Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Putting the "Workshop" into KW

During meeting, we talked about the idea of workshops.   So far this year, we have focused on the body and movement, light, and shadow.   As we carefully explore these ideas, processes, and material, it becomes like a workshop on those topics.   We wondered if children were familiar with this concept, and what other possible workshops would be of interest to them.  Here's the conversation:
    What is a workshop?
       Grace M.  - I know.  It means like you work and you try to learn things.
       Lou Lou - Workshop means you can make some plans, things that you want to do, and see if you can do it.
​    What workshops would you be interested in for KW?
       Grace M. - A dancing workshop.
       Sam - I would like a toy workshop.  Like make toys and take them home.
       Louise - A ballet workshop. Where you wear tutus. 
       Leigh - A building workshop.
       Grace M. - A block workshop.   Or a drawing workshop.  I have so many ideas.
       Lou Lou - A unicorn workshop.
       Leigh - Make unicorn costumes?
       Lou Lou - Make unicorns out of ...... sewing?
​       Grace D. - (Remembering something she had mentioned at her home visit)  Rocks and trees.
We will continue thinking about ideas for possible workshops in the next few days.   After lunch, everyone took a turn to represent possible workshop ideas through drawing.  Some children stuck with drawing for the rest of the day!
       

Giant ballet drawing by Louise.

Tree and rock drawing by Grace D.

Two-headed dragon toy drawing by Sam.

Ballet drawing by Grace M.

Unicorn drawing by Leigh.

Unicorn family drawing by Lou Lou.

Shiny Sewing, Continued

Shiny sewing was popular yesterday, and today children took another approach: machine sewing.  Leigh and Louise spent time reacquainting themselves with the machine and the process.  Both picked up quickly on the steps required for successful sewing.  They both used shiny fabric as abase.  Leigh attached shiny papers to her fabric, while Louise added smaller pieces of shiny fabric.  An important part of sewing is patience as you wait for a turn on the machine.  Louise put her wait time to good use by documenting.... taking photos of Leigh.  As Leigh finished (for today), she excitedly said, "Can I do this tomorrow?"

Reflecting on Reflections

At the beginning of our KW day, children noticed some interesting light reflections in the front hallway.  "The lights are moving," they noticed. We wondered if they would still be there later, but they were gone by the end of the day.  You can see the beautiful reflections found at the beginning of KW.