Save the Date!What: A Guardian Gallery Walk and Discussion Where: Blake Hall When: Wednesday, April 20th 9:15 a.m. Please join us to check out the various guardians that the children have been creating. Through discussion, we will cover what has been done so far and offer projections for the future work on this project.
This will be adults only, as the children will attend the morning program as normal.
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Making the Clay Guardian Monster
The small group looked through their work and picked out specific drawings. Each of the chosen drawings had aspects of the clay guardian that they wanted to incorporate into the final product. Cate's guardian was very popular but she was not in school to explain certain parts of it. After deciding on the aspects of the guardian, we used paint markers and clay slip to paint to create new ideas. Some friends chose to use books or toys as inspiration as well. We are having a problem. We don’t know what this is (points to Cate’s drawing) - Bea This would be easier if I knew whose it was. - Lily (The group thinks about how to make a head for the guardian) I know! we can use the head from my picture - Bea It could have the head of a rhino - Lily I have an idea. It could have 2 heads. One is a rhino and one is a lizard - Lily It has ears, don’t forget - Bea Did you say it needed a snake tail? - Lily Yea, I drew 2 - Bea I drew one - Lily Our Clay Guardian Has: 2 heads, one is a rhino and one is a lizard - Lily 5 (snake) tails - Bea 6 tentacles. It's like an octopus - Capers It breathes fire, but it's fake - Bea Creating in a Different MediumLily used the alligator as a model for her clay work as she experiments with the clay. "How can we make an alligator head for the guardian." Wednesday, we took our ideas and inspiration with us as we brought in a new element, clay. We experimented with clay, thinking about the different aspects of that clay guardian. How can we represent the guardian given the clay techniques we know? "We can use this to practice. We can make a rhino head." - Bea "Or a snake tail." - Lily "Rhinos have curved back horns." - Bea "Like a thin unicorn" - Lily Luke comes up with a different idea. He creates a snake using a series of sphere's that he rolls by hand. "You make it with your hand. I fold it over and then I roll it around" Luke notices Lily and Capers using a studded rolling pin as "scales" and uses it to make "scales" for his snake. "See, I made a long snakes. He's so long. He has scales on top" Our Clay ExperimentsOur Message Guardian GrowsLegs for the Message Guardian The committee for the message guardian got back together today to work on the legs. Before spring break, they had decided that old markers would serve as the legs. Children and teachers had collected a set of dried-up markers. The group quickly determined that placing our large guardian on two thin markers would not work.
On Wednesday, we put our work together. The group started by looking at the legs they wrapped yesterday. The initial plan was to balance these legs on glue bottle feet. However, Jade noticed two boxes…. Jade - I have a good idea, we can put these legs in these boxes. That will help them stand up. Later on, the group moved to the head and how to make its other features.
Jade - We still need a mouth and a nose and ears. And a mouth with scary teeth. The group considers the tray of materials…. Jade - I have a good idea. We can draw the mouth with the teeth. The group likes the idea and begins their drawings. Jade - It’s okay if we all draw because he can have a lot of scary mouths. Welcome Back!It's been great to reconnect with the children again! This week, we will work on our guardians. The work on the message guardian, the portfolio guardian, the shiny things guardian, and the guardian for humans will continue. The guardian for clay that has been glazed and fired will begin to move beyond the drawing stage. Once again, work with varied materials, collaboration, and problem solving with be key components of our work. We can't wait to get started!
"Those are beautiful materials." Frannie
The Message Guardian
Field Trip and Reflection
After rediscovering the transformers and our love for all things robotic, we headed over the the nearby park to enjoy the afternoon. Lily and Capers taught us a new game, "Stuck in the Mud." It works like "Freeze Tag." Other friends decided to draw the beautiful spring greenery. We came back to St. Johns tired but excited to Spring Break. Don't forget, Thursday and Friday are Spring Conference. KW friends, we will see you March 28. Have a great break!
A Quick Look at a Short KW Week!This week, we only have two days of KW before conferences. Of course, we will be focused on our guardians. Today, we will make decisions and work a little more on our Message Guardian and the fairy-like Guardian for the humans. We can't wait to see where our ideas take us today. Tomorrow we will take advantage of the beautiful weather and get another look at the Transformer statues in Georgetown. We've heard that there is a new transformer on the roof of the home! We look forward to checking it out! Many thanks to the families who have already signed up for a conference. Since we are offering in-person conferences, you will be able to check out the guardian documentation that is prominent in the hallway. As you can see, the children are already noticing the display of the their work and eagerly explaining the process to their friends and teachers.
"I am having so much fun!" MarleyBeginning to Build the Guardian for Shiny Things
Portfolio Guardian Progress
This and that....We still love puzzles, but rousing games of "High Card" (or as George accurately calls it "War" have become a new favorite. We also loved spending time outside on this beautiful day! Enjoy the images and have a wonderful weekend!
A different way to play "Hide and Seek"
Jordan: Why don't we shout out where the cone is?
Sylvie: Because people might feel bad that they didn't find it Lochie: Or they might feel sad Marley: It wouldn't be fair (if you were still lookin for the object) After the game Jordan: How did it feel to not call out where the cone was or touch it? Lochie: It was tricky because we were excited (to find it) From Concept to ConstructionThis week we are beginning the challenging task of taking all the previous ideas we've had for our guardians and constructing them. The small groups assessed their ideas first and thought about what they would need for each unique guardian. The Guardian of HumansAfter we thought about our drawings and how we envisioned the guardian, the Human Guardian small group took a trip to Tucker closet. We searched for materials that inspired us. Remy found shiny material for the guardian's dress. Cate found flowers to add to the crown. At first, the idea of creating our guardian seemed rather daunting (too hard to do). "What part will that be, Remy?" - Lily "I got these! They are for the dress. We can wrap them around." - Remy Lily comes up with a different solution. She decides to create a piece of the guardian instead of tackling the whole thing at once. Lily chooses to start with the flower crown. She uses wire and other natural materials to create it. The other members of the group notice her work and use similar strategies in their work "I could wrap another layer around (my crown)" - Lily "I'm going to make one like Lily" - Cate "I made it straight. Then I turned it a little bit. Then I got wire and wrapped it around. Oh! I cut the wire. My next step is to find my next layer." - Lily Wednesday, we decided to focus on the body of our guardian. The small group used chicken wire as a base for their work. Once we started building the body, Remy began to focus on weaving natural materials into the guardian. Her work got the attention of other friends in KW who wanted to help out. The progression of Remy's work on the body of the guardian Jade notices the work on the human guardian "WOAH!" Did you make that? That's amazing! Can I help you?" - Jade "Sure." - Remy "Would you like to find some materials to weave into the chicken wire?" - Jordan "I can help with that." - Jade Lucas notices the work and chooses to come over and join as well "Can I do the weaving?" - Lucas "OK. The hand needs to hold the flowers." - Remy The Message GuardianThe Message Guardian small group decided to take a different approach began the process of building their guardian. They used their materials first to simulate what the guardian would look like first before starting the process of creating it. They also choose to incorporate their symbols into the work
Having completed stamping the symbols in clay, the group continues to explore materials for the body of the guardian. Jade had previously indicated that the body could be a box, so children looked through the boxes and considered the possibilities
The Message Guardian small group chose to focus on the arms for today's work. The group decided to create scissor arms, an idea that friends had previously agreed upon. They chose to use wire and used scissors to connect their materials and problem solved how to make them functional.
A Quick Look at our WeekIt's time to get to work! Last week, Jack asked if it was still just an "idea day," in reference to our guardian work. This week, building can begin for a few of our groups. We are excited to see the problem solving, negotiation, collaboration, and novel use of materials that will take place as we put our guardians together! We will be sure to keep you posted as this process evolves.
It's hard to believe, but Spring Break is right around the corner. If you wish to meet with us for a conference before break, please sign up this week. If you need the schedule sent to you again, please email us and we will send it out. Thanks! Guardian Groups
The Portfolio Guardian
This group had a unified vision, so their drawings are very similar. Although Audrey had participated in yesterday's small group, she volunteered to join this one as well. Notice how even their teeth are grid-like! The Guardian for Shiny ThingsThe portfolio example proved pretty straight-forward. Children were able to make connections between the item that should be protected and the guard that will do the protecting. Thinking about a guardian for shiny things was a little more ambiguous. Children seemed likely to connect their ideas for this guard to what they knew about the transformers or robots. Maxon - (It could be )blue and it shoots lasers. Marley and Violet - It's a robot. Maxon - I think it's a transformer. Violet - It's medium (in size). Maxon - I agree. Violet - Marley - Do you think it's medium? Marley - I think it's medium because I'm medium Maxon - I think he's invisible during the day and shiny at night. Violet - It has shiny things. Maxon - Maybe a golden treasure. The Committees at WorkHappy 25th, St. John's!It was a wonderful day of celebration all morning long!Both Brown Room and Tucker Room ate our lemon-yogurt cake at snack. The reviews were less than enthusiastic... clearly children preferred the chocolate cake we baked for National Chocolate Cake Day! Nevertheless, a good time was had by all. Thanks to all the families who came to participate in sewing and weaving. We can't wait until this rainbow is hangin in our greeting hallway. A special thank-you to Carola Mamberto for creating an exquisite and moving video! Enjoy these image and have a wonderful weekend! |
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