A Picture Walk Through Our Week
Observing Caterpillars Going through the Life Cycle
Scientists are hard at work observing the changes of their Painted Lady Caterpillars that arrived on Friday. Using a magnifying glass they are looking for frass, molted skin, and watching as the caterpillars sway from side to side, spinning their very important silk. We are anxiously awaiting the caterpillars to form the chrysalis.
Scientists are hard at work observing the changes of their Painted Lady Caterpillars that arrived on Friday. Using a magnifying glass they are looking for frass, molted skin, and watching as the caterpillars sway from side to side, spinning their very important silk. We are anxiously awaiting the caterpillars to form the chrysalis.
On Crazy Day, the Caterpillars arrived! Just in time for us to prepare their home with mallow, muslin for hooking their chrysalis, and just enough space and water for a caterpillar or two. The mallow was squishy and smelled, according to our friends, like rotten oatmeal. We are glad that scientists don't use their sense of taste! Here a friend watches as his caterpillar feels out its new home with its prolegs.
Ms. Brooke demonstrates how to prepare the caterpillar's cup home by compressing the mallow ensuring that no loose pieces are on the side that may harm or drown the delicate caterpillars. 
Willowwind Butterflies
We are just so excited about caring for Painted Lady Butterflies that we try to catch the many that we see flying about at recess. Here, friends try to camouflage their hands to look like dandelions.
The Racerunners joined the Cottontails for a trip to the Iowa City Public Library on Wednesday!
Playing at the Library
The Racerunners joined the Cottontails for a trip to the Iowa City Public Library on Wednesday! We decided that there was just enough time to enjoy the beautiful weather before we had to catch the bus back. Friends had a lot of fun at the squishy park in the Iowa City Ped Mall.
Patiently waiting for the bus.
That's right, at recess our new very favorite game is croquet!
We have been practicing morning and afternoons!
Relay for Life - Crazy Day
Thank-you to Ms. Christine for organizing our very first Relay for Life fundraising event at Willowwind School. The first event was CRAZY DAY! Friends were able to wear goofy clothes (2 different socks, or a shirt on backward), silly hats, wigs, and crowns, and some friends even died their hair just for the occasion. Ms. Brooke decided with all of the events of the day that her natural hair was crazy enough, but she had fun with her friends who chose to dress up, and was quite impressed with their work at being self-controlled, respectful and prompt with all that was going on! Thanks to Ms. Christine for her great help with this event!
Friends have really been enjoying their Early Morning Writing Workhsop. This gives us time to get our brains thinking, and truly enriches our discussions throughout the day. Each morning, before Morning Meeting, friends have a prompt on the board that they can respond to and add onto throughout the day. This practice was prompted by the Writing Assessment! Friends really enjoyed this quiet time to write and asked if we could start each day as such. We loved the idea! Such mature writers.
Adding Up Reading Log Minutes
Each Friday afternoon we add up our reading minutes from the week. We look forward to seeing if we reach our goal every week. So far we have 2 weeks that we have reached our goal, and 2 weeks that we have not. This steers our thinking in how to adjust and choose a reasonable yet challenging personal goal and choose classroom goals . Keep up the reading at home!
We also welcomed a new friend to our Prairie Racerunner Family this week! What a great time to join our study of the life cycle and join in our Relay for Life festivities. Please welcome her and her family when you see them at the upcoming V.I.P. Day, Willowwind Anniversary Picnic or at the Grey Wolves Documentary Premiere.
Dear Families,
As April comes to a close, my heart is heavy to think that there are only 25 more school days with these spirited, observant, and curious people. They challenge each day with questions, small noticings and a true heart for what is right in the world. What a gift it has been to watch them grow and change...just like their caterpillars. Thank-you for all of your support and love as the year has progressed. Let's make the best May ever!
Always, Ms. Brooke
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