2025-26 Smart Start Week 7

This week we explored the Letter I, and it inspired so many exciting experiences! We used our imaginations, made invitations to play, and shared creative ideas with our friends. Each day offered new ways to investigate, invent, and interact—whether we were building, creating art, or exploring together. The letter I truly invited us to be curious and connected in our learning!

At the Imagination Station, our classroom was transformed into an Ice Cream Shop! Friends took turns being cashiers, dishwashers, scoopers, and customers, creating their own delicious pretend treats. Through play, they practiced taking orders, counting scoops, cleaning up and using descriptive language to share their favorite flavors. The sweet conversations and teamwork made this imaginative experience even more special!

Our imaginations didn’t stop there! Using a variety of toys and tools, friends invented and built their own creations—from cars and microphones to barbells, robots, and more. Each design was unique and reflected each child’s ideas and problem-solving skills. It was exciting to see how materials could be transformed into something entirely new, simply by imagining what could be!

Our “I Can” Invitations encouraged friends to explore all the amazing things they are capable of! Children were invited to play games with friends, problem-solve as they built pathways, and practice early literacy by recognizing letters and words. We also worked on important self-help skills like using scissors safely and helping to keep our classroom clean and cared for. In our sensory experiences, friends mixed and scooped their way through “ice cream soup” and explored the cool, fluffy texture of instant snow, sparking storytelling and imaginative play!

Our science explorations were filled with curiosity and hands-on discovery! In celebration of National Apple Day, friends experimented with apples in a tasty investigation. After cutting them open to observe the inside, we soaked slices in different flavors of Kool-Aid. At the end of the day, everyone sampled the apples and voted on their favorite flavor! The following day, we sampled red, green, and yellow apples and once again, voted on our favorite. Our curiosity continued as we examined insects preserved in resin, using different tools to magnify what we saw and then placing them on the light table to notice even more details. We also explored pumpkins—scooping out the insides, examining the seeds, and planting some to see what might grow. We even tasted toasted pumpkin seeds and planted tulip bulbs, learning that with time, water, and care, they’ll bloom and remind us that some change takes time.

Our visual arts invitations offered so many ways to explore color, creativity, and seasonal inspiration. Friends used watercolor paints to create beautiful fall and ice cream–themed pictures, blending colors and experimenting with how water changes the look of the paint. We also explored a new technique using balloons as paintbrushes! By gently pressing and dabbing balloons into fall-colored acrylic paints, friends created vibrant patterns and textures on canvas. Each artwork was as unique as the artist who made it—colorful, expressive, and full of imagination!

Wiggle Room moved outdoors this week for a very special experience! Ms. Aubrey and Ms. Kate brought Aerial Arts to Smart Start and demonstrated how to invert using the aerial silks. Friends were amazed as they watched and then had the chance to sit, swing, and spin on the silks themselves! Along with this exciting experience, Wiggle Room also offered new “I Can” opportunities—friends explored rhythm and teamwork as they learned to play hand bells, and practiced focus and self-control as they looked, listened, and froze during movement games. These activities built confidence, coordination, and a sense of joy in trying something new!

Our week with the Letter I was filled with imagination, investigation, and inspiration! From building and inventing to experimenting and expressing through art, friends discovered so many ways to say, “I can!” Each experience invited curiosity, confidence, and creativity—helping us see how learning happens through play, exploration, and connection. We can’t wait to see what the next letter will inspire!

See you soon,

The Smart Start team