Wednesday, September 21, 2022

9/21/2022

Last week's work included an impressive start on the canvas squares that will become our table runners. This week, we are adding another experience' machine sewing. We will present the construction challenge of building tall structures that are stable. We have novel materials for us on the light table and this group loves puzzles! Buckle up for a fun week!

KW Attendance

Everyday the teachers are asked, "Do I have KW today?" Children are also interested in which of their friends is attending on the same day. On Tuesday, we introduced our KW attendance system. The children find their picture and move it to the pocket with their symbol for the correct day. The day is identified for the children with pink "Today" label. We seen a lot of interest in the process. Today, Bailee said "I want to have KW with Ford today," as she checked out the new attendance system. Likewise, Remy explained the process to Lily, who then went on to determine which days that she and Remy have KW together. As the children grow comfortable with the process, they will gain information about the identity about the KW groups each day.

Machine Sewing

This week, we are adding machine sewing to the possibilities for our table runner work. Using the machine, children may simply stitch a design, add fabric or ribbon, or embellish a previous drawing by stitching on it. On Tuesday, all children chose to add fabric to the canvas or to a drawing they had completed.

While sewing:
   Hugh - How do we put another thread on?
   Brigitte - We can use another color.
   Hugh - Yeah! I want to do that!
Reflecting on using the sewing machine:
   Ellie - It's sewing and sewing. Push a button and zoom, zoom, zoom.
Luke -I was a little scared when it started. Then it was a little sad because the fabric is actually alive and the needle is poking it.
Lucas - It sewed really good. You can move the fabric around.

Here's our work! As you can see, some children were drew while others used the machine.

Saul

Lily

Remy

Louisa

Wilder

Cate

Lucas

Hugh

Geometric Shapes and Light Table Design

The light table featured geometric shapes made from card stock. Children were free to explore them and sicker how they might be connected using pipe cleaners and other stick-like materials. What possibilities would these new materials suggest to the children. Here's a look at their creations.

Saul - A race car

Ford - A long Popsicle

Michael - A flag

Frannie connected pieces and also made a bracelet

Tall Buildings

The construction area is always a popular place to collaborate and create. Last week, we noticed that many of our buildings were low and horizontal. This week, we offered a strategy for making taller buildings that are still stable: criss-cross building. The children easily implemented this strategy and were pleased with the results.
Saul - It's super-duper stable!

Today, children implemented the criss-cross strategy and built really tall!
   Jade - That's starting to look dangerous.
   Wilder - it can never get too tall!
   Hugh - It could get dangerous. If it starts to fall, it will be like it's raining blocks.
   Jade - Then we would have to run to the hallway.
   Luke - it was huge! I thought it was going to fall!