The Path in the Forest

"The path in the forest is filled with trees. In the springtime the colors come out because in the winter when it's cold the trees sleep. The ground is green and covered with moss. Underneath the worms and slugs are crawling.  The sky is blue and the sun is warm. It is spring!" ~Madison

Malleable Materials

I'm certain that you have all worked with clay, play dough and many other molding materials. Each one provides its own challenges and does not always turn out the way we intend. This can be frustrating for both teachers and students who invest a great deal of time in working with these products.  We recently introduced a wonderful malleable product in our classrooms. Of course, as with all new materials, the children required instruction. Here is a look at what  happened with fondant and gum paste when it was used for making flowers as well as decorating cupcakes.
We continue to experiment with it.



How Sturdy is this Bridge?

The bridge is one of the children's favorite places to visit. They are constantly finding new ways to explore and interesting theories to construct. The children know that the bridge allows them to get from one side of the stream to the other but just how does it support their weight?

They had some thinking to do and some bridges to make.

The first bridge was made using Popsicle sticks and dowels. It was able to support a bucket of rocks and small bricks as well as the weight of one child

How did it happen?