Thursday, April 18, 2019

Rolling the Dice!

Clock wise from upper left: Maisie, Tegan, Louise, and Grace

We brought back the Art Journal Dice game today, which gave Grace and Louise a chance to participate.  On Tuesday, we noticed that not everyone wanted to follow the rules exactly, for different reasons.  Today, we asked that they add each new step on the same page as the previous step.  As mentioned on Tuesday, this can make some children uneasy as they think about covering up or altering previous work.  Today, Grace, Louise, Maisie, and Tegan completed the  three steps on one page. James and Tommy began the game before moving on to other experiences. Even though the prompts were the same, the result is unique for each journal.  These are the steps they followed:
   Roll #1:  Draw/write your feelings  OR tear and glue
   Roll #2:  Sew in book OR  trace
   Roll #3:  Include an Image  OR  add yarn or fiber

Wire (and Wood) Workshop

Children continued their sculptures today as they twisted, bent, and looped wire, often attaching it to a wood base.  While Maisie was manipulating her wire, she realized that she would like a base for it, and took time to pound one together.  In addition to the creativity and problem solving involved, children are really using their small muscle skills as they make changes to the wire or use tools to cut and bend it.  

"I would love it if I lived in this hotel."   Louise

Being together and building together are often highlights of our day.  Today children built on the light table with some familiar materials and some that were more novel (plastic Easter eggs).  It didn't take long for children to agree that they were building a hotel, which seems to be a common construction theme for this group.  After the hotel was completed, the plastic eggs became the people taking advantage of all that the hotel had to offer, including room service and a peaceful blue pool built by Lily.   The group also had a fantastic time together outside on this beautiful day!