Expressing Ourselves Like Pirates!

Dear Gecko Class Families,

Ahoy, mateys!

We’ve been sailing the high seas of imagination these past weeks as we dive deeper into our Unit of Inquiry: How We Express Ourselves. It’s been all about pirates—bold, brave, and bursting with creativity!

Building Our Pirate Ship

To begin our adventure, the children transformed into pirates and worked collaboratively to build a life-size pirate ship using Makedo tools and recycled materials. This hands-on construction challenged their fine motor skills, encouraged problem-solving, and provided a meaningful opportunity to negotiate space and share materials with their crew. Just like real pirates, they had to work as a team to stay afloat!

Eye Patches, Binoculars, and Maps

No pirate is complete without the proper gear! The children designed eye patches, crafted binoculars, and created treasure maps that led to mysterious islands and magical beasts. These creations were more than just accessories—they were gateways into storytelling. Each artifact inspired rich narrative play, full of brave journeys and curious creatures.
"My eye got bitten by a tiger when I was walking through the jungle!"
"We have to fight the 10-eyed sea monster!"

We encourage you to ask your child about their tools:

• Why do they have an eye patch?
• What can they see with their binoculars?
• How will they find the treasure?

These conversations are a wonderful way to extend their learning at home and celebrate the stories they've created.

Rescue Mission: Saving the Captured Animals!

Our pirate mission took a daring turn when we discovered our beloved classroom animals had been captured by rival pirates! Locked inside a cage, they could only be freed by solving addition and subtraction puzzles. Each math challenge unlocked a different part of the cage—encouraging persistence, logical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.

This playful integration of numeracy supported our inquiry by showing how expression can take many forms—including through numbers and strategy! And of course, there was no better motivation to practice mental math than saving our furry (and feathery) friends.

Temporary Tattoos: Bold & Brave Expression

Pirates often wear their stories on their sleeves—and so did we! Children explored body art using stencils, markers, and face paint. This was a joyful exercise in self-expression, as children chose designs that reflected their identities as pirates. Many even supported their peers by helping each other apply tattoos, showing care and cooperation.

Don’t they look fierce?

Move for Life Incursion: Storytelling in Motion

On Wednesday, we had an extra special experience with a visit from Move for Life! In a dynamic storytelling session, children used their whole bodies to bring stories to life—jumping, stretching, balancing, and dancing their way through the narrative. This incursion beautifully highlighted how movement can be a powerful form of self-expression and communication, reinforcing the central ideas of our unit in an energetic and joyful way.

Why Pirates?

By stepping into the role of a pirate, children are exploring identity, emotion, and storytelling in playful yet deeply meaningful ways. The pirate theme allows them to express ideas through art, movement, math, construction, and dramatic play. It empowers them to take risks, build confidence, and communicate their inner worlds—all key goals of How We Express Ourselves.

Celebration of Learning

Celebration of Learning is coming up on Friday, June 20th. We can’t wait to welcome you into our classroom to see all that your little learners have been up to!

• AM Class: 9:00am - 10:00am
• PM Class: 1:15pm - 2:15pm

Please mark your calendars—we’re so excited to celebrate with you!

Thank you for being part of our adventure and for continuing to support your young learners as they imagine, create, and express themselves in bold new ways.

Anchors aweigh!

Warmly,
Penney