Jj is for jungle

 

This week we are listening and looking for the letter Jj! We will be talking about jungles or rainforests and what they are like, what animals live there and what plants grow there. On Tuesday, we will see what animals live in the area we live in when we have our field trip to Oakwoods Metropark and attend the program "Animals of Oakwood". We can compare and contrast our wilderness with the wilderness of jungles!

Our KDI of the week is geography- Children recognize and interpret features and locations in their environment. We'll get to know what is special about the animals and lands where we live and how it is the same and different as other places around the world.

Table Activities- This week we will use animal print paper to make an animal, make a jungle with plastic animals, trees, and playdough, color some jungle animals, make a jungle scene with stamps, enjoy a jungle sensory bin and explore the layers of the jungle and which animals make their homes in each layer.

Small Group- This week we will practice our cutting skills by making a paper plate snake, add Jj is for jungle to our journal and take a virtual rainforest/jungle tour.

Large Group- We will do some Animal Actions along with our music and dance with our paper leaf umbrellas.

Books of the Week- "The Umbrella" by Jan Brett and "Welcome to the Green House" by Jane Yolen.

Bible Story- This week we begin our stories that take place during Jesus' public ministry. After the account of the boy Jesus in the temple, we don't hear about Jesus until he is baptized by his cousin John. He begins to teach and preach and already has some disciples following him when he is invited to a wedding in the village of Cana. 

In those days, weddings were large affairs, often lasting a week. During that time the families of the couple would provide lodging, clothing, food and drink. It was an embarrassment if something ran out! This wedding might have been a family member or family friend of Jesus, since his mother was also there. It was towards the end of the celebration and the wine had run out. Because Mary knew who Jesus was and his abilities, she told them that they had run out of wine, perhaps hoping he would do something. This makes me wonder if this was only Jesus first public miracle, if he had done some privately, because Mary knew it was possible for him to do. It isn't really important, because Jesus shows himself to be true God to his disciples through this miracle. 

When Mary spoke to him, he told her it was not yet time. She went and told the servants at the wedding to do whatever he told them to do. Later, Jesus came to the servants and asked them to fill the large water jugs. Then he dipped out a cup and told them to take it to the master of the banquet. When they did this, the water had turned to wine! The master of the banquet called the bridegroom to him and said how delicious it was! Usually the worst wine was served at the end, but they had saved the best for last! When Jesus does a miracle, he gives his best! Jesus told the servants not to tell anyone what he had done. 

Jesus was not doing a miracle to get attention for himself in a prideful way, he did it to help someone and build and strengthen faith. What a blessing that our faith can be encouraged by this event that happened 2000 years ago! 

I didn't get many pictures of our exploration week- thanks for braving the cold to come to school!