November 02nd, 2021

Happy rainy Tuesday! This week Brown Room is taking on a new technique: cutting paper! Fueled by a growing interest in the message center and the need for smaller, more dynamic materials we introduced paper cutting in the studio. We invited children to try their hand at cutting pieces from one inch strips of paper, and collected the pieces in a bowl for use at the message center.

Fay: I cut diamonds. Coco likes to paint white paper. I’m making a dinosaur. 
Ford: Open, close, open close, open close. I just cut a lot! Watch! I need to hold it (the paper) by myself.
Rawls: Open close. 

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We've also been enjoying a continued exploration of the digital microscope. While explorations started with the natural materials on the table, the preferred interest quickly became testing the colors and fabrics of each others clothes. With chilly weather in the air, lots of children are wearing thicker, woven clothing which has provided a plethora of interesting close ups on camera. 

Ford: How bout my mask?
Mimi: How about Ragnar’s sock? Oh, it’s blue!
Charlton: Can you guys do my belly?
Ford: Do Mine
Mimi: How about this (muffin tin)
Ragnar: Can we take a picture of the microscope?
Mimi: How about this (pillow)?

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We've also opened easel painting as a permanent fixture of the studio space. After practicing our one color, one paintbrush method for all these weeks, children are now exploring the freedom of painting whenever they choose. As time goes on, they will share the added opportunity of mixing their own colors to fit all their painting needs!

Charlton: Pink after red and yellow after red. I’m going to use all of the paint. It’s gonna be all of it. I’m going to use all of the paint. It’s gonna be all of it. I’m going to finish the paint. I’m making a dinosaur and his teeth are up here. ​

Ford: I’m making a house with a slide and people. I’m making a rainbow. Yellow. The paper can’t hold the paint (as paint was dripping). I’m picking yellow, just yellow. That’s his body and up here is his teeth (the dinosaur).




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Rawls: I need some red. It's going here, at the top. 

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Ragnar: It’s really good. For Audrey. I’m working really hard for her. I wanna use purple and orange too. She likes them. So soft. Shem might like it. So soft. I have to get yellow. After yellow. After yellow I do red.The colors that I used. Done. 1 more color. I’m all done now. 


Mimi: I’m done with this (putting back the purple). I want pink. It’s so pink. Painting people. ​

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