Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Workshop Brainstorming, Continued

At meeting, we continued to think about possible workshop possibilities.  Once again, great ideas were generated:
   Louise - We could do a fashion show workshop.  Like we could put decorations on the building and we could get some dolls and put some designs on them.
    Lou Lou - I want to do that fashion one.
   Joslin - We could do like a worky workshop... a workshop that you work inside...like build something with those materials, with nails and saws and stuff.
    Sam - A bandaid workshop.  A doctor workshop for when people get sick.
    Grace M. - We could take care of people.
    Lou Lou - My idea was to make a funny one... a sewing workshop.
During previous discussions, children had mentioned the possibility of making headbands.   Today Grace M. helpfully offered, "I made a head band before.... I can show you!  I might need to make a map of directions."    However, Evelyn was able to start thinking about and working on head bands without Grace's instructions.

She started with drawing a headband.

She cut out her headband.

She modeled her headband!

Evelyn worked almost independently through this process.   She was able to take her idea and see it through to completion.  As we work with materials, children learn their properties.  Since the head band was made of paper, it soon ripped.   Evelyn said, "It should have been wire."  What a great idea!  She worked with wire to make another headband.   Although this was all she had time for today, Evelyn has plans to continue working with wire to make jewelry.

More Shiny Sewing!

Children sewed at the machine today.   Grace M., Austin, and Joslin all carefully worked through the steps to guide fabric through the machine.  Working at the same experience influenced the choices children made.  They all worked with red shiny fabric and some coppery, shiny ribbon.  Austin also layered materials and experiences by sewing on an easel painting.   

Our Guests in Blake Hall

Each year, the church hosts homeless individuals,  providing them with a warm place to sleep, and dinner and breakfast.  Although they leave the building during the day, children notice the cots that are set up in Blake Hall.  Today children worked on messages to help these visitors feel welcome in our shared space.  After counting the number of beds to determine how many messages we would need, children got right to work.  Grace D. carefully wrote "Have a good night."   Lou Lou and Joslin made messages asking, "What's your name?"  After all, as Jossie pointed out, "Their name is not just "Homeless."

Today's Drawing Challenge

This month, Jessica and Jill are working on a presentation for visiting educators.  (The presentation will be on January 28th, all parents are welcome to attend.)  At one point in the presentation, we will be introducing the KW teaching team.  While we could include a photo, we thought it would be more fun to have children draw our portraits.  We were impressed with the enthusiasm children demonstrated for this task!  Some children chose to include themselves in the portrait.  Grace M. gave us tutus, and Sam included a lot of details including teeth and earrings.  Enjoy!