of the highlights this month was a fish dissection, which tied into our ongoing study of animal organ systems. The children were fascinated by the hands-on experience and showed great interest in how body systems function in different species. We also explored local plant life by using flower petals to create natural dyes for fabric—an engaging way to connect botany with both chemistry and practical arts.
We also challenged the students with some fun "trick" tests designed to test their ability to follow written directions closely, encouraging attention to detail and careful reading.
On the math front, we introduced a new program called Rocket Math, which aims to help students build automaticity with their multiplication facts. Your child may bring home practice sheets from the level they are currently working on for additional support.
We are so proud of all the hard work the students put in this month, and we look forward to all the new learning and adventures ahead in February!
Warm regards,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
