Wednesday, December 15 2021

Beginning KW's school gift: Mosaic Frame

Earlier in the year, Victor made some lovely wooden frames which we have utilized in the bathroom. But something was missing. So KW decided to use the frames themselves as a base to create something beautiful that also gave back to the school. After making tiles from clay and making mosaics of our own, it's time to transfer our skills to a larger group project. 

​Bea: We could make a pattern like purple - yellow - purple yellow

Jade: (Looks at the tiles and tries to find one that fits a space she is working on) It's like a puzzle for friends

Bea: But don't put them (the tiles) on top (of each other.)
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Capers: There's just a little space between the tiles

Wilder: Do you need a small piece?
Finlay: I need some. I can share big ones with you

Lily: You have to leave a teeny space between the tiles.
Capers: Ok. Thank you for letting me know. 

Filling the whole frame was easier said than done. In order to motivate ourselves and stay focused, we created challenges. We challenged ourselves to find spaces we had not filled. Once we identified an incomplete spot, we had to find a tile that was the corresponding size.

Jordan: Would you like to challenge me or would you like me to challenge you?
Capers: You challenge me.
Jordan: OK. I see a small spot over here that needs a tile. (Jordan covers the spot with glue)
Capers: That's a small spot. (Capers sifts through the tiles until he finds one that fits and adds it to the frame) Got it.
Capers: (Marks a spot on the frame with glue) Now you have to find one for this spot, Jordan.

 
Luke: It's actually fun doing the challenges
Jade: We missed you yesterday, Luke.
Luke: (Tries to complete find a tile the fits the spot on the mosaic). Uh oh. Nope. Looks too big! (He puts the piece back and looks for a smaller tile)
Jade: Good try Luke
Luke: (Finding a tile that fits perfectly into the small spot) I DID IT!

Bea: I want you to challenge me!
Jordan: OK, I'm only going to do hard challenges.
Bea: Yea! Lily and I are super smart. We can do it.
(Lily and Bea attempt several challenges with decreasing space. Lily has trouble finding a tile during one challenge)
Bea: That doesn't fit. Look, this is small, it might fit. 
Lily: (Tries her tile unsuccessfully) Nope. Where was yours?
Bea: Here! (Gives Lily a tile) You did it!

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Building with Light

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​Frannie: It's a little building. Louise would love to live here if she was little. And I would live there, too.

​Finlay: I'm building a rocket ship with light.
Wilder: Me, too!
Finlay: (Linging up the candles) I'm building a deck

Our Buildings

As we built with magnet tile and plastic candles, we thought about how light effects the structures and functionality.

Wilder: We're building a house for the candles and the candles make it glow.
Cate: The candles are trapped in my house
Wilder: I'm putting protection to protect my house.
Cate: A monster is guarding my house.
Luke: And mine is an animal house.
Cape: I call this  a structure building house
Jade: It looks like a good building

We're building Santa's house and Santa's sleigh - Bea

​Lily: You are a talent.
Bea: No!
Lily: I said a talent. Did you think I said "Italian?"
Luke: Mine is a tower

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I'm making messages for the luminary walk - Capers

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​Bea: This is for my family.
Cate: This for my family.
Frannie: I'm making a message for my family. I like the Santa stickers. Ho Ho Ho!

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Children Led Game: Mr. Fox

I love this game! - Cate

One of our favorite outdoor games is called "Mr. Fox." The children split themselves into two groups, foxes and bunnies. As they designate roles for the round, they practiced entering play, communicating with their peers and negotiation. The bunnies go to one end of the outdoor classroom and designate it as their "safe zone" or "bunny hole." The remaining 1-2 children are the foxes who move to the other side of the outdoor classroom.

The bunnies ask "what time is it Mr. Fox. The foxes then give a time in hours such as "It's four o clock." The bunnies practice one to one correspondence and listening my taking as many steps as the number of hours. If the foxes say "midnight" or "dinner time," the bunnies must run back to their 'bunny hole' before the foxes tag them. If a bunny is tagged, they become a fox. KW has decided that the last bunny gets to be the first fox in the new round.

Counting steps to the Foxes

The Bunny Hole