22: Celebrate the Ordinary

 “Find a perspective that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.” -Dewitt Jones

Lewis Carroll, an author who introduced us to the extraordinary adventures of Alice in Wonderland, coined the term “unbirthday” in his other novel, Through the Looking-Glass. This term was adapted in the Disney animated film where Alice finds herself celebrating her unbirthday — the other days of the year which are not her birthday — with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. 

As a child, this was such an interesting concept for me after watching the Disney animated film, as it’s unheard of to have a party for 364 days in a year, plus 1 more for your birthday itself. As I got older, I began to understand that unbirthdays open us up to a new perspective on the way we live day to day because it reminds us to celebrate the ordinary.  

The past two weeks, the kindergarteners had numerous opportunities to view the way they live from a different lens, and found ways celebrate the ordinary.

Celebrating the Change of Seasons

The Setsubun festival is a celebration in Japan that marks the end of winter. In school, the kindergarteners kept the tradition alive by decorating their own oni masks, cups, and throwing beans to ward off the evil spirits that bring misfortune. It was a fun albeit scary experience for some children, but we hope that it will us good luck and health this year. It was the perfect way to celebrate change and and the transition to a new season.

Celebrating our Green Choices

To continue our inquiry on materials and how to use them sustainably, we read the story My Green Day: 10 Green Things I Can Do Today in class. The book talks about the ways in which we can spend our days living greener and being more mindful of our impact on the environment. 

The children used this as a springboard to make a map of their day, one that outlines their routines and the regular things that they do. The children also created a diorama of one green choice that they do to help save the world. Have a look at some of their work: 

Celebrating 100 Days of School

How do we make 100? As the kindergarteners celebrated the 100 days of school, they discovered that they can make 100 by counting 10 sets of 10. 

So they practiced counting to 10 through games...

While writing their names...

Through songs...

Until they were able to master 10, and use it to count up to 100. They found 100 pieces of different materials in the classroom, too.

They definitely are 100 days smarter!

Unbirthdays could be as special as birthdays. If we care to look closer and find beauty in the ordinary, we will discover numerous things to celebrate 365 days of the year. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Your Kindergarten teacher, 

Pam