September 10, 2021

What a Wonderful Week!

It was great to bring the KW program back and to work and play with our friends.  Throughout the week, the dark and white areas of the Tucker classroom were especially inviting for children.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, Rainey children were intrigued with the rainbows.  On Thursday, George wanted to add animals to the building materials.  This launched some trap building:
    C.C. - We are building a trap for the animals.  This is the cape to keep them in.
   George - It has heavy things so they can’t escape.
   Giacomo - That’s to create electricity.
   Lochie - There’s more nets here. 
   C.C. - We can use them to catch squirrels.  We have new attachments so the squirrels can’t get out.  
   Giacomo - Maybe we can set traps all over here (around the room).  I have a lot of ideas because I make a lot of traps at home. 
  Jack - Did your mom fall into one?
​  Lochie - I made a new trap and added a food bowl.

Today's building with animals took a different direction...focusing on homes for animals.  
   C.C. - Let's make a house.  We're making a house for the squirrels and the turtle.
   Maxon - We have to trap the squirrel again.  I haven't done that.
   Elle- Let's put the mirrors in the house.
   Maxon - Do you know what this sign says right here?  It says don't cross the dinosaurs.  It warns the animals.
   Audrey - This sign says walk here.
 Audrey and Maxon start working with the tubes.
   Maxon - This is so they  can get water.  All animals need water,
    C.C. - This could be a road.
    Audrey - (Adds a goat to the road). He's stuck in the road.
   Maxon - The water is going through and it's getting deeper and deeper. 

Later in the afternoon, Elle and C.C. came back to build more homes.  Reed brought Jane over to see the wonderful. kitty house she had built in the morning.    In all of these experiences, we saw children sharing knowledge, collaborating, and building on the ideas of their friends.  Building together proved a great way to reconnect.

Games, Games, Games!

The group games that start our day have also been a way to reconnect.  Today's group game was "The North Wind Blows."  Children took turns being the person in the center and calling our something that is true about them.  If this is also true about you, you run to another spot on the circle.  Some of the examples from today included "If your sister loves to read,"  "If you have a baby,"  "If you have a backyard," and "If you have a pet."
After lunch, we played, "Candyland," "Connect Four,"  and "Stone Soup."  The children explained  the way to play Stone Soup:
   Elle - You pick up a card and you put them in the soup.
   Jordan - Any card?
   George - No, they have to match.
   Giacomo - If you win, we all win.  (He's right.... it's a cooperative game.)
   Maxon - If I had this at home, I would play with my mom and dad.
   Giacomo - If you get all the "fires," we lose.

Gingko Transformations

While reflection on our schools new logo, some children began Gingko transformations of their own.  Sylvie created a butterfly named "Feather Flyer."  Audrey worked on two gingko friends and Janie made a gingko person with fluffy hair.  We will continue with this next week.    Today, Lochie worked with a photocopy of a gingko.  His drawing became an action story.  "A rock fell down and bumped the gingko on the head.  And then it was raining.  And above the rain lines is the real real rain.  And then the gingko go hung up on the branch and went to his bed."

Our Table-setting Tradition 

The children in KW take care to prepare the table before we eat lunch together.    Yesterday, our table setters were C.C. and Giacomo.  Today, Reed and Jane did the honors.

Have a fantastic weekend!