Regulating our Emotions

For the past two weeks, our crew has been working on identifying and regulating our emotions. Last week, our crew worked on identifying our emotions by using the Zones of Regulation. The students were able to express if their emotions matched the blue, green, yellow or red zone. We learned it takes courage to share how you are feeling and to advocate for what you need as well.

This past week, we focused crew time to establish our "Calm Down Center." This a space the students can visit if they are feeling in the blue, yellow, or red zone to practice mindfulness and regulate their emotions. The students and I collaborated on strategies they can use when they visit the "Calm Down Center" which have been posted below. We also collaborated to include materials they could use at this center such as a calm down glitter jar, stress balls, Play-Doh, noise-canceling headphones, Zones of Regulation reflections, and a breathing stick. Each child has created their own breathing stick to use at home and has also brought home the Zones of Regulation chart to share with his/her family. It is my hope that the strategies the students learn in the classroom can be practiced in other aspects of their life. 

Fieldwork this week!

This week was filled with fieldwork for our second-grade scientists! We learned about scientific sketches and how scientists observe. We walked to Cheese Ranch and sketched all of the organisms in the pond habitat. When we returned to the classroom, the students gave each other feedback using our critique etiquette. This ettiquette asks students to give feedback that is kind, helpful, and specific. After receiving feedback, we returned to the Cheese Ranch pond habitat and revised our drawing for accuracy.

   

On Friday, we visited Carson Nature Center to compare the wetland and grassland habitats. We noticed that wetlands are wet, shady, calm, and include short and tall plants. We also reviewed some animals that use the wetlands as their habitat. When we observed the grasslands, the students noticed that the grasslands were sunny, dry, and home to different plants and animals. In the weeks to come, our young scientists will be learning what makes a grassland and how organisms are connected to the habitats around them. Thank you SO MUCH to the fabulous volunteers who joined us at fieldwork this week. Your help was truly invaluable.