Friday, September 25, 2015

High School and ErdKinder Annual Fall Camping Trip to the Farm

The EK/HS class just spent four days camping at Green Oaks Creek Farm in beautiful Pescadero on the San Mateo Coast. Going to the farm is an integral part of the ErdKinder program, and although the work is very hard, it is very rewarding. 

Montessori believed that the best place for an adolescent to live during these formative years was on a farm, working alongside adults. Our relationship with the farmers at Green Oaks Creek makes it possible to give our students an authentic Montessori experience, developing their practical life skills and allowing them to problem-solve independently while living away from parents for a short time. The work this year was hot, dusty and tiring, but we also had LOTS of fun!

Our first job was to shop for basic food items to supplement the wonderful produce that we would be able to harvest right from the fields. 

At Safeway in Half Moon Bay. Everyone had to hunt down items from our shopping list.
Looking from our campsite to the farmhouse
Making breakfast - bacon is always a favorite
Helping prepare breakfast

Our tents. It was so windy, one almost blew away!
Evening meal together after a hard day's work
Happy, well-fed students
We pruned a lot of bushes in the ornamental garden
Trimming, weeding and pruning
Heading to the farmhouse in the morning to get our work duty for the day
Teachers work too! Weeding broccoli rows
Beautiful, fresh carrots for lunch - straight from the earth
The table is set for dinner
Typical dinner - vegetable pilaf with wilted rainbow chard
S'mores at the campfire on our last evening
On the way home - we stop for pizza in Pescadero

Thursday, September 24, 2015

A Day in the Life - Emeryville Children's House


I'm patiently brushing my nails.

Folding clothing is not that easy.

First, I brush the beans into the triangle...

...then I sweep them up!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

First Day of Peace Practice

Today is the first day of Peace Practice! We gather in a circle for a game we like to play...

Now we run to the edges of the mat!

We can jump very high over the sword.

Sensei demonstrates the next move with one of our classmates.

After the demonstration, we practice it with our partners.

Earthquake Drill

We practiced how to stay safe under tables during an earthquake.

Monday, September 21, 2015

First Day of Japanese and Ballet Classes


Today is the first day of Japanese class!

We sang songs and acted them out.

Today is also the first day of Ballet I class! We are stretching before we dance.

We follow laoshi to make the correct pose.

Now we practice the pose on our own!

We are practicing our plies in Ballet II.

The barre helps support us when we go up on our toes!

This pose feels and looks very graceful.

Friday, September 18, 2015

First Day of Art Classes

The Mixed Media I class made paintings of their first initials using the tape-resist method.

The Sketchbook Explorations class worked on the prompt: "I am an artist!"


Thursday, September 17, 2015

A Day in the Life - Emeryville Children's House

I'm peeling and cutting the cucumber for snack.

We are practicing how to roll and unroll a rug.

I'm practicing the button frame so that later I can button my own clothes.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A Day in the Life - Emeryville Children's House


I washed the window over and over again to make it clean!

We are rolling the placemats and folding the napkins for our lunch set up.

We set up our table and had lunch together.