Updates from the Brown Room

5/2/2023

Camouflage: White on White with light

We are always looking for inspiration from the world around us. Often, our inspiration comes directly from the work of the children and teachers in Reggio Emilia. As we began to thinking about how to explore the idea of camouflage (related to Toad and his disappearance), we once again turned to the Italians. In the book you see to the left, in which they share stories and images related to drawing and storytelling. This book is a collection of work from multiple schools and was edited by Vea Vecchi and Mirella Ruozzi.

In this book they describe camouflage as an idea that "plays in the space of the possible: something that is there, but is also hidden and never disappears completely. Chromatic correspondence, such as black on black and white one white, creates a sort of camouflage of the marks that children love to explore with interest, fun, and humor, challenging the invisibility" (pg. 83-84, ed. Vecchi and Ruozzi).

"I can't see it. It's disappearing." :
Drawing, painting, and Experimenting

"I don't see any marks on the paper from this one [colored pencil]." - Will, 3.6 years

"Mine is getting invisible." - Cully, 3.6 years

"If you use chalk on the white paper, it doesn't show up."
- Will, 3.6 years

What if you add light?

"Yes! We can see!" - Cully
"The drawings come back when the light is on." - Will

"You can see it from both sides." - Will

"Hmm...a mystery."
- Cully, 3.6 years

"I just want to solve the case.I'm going to use a flashlight now."
- Georgia, 3.5 years

"Look!" - Win, 3.10 years

"My shadow keeps getting in my way." - Gracie, 3.6 years

Reflecting on our work at morning meeting:

Camouflage? What does the word camouflage mean?
“Geckos use camouflage to go underground.” - Gacie [uses her body to show us going underground]
What does the Gecko's skin do?
“Camouflage!” - George
It does! What does that mean? How does their skin change?
“Goes by water.” - George
“Maybe they turn blue when they go in water. Or they turn into blue or into ice.” - Henri
Why would they turn blue in water?
“Because the water is blue.” - Henri
If the water is blue, adnd their skin turns blue, what does that mean?
“That means camouflage.” - Henri
What it sounds like you’re saying Henri is that the geckos skin matches the color of the water.
[Grass is mentioned by multiple children.]
What color is he going to turn if he goes on the grass?
“Green!” - George
Why would he turn green?
“Because the grass is green.” - Lou Lou
What if the gecko was hiding in some sand?
“It’s yellow!” - Cully
“Or brown.” - Henri
“If he hides in pink grass, he would turn pink.” - Adaline
My next question is, ‘If the gecko matches the grass, or the water, or the sand, how would we find him?
“We would look with our eyes. A magnifying glass.” - George

An update on messages for the new children

"These will make them happy. Hmm...what can I do? I'm going to put a flower to make them happy. They can't stay in here [Brown Room] by themselves. We have to help them. They can't be by themselves because they are part of the whole Brown Room." - Caroline, 2.11 years

"I'll add some layers under it. What about this?"
- Eliza, 3.6 years

"What's her name?" - Adaline, 3.7 years

[pictured above]: Eliza
"It's a window!" - Lillian, 3.0 years
"I'm making it for Elizabeth. Let's add layers to this."
- Eliza, 3.6 years

"She's gonna love this message!" - Gracie, 3.6 years

Introducing the sewing machine with Brigitte

Some joyful moments from the past few weeks

While reading about a book about seeking silence in a noisy world, the author invites you to try and find silence by plugging your ears with your fingers! Win and Caroline are testing it out!

The new slack line jungle gym is so popular! Zoe loves the ladder, Pierce enjoys hanging upside down, and Win loves to swing and spin!

We were so lucky to spend some time with Elena last week! Henri, George, Lou Lou, and Adaline sat with her to read some books!

Georgia and Joci reviewing some photos that Joci was taking for our St. John's website.

Silly sisters - Gracie and Eliza

Lillian found a cozy nook in the outdoor classroom while she watched some friends building in the outdoor construction area!

Win was very proud of her most recent self-portrait! If you look closely you can see her eyes, nose, mouth, and curly hair.

Melanie reading Find Furgus. A fantastic book about hiding, blending in, camouflaging yourself, etc. The perfect book for Brown Room.

But this time with a silly face!

The children reviewing their collage work and reflecting on their process- "Can we collage the black hole?" If you don't know what the black hole is, or where to locate it, we invite you to ask your child at drop-off one day! We have no doubt that they can show you and tell you all about it!