September 23rd, 2021

Summer Memories 

Yesterday we began the long awaited sharing of our summer memories. As we’ve added them to our summer memories shelf, children have noticed them and taken moments for some informal sharing, but yesterday each child had a chance in the presence of a friend. To encourage a dialogue, we paired the children up and filmed their interactions. What follows are images and snippets from their conversations. 

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Ford and Seon 

Karen: Ford would you like to share with Seon one of your favorite memories?
Ford: Yes, This is a pictures, my rocket and the gondola pass. 
Karen: oooh a gondola pass. Can you show that to Seon?
(Ford holds up the gondola pass and Seon holds up her purse in response)
Karen: Where did the gondola go Ford?
Ford: In Jackson Hole, there was a gondola and I wear my pass. 
Karen: So seon, Ford went to Jackson Hole and to get to the gondola you have to wear a pass. He wore it to get on the gondola. Seon did you want to tell Ford about your picture?
(Seon holds up her drawing and points to one of the fish stickers in the middle)
(Ford holds up a picture her brought)
Ford: This is a animal, not a baby
Karen: Oh, it’s not a baby. Can you tell us about what you did with your rocket?
Ford: (Gets up and pantomimes a stomp rocket) Watch. You put it on and you have to step, step, step and it blasts off to the sky. 
Karen: Oh, its a stomp rocket? So you step on it and it blasts off to the sky? That sounds like a lot of fun
Ford: Yeah, and I go pool and I go with these goggles

Fay and Cal 

Elena: Do you remember the summer when it was so hot. And Fay you came to summer camp and Cal it looks like you went fishing? Do you remember? These are the memories you collected (passes out collections)
Cal: (Reaches into Fay’s basket) Oh! A shell, what’s in it?
Elena: Fay where did you find that shell?
Cal: What’s in it? 
Elena: do you think you could ask Fay?
Cal: Hmm
Elena: Fay do you know what’s in that shell? 
Cal: Hmmm would it come out?
Fay: (shakes her head no)
Elena: Fay I see you noticing Cal’s fish.  According to Cal’s summer memories that came form Cal’s summer camp. Cal do you remember how you made that?
Cal: Look at this rock. 
Elena: Yes, my favorite part of this rock is the gold and silver Micah on the rock. Fay, did you notice that?

Isabelle and Emma 

Elena: Would you like to have a seat at the table? Emma did you notice I put your summer photos on the table? And Isabelle, do you see Mickey Cup?
Isabelle: My Mickey cup!
Emma: What’s your mickey cup? (leans forward to touch the teacup set)
Isabelle: I love it (Pulls photos from Emma’s pile to look at and turns it around  to show emma)
Emma: A puzzle, a puzzle (takes it to the floor)
Isabelle: What puzzle? (leans over to see)
Emma: (struggles with pulling the pieces apart and holds it up to Elena)
Elena: Oh, it looks like someone taped it to keep all the pieces together!
Emma: (Moves onto a picture of her and her sister backed on a construction paper heart) A heart!
Elena: Do you remember who that is?
(Both girls spend some time touching and moving each other’s items around. Isabelle separates Emma’s photos from the backings and Emma pantomimes making tea with Mickey cup)
Isabelle: My Mickey cup!
Elena: That is yours, but you’re looking at Emma’s summer memories so maybe she could hold your Mickey cup for a little bit.
(Both girls continues with the tea pantomime)
Emma: (noticing a picture at the pool) A pool! 
Elena: Yes! Do you remember who you went to the pool with?
(Emma continues drinking tea and sharing it with Isabelle)

Mimi and Ellie 

Elena: Ellie did you notice that you have shells in your basket and Mimi brought shells too. 
Ellie: Shells!
Mimi: This is a big shell, and these are big shells and this is a little shell.
Ellie: Big shell! 
Elena: Could we lay the shells on the table?
Mimi: Look at this one, if you like this you can hear the ocean. (Brings shell up to ear)
Elena: Ellie can you hear the ocean from your shells?
Ellie: Noooo, noooo seeing the ocean. 
Mimi: Can i try? (Reaches across to grab one of Ellie’s shells)
Elena: It’s not seeing the ocean, it’s hearing the ocean. See, you put the shell up to your ear and listen. 
Ellie: No, too far!
(Both children explore with dropping the shells from up high onto the table)
Elena: Ellie, where did these shells come from?
Ellie: My basket!
Elena: hah yes, but before that. Did you go to a beach?
Mimi: I went to a beach. A vacation beach. 
(Ellie pretends to answer the phone with a the shells)
Ellie: Mama go to beach, Dada go to beach, Kine (sister caroline) go to beach! Too scared. 
Elena: Too scared? What were you scared of?
Ellie: Boat, too scared boat. 
Elena: Oh of the boat? You went on the boat and you were too scared?
Ellie: Yeah 
Elena: What kind of boat did you go on?
Ellie: a dinosaur boat!
Mimi: I go on a giraffe boat.
Elena: A giraffe boat!

Louisa and Charlton

Karen: So Louisa where did the dinosaur come from?
Louisa: From nobody. 
Karen: From nobody? Do you want to tell Charlton where you got it?
Louisa: From nobody. Noooobody .
Karen: Nobody gave it to you? Did you pick it out?
Louisa: (shakes head no)
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Karen: Charlton did you take any special trips this summer?
Charlton: Yeah
Karen: Tell Louisa, where did you go?
Charlton: I went on a trip, I went to i dont know. 
Karen: Did you go to somewhere with water?
Charlton: I went tomorrow.

Elsewhere in Brown Room, children enjoyed construction, dramatic play and reading.