A Fond Farewell to the Butterflies of 2011

I'm  not sure why we believed that butterflies live for only a few days. Over the years, while working with the children, we've discovered that some species of butterflies, such as the Monarch, actually migrate south just like birds. But how do these wispy winged creatures cross an ocean and arrive safely in balmy Mexico?
 As the butterflies prepare for their migration south, this group of girls take the opportunity to make these lovely wings!

What is that Sound?

We are surrounded by sounds; music, the wind as it moves through objects, the crunching of autumn leaves, the buzzing of a bee. Most times we are too busy to pay attention. But every once in a while a child stops to listen and then we listen too. Just as a seashell holds the sound of the crashing ocean waves so too do these tubes carry sounds of nature to the ears of listening children.

Austin brings the tube to his ear and listens, "I hear the ocean!"

Joshua takes the tube and listens as well. "No, it's a bee. A bee from the flower."

Joseph and Joshua  position the tube between them and lift. Joshua places the tube close to his ear and Joseph makes a sound.

Joshua then leaves the tube and moves to the zucchini plant in the garden. He leans close to the zucchini flower and  listens for a sound but hears nothing.

He retrieves the tube and places in near the zucchini. Perhaps that will help him hear a sound. He listens. "I hear the bees!"





The Big Tall Building with Lots of People

Leo arrived at school with a wonderful experience to share. "I saw a tall, tall, tall building with lots of windows in it. People were going in out. I want to make one."

While outdoors, his teacher offered him a variety of materials to make a representation of "the tall, tall building." The rope was not precut into the strands you see in the photos. Leo was able to unravel it to suit his needs

Autumn arrives, array'd in splendid mein;

Vines, cluster'd full, add to the beauteous scene,

And fruit-trees cloth'd profusely laden, nod,

Complaint bowing to the fertile sod."

- Farmer's Almanac, 1818

Clay Has No Master

Clay can be a difficult task master as it demands much from its students in the way of dexterity, skill and precision. Nicholas rose to occasion and used all his previous knowledge of clay to make this sculpture. Some work is done for the simple pleasures found in accomplishment.

Distorted Images

A set of four Plexi glass mirrors were given to the children.Since the mirrors were pliable the teachers were able to bend them to create distorted images. The children were fascinated with their reflections. A cube was also created and this of course allowed the children see "hundreds of me!"

There are Many Ways to Mark the Changing of the Season

It may be a little too early to start talking about autumn but it is just around the corner. Some leaves are actually changing colors. Have you noticed the slight dip in temperature at night?  And it's dark by 8:30. Oh well what can you do.  That's Canada for you!

Angelina and The Flowers

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. ~William Faulkner

Blocks-A Different Perspective

As educators we are all aware of the benefits of block play. It is rewarding to watch children as they move through the various stages; carrying, stacking, bridging, enclosures and eventually structures. One of the common elements in childrens' structures is the square or rectangular base as well as the tendency to place blocks one directly on top of the other. The structures you see above are a result of what happens when a teacher invites children to look at alternate methods.

Every Classroom Needs an Indoor Garden

To support the Bad Land and Butterfly Story line the teacher and children began growing  this wonderful indoor garden. Some of the plants were grown from seeds and others were purchased. Much to our surprise we were able to actually locate a black flower. This particular experience launched the

implementation of gardens in each of our classrooms.

We continue to add all sorts of plants and accessories. As you can see from the picture, imagination is the key to success.

Happy Planting!

The Badland and Black Butterflies

In early May we began our Spring Planting. The children were asked what types of flowers and plants they would like to grow.

This simple question inspired the children’s imagination and led to the following story.

We should plant flowers. Magical flowers for a magical butterfly garden where fairies live. There is a rainbow fairy, a heart fairy and a flower fairy. They are there for the princess. The butterfly garden is a good place.

It's a magical land. There are three paths. The fairies show the princess the sparkly path to the butterfly garden. The other paths lead to the Bad Lands. The fairies help the princess with their magic wands. The flower fairy has flower magic, the rainbow fairy has rainbow magic, and the heart fairy has magic hearts. They use their wands to sprinkle sparkles that show the princess the safe path.

The wrong path will lead to the Prickly Bushes Bad Lands. They will snap the princess and trap her in the Bad Lands for a very long time. One of the Bad Lands has prickly bushes and crazy vines. A dragon lives there. He has fiery breath.

The other land is the Black Land. It is The Evil Land. Black butterflies and dragonflies live there. There are black flowers. The path is tricky. It has butterflies stones with sparkles, but they are black. If the princess takes it she will go to the black scary land. This land is like a jungle and the princess can’t see a thing because it’s dark and spooky.

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe- A Rythme through the Ages

Here it is!
That timeless rhyme that we chanted in our childhoods to select that one lucky person who would be "IT".
Whether it was tag or hide and seek, you can rest assured that most of us closed our eyes and prayed that we wouldn't be the one left behind to look for our friends or chase them wildly around the park.

Life is constantly changing but there are "things" that remain timeless, and break through the boundaries of culture and country.  In fact last month, I observed a group of children in Italy use this rhyme to select the child who would be the first to climb a tree.

So how did it happen? How did one rhyme that dates back to 1820 travel the world: before computers and the internet were even a thought?

In this we can turn to traditional forms of print. To those beautiful bound papers that are too often forgotten in a world of technology. And of course let us not forget the process of migration. People may move to new countries but they always keep their traditions close to their hearts.

So for now I say,"You're IT!"

Evereyone offers their foot.

The process of elimination begins.

The last two!

The last man standing-Is he happy to be "IT"?