Pre-first students reflect on thankfulness at Stone Soup
Pre-first students in Mrs. Jensen’s class carried on the long-running tradition of Stone Soup as they gathered to share a meal with administrators. In attendance were Kristen Bell, lower school counselor; Chris Cleveland, head of school; Nancy Jones, dean of counseling and student services, and Dr. Jennifer Pinkett Smith, director of diversity.
Prior to the event, pre-first students examined several versions of the European folk story Stone Soup from different cultures, comparing and contrasting the different versions of the story.
Preparation for the event required that pre-first students use what they were learning in multiple subjects. They made placemats for the event in art, and they refined handwriting and fine motor skills to create name cards and handmade invitations. As students shopped for ingredients, they practiced reading, using a shopping list, counting and weighing produce, reading labels, and interacting with adults. Cooking the soup involved kitchen skills like peeling, snapping beans, and measuring. The meal itself included an oration and taught students about etiquette and table fellowship.
Students memorized and recited a poem about thankfulness, and they sang “We Gather Together” by Adrianus Valerius as the blessing before the meal.
“We talked about the gift of table fellowship and our special year in pre-first,” reflected Jensen.
To the surprise of the pre-first students, Cleveland did in fact find a stone in his soup during the meal!
Way to go, pre-first students, and thank you to all the parents who helped facilitate this special event!
