4/6/26

Puppy Dog News Notes

It is time for the most anticipated and delightful unit of the year, incubating duck eggs! We are all very excited to begin to hatch ducklings.  We started by warming up our incubator to get it as warm as a ducks nest, which is 99.5 degrees.  A duck will turn her eggs 5 times a day so we added an egg turner to the incubator.  We will candle the eggs on the eighth day and look for a floating peep (a growing, unhatched duckling.)  Duck eggs need to set for about 28 days.

We are welcome to keep the chicks for as long as we would like, but chicks grow so rapidly that after one week they will be able to jump out of the warming box.  The chicks will go to Joy of Illinois Farm.  The Gioja family has been committed to sustainable, humane farming and educating local consumers about the importance of small, sustainable farms such as their own.  Joy of Illinois, a six acre farm in Champaign, offers a wide variety of products including pasture-raised Cornish rack broiler chickens, stewing hens, geese, heritage bronze turkeys, lamb, veal, dairy goat kids, live ducks, and honey.  Joy of Illinois animals are free of synthetic hormones and antibiotics.  Fresh pasture-raised raw cow’s milk and eggs are available in-season through a weekly share program.

Joy of Illinois Farm, 1689 CR 400 ERR 3, Champaign, IL, 68122 – TEL: 217-863-2758

 

11/12/25

Puppy Dog News Notes

Maria Montessori believed in teaching the connectedness of all creation.  She began with the miracle of the universe and observed how it filled the children with awe as they encountered the wonders that preceded them in history.  We began with a simple story.  We imagined a time before people, animals, plants —a time before Earth, a time when there was nothing at all.  Then, out of the quiet, black darkness, came a great big bang, and out of this big bang swirled gas and dust.  As the gases clumped together, they shone out light and heat, and these swirling balls of gas are our stars.  We then discussed the things that orbit our closest star, the Sun.

Our field trip to Staerkel Planetarium is scheduled for Thursday, November 13. Please plan to arrive at 8:15.  We are scheduled to depart at 8:30.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  Seats on the bus are limited, but there is ample parking available at Parkland if you drive.

This season, I always think of how thankful I am for each child in the class.  Every year, the spirit of the room changes as new children join the class – it is a joyous kaleidoscope!

Please send one or two pieces of fruit with your child on Tuesday, November 25. The children can peel and chop their fruit, and we can all enjoy a Thanksgiving fruit salad together.

– Ms. Krupp

 

9/9/25

Puppy Dog News Notes

As you come to observe the Puppy Dog room in these beginning weeks, you will see the seeds of independence. Independence is actively encouraged and is always our aim as this allows for a child’s natural drive to learn. The children are free to choose from the shelves and work in their own style. They may decide to spend a long period of time on one piece of work. Or to return to a work for many days in a row. This allows for deep concentration and analysis. Students are free to choose what to study, how to study, and where to study. If a child chooses something they have never worked with before, they are offered a presentation from another student or a teacher.

“The word education must not be understood in the sense of teaching but of assisting the psychological development of the child.” -Maria Montessori

Photo day will be on September 16th and 17th. If you have time to volunteer, please let the office know.

Our upcoming field trip to Curtis Orchard will be on Wednesday October 1st, 8:30 to 11:00. Please feel free to join us, all are welcome. We have room for several parents on the bus, or you can drive and meet us at the orchard.

Thank you, and please reach out with any concerns or questions; we love to stay in touch!

– Ms Krupp