January 12th, 2022

Returning to Collaborative Exploration

After so many weeks away from each other, it has been such a treat watching Brown Room come back together and share stories from break and explorations in the classroom.  During the week, Karen and I have been rearranging the room, so the children were very excited to explore the changes to the room when we arrived!

Cal: What’s that? Oh! It’s over there?
Ellie: Me want houses (building on the light table)
Fay: Oh the couch is here, with books! Coco has a bookshelf.​

The changes to the classroom gave way to new space for explorations and creative collaboration. Today, the most popular of these explorations were the light projector, the light table and a wire provocation on our new table. We wanted to take todays blog to highlight all the good work and interesting conversations we saw today. ​

Light Projector  

The light projector quickly caught the attention of some during our morning meeting. With a plethora of materials and transparent images to explore, Seon, Emma and later Fay quickly chose it as their first plan for the day. As the exploration progressed, Emma noticed that by moving the mirror at the top of the projector, she could change how and where the image was displayed (on the screen, the floor, the ceiling). This dynamic addition caught Cal’s attention who came over to check out the projection on the ceiling. Emma, Fay and Cal all took pillows from the cozy corner, spread them out to lay on and shared turns changing the scene on the ceiling and laying back down to take a look at their work! 

Emma: What is it up on the ceiling?
Cal: What happened?
Emma: Why did it get p to the ceiling?
Cal: I turned it (the mirror) upside down
Fay: You just move it up. Let’s add some more!
Emma: I can reach. Fay! Look what Emma did. What’s that up there?

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Light Table

Much like the project, the light table also captured the attention of some friends today. Ellie and Emma worked together to create a very tall, multi level structure which Fay said “that looks like St. Johns. It’s very tall”.

Ellie: Me building house for Aunties (her stuffed elephants). Karen, help me start. 
Karen: Ellie, I see that Emma is working next to you. Maybe she can help you too.
Ellie: Build upstairs. No downstairs. Help me Emma. Need some help Emma.
Emma started adding magna-tiles to Ellie’s structure.
Ellie: Thank you. 
Emma: You’re welcome. 
Ellie. Need more help Emma. Help me.
Emma: I did it.
Karen: What did you do Emma? 
Emma: Stuff! (Pointing to her magna-tile design). I’m making a house for mommy.
Ellie: Oooo….Emma. It so pretty.

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Wire Exploration 

Although this provocation had no light component, it was equally as popular. Seon, Fay and Bailee gravitated towards the variety of materials on the table and each set about working on their individual designs.

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Fay: It (the bead) came off. 
Emma: Let me help you!
Bailee: This one? (offering Fay a bead)
Fay: I’m letting it out like this so I can put this one on. I need this closed. Just twist it. This is gonna be for momma. I’m gonna put it in my portfolio drawer. 
Seon: Beads! Beads in here (as she stuffed one of the tubes with transparent beads)
Emma: I want the tubes!
Seon: This is beautiful.
Fay: I want this to be for my momma. Will you send this home?

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