Tubes, Wheeles, Spools, and Stones with a Touch of Light

Finding new "loose materials" for the children is challenging but extremely rewarding. They are always ready to explore the possibilities of invention when they combine the materials with their vast imagination.

The Dahlia -Simple Perfection

The Wonder of the Garden

                                                                          The Chives

A summer garden provides many rich learning experiences. The children watch their seeds bloom into glorious flowers. They sample the rich tastes of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and celery. Herbs are shared with the school chef.  And of course, with meticulous precision, they transfer the images of the wonders they see to paper.

How Many Possibilities are There?

When I purchased these tubes, I knew that the children would find so many interesting uses for them. But of course they always surprise us with their ingenuity. Each day is a new adventure as they travel the world in thier space ships or zip around on their racing cars.

Just as Beautiful as Me!

"How big am I?" Jocelyn wonders.

How can the teacher help her to answer this question?  Does she want to know her size in comparison to a classmates or in comparison to an object? Most likely she is asking about her size in comparison to a classmates since children often engage in discussions about "who's the biggest."

The teacher invites Jocelyn to offer suggestions on how they can answer her question. She opts to outline her body using loose materials. This requires the assistance of a few classmateses. The girls begin their work and Jocelyn's body is outlined. But the experience takes on a new direction as the children forget the initial question and become more interested in designing bodies to best reflect clothing and facial features.  So what started out as a question about size turned into an experience in patterns and colors.

Does it matter that the initial question was lost.

Absolutely not!

One child's thoughts or questions will always lead in many directions.

This will be my last post until the end of July as I will be in Europe. I look foward to my return and the continued exchange of ideas. Many blessing on you all. Be well!

I Want to Be a Butterfly

A visit to Blue Willow Butterfly Conservatory left Abby feeling quite whimsical. She wanted wings so she could flutter about all day amid the blossoms and trickling water.

What would it feel like to be so free? Could she become one?

With the help of a few classmates her wish came true and for a brief half hour she was transformed.

"I am a butterfly with beautiful wings and nice colors. I flap my wings all day and fly on flowers."

Just When we Thought It was all Done!

She walks across the drawbridge.

Being a princess is all in a days work for this young group of girls. Don't we all want to spend the day riding our fine horses across a drawbridge?

It is always fascinating to watch how children use loose materials to create magical places. Places that we once travelled to in our own youth.

Perhaps the path leading to the castle is too long. So she decides to climb atop her mighty steed!

The other princesses wait inside the castle for their sister to arrive.

Tubes, Tubes and More Tubes

You can make a house for you and your friends.

What will children do when they are offered a set of tubes?

Watch the magic happen.



You can see your friends.



And then you can talk to each other!

You can make your arms grow!

And look for ants!

You can be a constructor of things!

Or practice your alphabet.

Tent Caterpillars

This group of toddler was greeted by an interesting site when they took their morning walk into the forest; a large group of tent caterpillars amassed on top of a tree branch. Tent caterpillars are considered to be social as they tend to build one large tent in the branches of trees. These creatures give birth to moths not butterflies.

Oh That Blustery Wind!!

Like A Windy Day by Frank and Devin Asch

 

Wind is like a snake and its white like paper. I can't see the wind, but I can feel it. When the wind blows everything goes sideways, trees, grass, leaves, and flowers. But not people, they go back and forth and their hair flies everywhere.

By Madison

Rainy Day Blues or Not?

Who would have thought that a clear umbrella could lead to this wonderful interpretation of a Monet painting.

The Campfire

Watching this young girl "pitch her tent" and prepare her fire suggests that she is an avid camper or is she? How do children mimic rituals with such precision?

She begins by assembling an external structure that looks like a house.

She uses brown mural paper to drape over the top and makes a fire pit.

She ignites the fire and prepare to roast her marshmallows.