Graniteville Elementary marks ‘Week of the Young Child’ with special activities

Posted

Excitement and education went hand-in-hand recently during a week of special events at Graniteville Elementary School.

“This is the ‘Week of the Young Child,’” Principal Maria Petronio-McAfee said. “This is an annual program sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) that celebrates early learning young children, their teachers, and families.”

“Music Monday” included singing, dancing, and learning through music, which Petronio-McAfee said helped students in math, language, and literacy skills all while having fun and being active.

“Each class read books, sang songs, and danced as we celebrated the arts, remembering that the arts provide children with a vehicle and organizing framework to express ideas and feelings,” she said. “Music and movement stimulate children to use words, manipulate tools and media, and solve problems in ways that simultaneously convey meaning and are aesthetically pleasing.”

“Fruit Salad Tuesday” focused on eating and fitness at home and school, and was “more about cooking together by connecting match with literacy skills, science, and more,” Petronio-McAfee said. The day also included creation of a “fruit salad” by cutting, comparing, counting, measuring, and adding items to a fruit snack.

“Work Together Wednesday” featured children exploring math and science concepts and developing their social and early literacy skills. Children used building material from a variety of objects in the classrooms.

Problem solving and creativity through an open-ended art project made up what Petronio-McAfee said was “Artsy Thursday.” The week ended with “Family Friday,” during which students sharing special moments with families.

“We applaud family members’ role as young children’s first and most important teachers,” Petronio-McAfee said. “We invited all family members to come to school and help us as we planted our first garden. This garden will grow and flourish as we plant the seeds of learning with our youngest learners and celebrate all the growth that is occurring in our school every day!”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here