This week, the K-1 class had the opportunity to learn more about an endangered species: gorillas.
We were very lucky to have Sonya Kahlenberg, Executive Director of the GorillaRehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) come into the classroom and talk about why Gorillas are endangered and what is done at the Center to help them. We learned the difference between monkeys and apes, characteristics of the four Gorilla species, and that you can differentiate individual gorillas by looking at their noses as they are as unique to them as our fingerprints.
We learned a lot, merci beaucoup Sonya!
During the rest of the week we prepared for the first ever Gorilla Day (September 24th). We made salt dough (pâte à sel) that we then used to model gorilla faces. After drying and cooking, we painted them. We will be taking them home soon as a souvenir.
We also made beautiful drawings to celebrate Gorillas. They are currently in the hallway of the school, but we will soon give them to Sonya so that she can take them with her on her next trip to the Center in Africa!
