Week 2: B is for Branches & Bark

One of the advantages of a flexible teaching plan is the ability to include various “field trips” when the opportunity arises. My mom is visiting this week, which is always an excuse to “play tourist”; plus, the extra pair of hands come in handy during longer subway rides.

The letter of the week is the letter B. We will continue our multi-week scientific concept by investigating the anatomy of trees. Our theme will be branches & bark. The various types of bark tie into the vocabulary word of the week (texture). Our shape of the week is the square, and our number of the week is the number 2.

The song of the week is The Green Grass Grows All Around. The song, with lyrics, can be found in this YouTube video:

Activities this week will include:
– taking a trip to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Aside from the opportunity to indulge in Grimaldi’s Pizza, we’re going to walk across the bridge and look for the squares;
– visiting our local park to compare the texture of various trees. I can also introduce the concept of “opposites” (rough vs. smooth);
– collecting “tree parts”, such as branches, seeds (my preschooler loves to collect acorns), twigs, leaves and pieces of bark. We will use the pieces to create our own “tree drawing”.

If you have any suggestions for additional activities that highlight this week’s themes, I would love to hear them!