Friday, January 14, 2021

A Birthday Committee for Elyse!

Working on birthday committees is a rich tradition at St. John's.  As we prepare a gift for the birthday person, we think carefully about what s/he would like, what would represent him or her in some way, and what would be meaningful to that person.  Kids' Workshop doesn't often participate in birthday committees, but occasionally we are asked to assist with the birthday gift for a teacher.  This fall, KW worked diligently to prepare materials for the birthday portraits of Sam and Ines.  This week, we are working on a gift for Elyse.  Of course, we started with an interview:
    Audrey - I know she likes hot pink.
    Elyse  - I do like hot pink.
    Marley - What other colors do you like?
    Elyse - I like silver and red.
    Reed - What's your favorite animal?
    Elyse - Hmmm.  I really like elephants.
    Lochie - What do you like to do in the classroom?  
    Elyse - I like to make messages with you guys.
    Lochie - I like to make messages, too!
   Elyse - Right, that's why your birthday gift was a message.  
    Reed - What's your favorite shape?
    Elyse - I don't know if I've ever thought about my favorite shape.
    Lochie - I like circles.  Do you like circles?
    Reed - Or hearts?
    Elyse - I like stars.  
   Audrey - What's your favorite kind of paper?
  Elyse - That's a question we've been asking the Tucker birthday children.  I like watercolor paper and corrugated cardboard.  
    C.C. - What's your favorite material to work with?
    Elyse - I like watercolors.    

With this information in mind, Thursday's group got to work.  We broke out the watercolors and created several stunning paintings! 
    

The work continued today as children transformed their watercolors into something special for the birthday gift.   We won't give too much away, but part of the process involved making accordion folds.  This was new and somewhat challenging for children.  They persisted until the were able to master this technique.  As Nora explained,  "I folded it back and forth, back and forth."   
    
We also wondered whether the school was older than Elyse, or if it was the other way around.  
    Maxon - The school's older.
    Several others agreed with this. 
    Jill - Do you remember how old the school is?  Do remember the last number of the clay number line?
    George - 24!
    Brigitte - What will come next?
    Lochie - 25!
    Brigitte - So who is older?
    Lochie, George, Giacomo, and Maxon - The school!
    C.C.  - Well, how old is Elyse right now?
​    Reed - I don't know.  I have no idea.  

Mosaic Work

Children filled in the final clay tiles for our mosaic.   It was almost like a puzzle, because children had to find which pieces would work in various spaces.  This process became more difficult as we went along... the spaces got smaller.  Through trial and order, Reed and Maxon developed the strategy of checking to see if the piece fit first, before gluing it down.   Next week, we will be ready to add the grout!

A little bit of everything else...

• Outside, we played hide and seek.  The children are coming up with increasingly clever hiding places.
• Thinking about Jordan and his new baby Tristan inspired us to play with babies.  
• Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles!
• This group loves message center almost as much as they love puzzles!
• Enjoy these images and have a great, long weekend!