October at Tiger Cub Immersion School was a vibrant month filled with discovery, connection, and festive fun. From hands-on activities and academic growth to cultural celebrations and our much-anticipated Halloween Parade, October offered our students countless opportunities to learn, create, and build community together.
Our journey into the world of "Community Helpers" and neighborhood life began with a focus on the important roles that different people play in making our communities thrive. Students learned about teachers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, police officers, chefs, and more, diving into stories such as "Llama Llama Loves His Teacher," "Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete," and "My Town." Through engaging books and lively discussions, students discovered the many ways community helpers contribute to our daily lives. Inspired by these themes, our students created paper schoolhouses, firefighter badges, doctor hats, and even designed their own community maps complete with roads and buildings. Through dramatic play and hands-on activities, students explored running farmer's markets, tending to patients, and making "spaghetti with meatballs" and "toast with jam."
Academic growth was also an important part of October's activities, as students continued to develop their reading, writing, math, and other skills through themed projects and practice. Students worked on writing Chinese characters including 人 (rén), 口 (kǒu), and 中 (zhōng), while also recognizing and writing English letters E, F, G, and H, and learning words that begin with each. Students also practiced using vocabulary words, listened to and retold stories, and sang songs that reinforced both language and movement—"Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" was their favorite! We also sharpened our math skills through activities like categorization, pattern recognition, and ordering, whether building firetruck puzzles, categorizing foods for healthy teeth, or piecing together community maps. Fine motor skills were honed as students cut, glued, painted, and built, from creating doctor bags to assembling silly-faced pumpkins for Halloween.
Additionally, October offered rich opportunities to explore traditional Chinese festivals. In honor of the Mid-Autumn Festival, students listened to beloved tales such as "The Taste of the Moon" and "Chang'e Flies to the Moon," crafted rabbit-shaped lanterns, and folded paper mooncakes, learning about the customs and family traditions that make this holiday special. Later in the month, we celebrated the Double Ninth Festival, reading "Mr. Rabbit's Chrysanthemum Wine" and creating peach banners symbolizing longevity and good health. These activities deepened students' appreciation for Chinese culture, allowing them to connect stories, crafts, and celebrations with their own classroom community.
The highlight of the month was our annual Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treat event! Students eagerly decorated pumpkins and crafted jack-o-lanterns as a class in preparation and donned their favorite costumes for a festive outdoor celebration. Laughter and excitement filled the air as children paraded through the playground, visited the various decorated trick-or-treat stations set up by our wonderful parents, and enjoyed their time with their classmates. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents who contributed their time, energy, and creativity to make this event such a memorable success. Your support and enthusiasm help make our school community truly special!
As October draws to a close, we look ahead to November and the start of our new theme, "Autumn." We're excited to continue our journey of exploration, observing the changing colors of the season, learning about fall traditions, and diving into new stories and projects. Stay tuned for more updates!
Students made their own picture books about teachers.
Students acted as doctors and nurses, tending to their paper "patients" by covering the depicted "wounds" with bandages.
Students pieced together a map of their towns, aligning roads, trees, and structures to resemble their community.
Students practiced writing various characters they learned in class.
Students ordered numbers from 1 to 5 to complete a firefighter puzzle.
Students painted on a piece of "toast" using a plastic knife, pretending to spread jam and chocolate.
In class, we celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival by making our own paper lanterns in the shape of a rabbit!
Students made crafts featuring peaches in honor of the Double Ninth Festival, a traditional festival in China that celebrates longevity.
Students worked together to tap golf tees into the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and pulp, and carve a bunny-shaped pumpkin.
Students celebrated Halloween with an outdoor Parade and Table Trick or Treat event, decked out in their costumes and ready for treats!
