Houses and Rainbows

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque 

Do you know the difference between these three terms?
This vocabulary was introduced to the children today while they worked with different types of paper at our light table. While working with paper types such as cellophane, tissue, vellum, and foil on our classroom light table, the differences between each type was highlighted by the way light from the table was able to pass through each material. The difference in appearance, color, and brightness was immediately evident and encouraged further exploration.

Testing the transparency of different cellophane pieces. 
​
Can you see through the paper?
How does looking through the paper change your vision? 

There was lots of focus on "seeing your eyes" through the paper and "seeing colors" as we explored the effect of each paper piece. 

​Opacity 

I can't see through it! The purple. - Remy 

After taking some time to explore the paper pieces on the light table, children then began creating collage "rainbows" in transparent containers using clear glue and a variety of cut colored paper pieces. 
This provocation was inspired by our interest in the rainbows that we sometimes "catch" out in our hallway by the Brown Room cubbies. We have observed that the rainbow is best seen on days when there is lots of sunshine and light shining in from outside. 

Lucas shared some very interesting thoughts while working on his "rainbow". 

I like the red. 
I cannot see through this one.  
(the purple foil paper)
I can see through this one.
(pointing to a green cellophane piece already glued into his box)
Can you see through it?
(asking Sam to look through a dark blue piece)
I cannot and I can see through it. 
(examining a piece of yellow tissue paper)
What is this paper to do?
(further questioning about the tissue paper)
- Lucas

 Further examining of the transparency and opacity of our finished rainbows.

​
​Rainbows 

Lucas, Luke, Cate
Frances, Remy


Do you notice that some children started experimenting with layering in their collages?
We hope to investigate this further in future work with color exploration! 

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Continuing our work involving "Houses"

We started our morning meeting with a book about different types of houses. Not all houses necessarily look like our own homes. Many different things (animals, food, objects) have their own version of a "house"!

​A House Is a House for Me
By Mary Ann Hoberman 

​Our friend Cape immediately wanted to get to work on his own "house".
​He decided to design a barn which can house many different types of farm animals and machinery. 
In the planning process, he decided to start by sketching his vision. 

Later in the process, Frances decided to collaborate with Cape and assist in creating his vision
​for the "Big Barn".