Conversation at the Gadget Board (Monday) ....
(Look closely to see how the children are able to blend separate plans into one by combining "pizza" and "gardening" themes that can relate to the need for a vehicle)
Oliver: I want to use the controls to drive.  Alright, time to go.  Here we come!
Palmer:  Get the lock control.
Oliver:  Wolfie, spin it, quick.  Anybody wanna get the bad guy?  Go get him.  Lane… get the gas on.
Lane:  There’s security cameras all over the place where we’re planting.
Wolf:  This means we don’t have so much gas!
Oliver:  We have electricity, we will not give up.
Wolf:  There’s some bad people on the camera.
Oliver:  Beep beep…. I gotta fly it fast.  Wifi is risking through it faster and faster.  The jet is going so South, the security system is not going where it’s supposed to go!
Lane:  We need as much gas as this container.  It’s plant gas.  It’s like how cars do it.  If one plant dies but it’s not finished, we pour one cup on it, and it keeps going.  
Cannon:  Roooooaaar!  Give me all your pizza.
Lane: We need to Zoom and call everyone who is gardening.  There’s microphones all over, so they’ll hear me.
Olivia:  Ready to drive the car?  Come on, get on, we’re leaving.
Cannon:  I don’t wanna miss the pizza car.
Lane:  It’s mostly our gardening truck but it could also be a pizza truck.  It does sound delicious.  And we could use a snack.
Cannon: Oh great!  I can be Rafael.  (He begins making pizza)
Palmer:  It’s looking good, just so you know.
Lane:  The chain reaction stopped.  We need more coal.
Cannon:  This is how we make whopper pizza.  It takes 100 minutes.
Palmer:  And it’s only 7 o’clock.
Cannon:  That’s the fire alarm!
Lane:  When the kids plant peppers, the spicy makes flames.
Palmer:  We’re going to deliver the pizza to the gardeners. 

DIGITAL MICROSCOPE 

​(Flower with soft fuzz on its stem)
Oliver:   I think that’s the skin.  Different flowers have different skins.  Just like I have little hairs on my skin.

(Surveying tray of natural materials)
Palmer:  We could do a flower and a piece of bark.
Lane: I’m gonna focus it.
Palmer: (Huge leaf without many veins) It looks pretty plain.
Lane:  Now let's do the stem one.  It’s big so it looks like bamboo.

(Tree bark)
Fletcher:  It looks like a giant cliff. Avalanche!!
Palmer:  I see a lot of cracks.  It’s a pollen!
(Smaller leaf)
Wolf:  Why does it have so many lines?  Thats probably where the water goes.  That’s what we learned last time.  I learned it with Brooke.  Wait a second… I know what poison ivy looks like.

(Leaf with large bulbous growths)
Palmer:  It looks like a Hershey Kiss!

Cookie time! 

Outside!

Our pod was outside for an hour today. The children spent a lot of time at the pump working on a “water festival.” The focus of the festival was filling containers with water and carefully placing them on the bench - trying not to spill.
There was also some play at the new gadget board. The children love it!
Aida said, “I can’t believe they built this.”
Nora responded, “Me too.”

The children found a few mysterious small holes in the sandy dirt area.
Aida:  How do you make holes like that?
​Maren:  We didn't make these.
​Cannon:  Yeah we just dig and dig and dig until we find a gigantic hole.
Nora: A sparkly rock!
Melanie:  Who could've made these little holes?
Aida: A chipmunk!  There's chipmunk holes in our yard.
Palmer: It could be a home to a grub!  Don't put anything else in... A grub could bite you.
​Cannon:  It's a mole hole.

Origami & Collage
Today the children practiced precise paper folding/creasing to create origami fish to use as part of a collage project. The collage base was painted with watercolor, the fish are paper and the children are also incorporating natural materials, drawings and magazine photos to create dynamic underwater collage scenes. They aren’t complete yet, but Andy and Maren got quite the start on theirs today. We’ll finish up next week.

Watercolor & Fabric
The children used eyedroppers to apply watercolor paint to textured white fabric today. It was interesting to see the how the colors spread due to the texture. The eyedroppers are fun to use! Of the process Maren said, “I’m scientisting.”

The rest of our day in Pod A was a flurry of activity in both construction and the studio! In our building work, we were heavily inspired by a book about exploring an Egyptian tomb to find a Pharaoh and a special ruby.  Palmer built an obstacle course and "challenges" to get to the mummy.  Arrows also helped the giraffes know where to go.

 We finished up gelatin printing with Grace and Fletcher today (see their work towards the end of the slideshow).  This type of printing allows children to explore possibilities with negative space, backwards/forwards, and cause/effect.
Grace made a smiley face on her print and brought her friends over to see it.  Lane said, "It's adorable!  It looks like a pig!"  When Fletcher was printing, he saw the orange hearts showing through the thin paper and said, "Look, they glow!  Looks spooky."  Then he said, "I have planets that glow in my sister's bedroom, with no lightbulb."

Earlier this week, Grace was interested in building with small materials.  Today we divide the construction area into two spaces: one for smaller materials and one for big building.  While both Cannon and Wolf did some work on small buildings, eventually children were drawn to the bigger endeavors.  Each of the children spent time building this morning.  Initially, the buildings were rather separate, one or two children focused on their own ideas.   With time, there were connections formed between the structures, requiring collaboration and communication.  Here's a bit of some of the ideas shared while  building:
    Grace - We're making a lookout.  This is a telescope.
     Oliver - It's called a rescue tower.
     Grace - It's not even falling.
     Wolf - I'm very good at stable building.
     Fletcher - I'm working on a garage for my ice cream truck.
    Palmer - This is where my cars live with two gas pumps.  They have mechanics in case they break down.  My shop can also fix robots.
     Cannon - I'm adding a lookout tower to Gigi's building.
     Palmer - And I'll come, too.
     Gigi - I'm glad I have so many friends!
     Cannon - Did you know that Oliver built a secret tunnel?
     Palmer - The secret tunnel goes to the doll house.

Marguerite came for mystery reader today and shared several stories.  She read "The Night Gardener,"  "The Big Bed," "Are  You Ready to Play Outside,"  and a couple of Lane's favorite mermaid stories.   Thank you, Marguerite!

It was chilly outside today but we had lots of fun playing in the sand, observing  a lady bug, running races and playing hide-and-seek. 
Aida and Nora played with 2 foxes in the sand area. Here’s some of the dialogue:
Aida: Look at the food for the animals, it’s extra crunchy. I’m the animal restaurant.
Nora: Dinner and breakfast and breakfast are very good.
Aida: I want to rest, let’s go to our den. 
Nora: Ok, I’m gonna build my den.
Aida: I’ll build mine next to you.
Later…
Aida: Let’s pretend it’s their birthdays.
Nora: Ok.
Aida: It’s my birthday!
Nora: It’s my birthday too! Let’s make them a leaf cake.
Maren and Andy spent their time exploring rocks and sticks. Here’s some of the dialogue:
Maren: I need to see what it (a large rock) is. I need to see if it’s like a robot egg. A trick or something. 
Andy: It’s not a dinosaur egg. Because that would be so silly. If you want to see if it’s a dinosaur egg, you have to break it.
Maren: If this was a dinosaur egg… It’s really heavy like a T-Rex. 
Andy: It’s definitely not a dinosaur egg
Maren: Yeah, not a dinosaur egg. 
Andy: This looks like me and Maren are doing an experiment. And I love experiments!​

Maren found a ladybug in the sand. Observing it was lots of fun. The children had theories about her wellbeing:
Nora: Let’s put the ladybug on this leaf.
Maren: I can’t move the ladybug because I can’t touch her. That’s not how nature works.
Later…
Maren: The ladybug’s not moving. We should probably put her in the sun. She might be frozen.
Nora: We don’t want her to die.

Big Ideas on a Beautiful Backwards Day
We thoroughly enjoyed our time outside on this lovely day.  Children were digging for fossils, creating dangerous traps and secret passages, building a lion and eagle fortress, and hosting a dog birthday party.  By the end of our outside time, the playground was full of fierce lions.

Gelatin Prints
We introduced a new printing experience today…… gelatin printing.  At meeting we brought out unflavored gelatin.  Children had these reactions to this new material:
Lane - Ewwww.
Fletcher - It’s kind of smushy.
Grace - It’s freezing.
Lane - It’s so cold.  It’s jiggly.
Children used this gelatin printing plate to make mono prints using natural materials, found materials, and string. As they worked, the made the following observations:
Wolf - It’s really sticky.
Oliver - I’m doing it really gently so I don’t hurt the gelatin.  Just like when a mama chicken sits on her egg to keep it warm.
 Grace - Do you think my mom will love this?
 Lane - My mom is gonna have to love it.  You can call this “nature.”  Softly and carefully.
Fletcher - Look, Melanie! A pyramid! (Referring to a pyramid shape he made with circles.)  (He counts the circles.)  Ten!  Four plus three plus two plus one equals TEN!   

“Now this is what I call science!”      Fletcher.
We used the digital microscope to examine pollen, small branches, flowers, leaves and a geode that Cannon brought in.  Here’s some of the observations that we made:
Looking at a small stem:
    Palmer - There’s a lot of stems.
    Grace - It’s thorny.
Looking at Cannon’s Geode:
    Fletcher - It looks so pretty on the inside of the rock.  It looks like a diamond.
    Grace - It looks like a big boulder.
    Cannon - It looks like a crystal.
    Fletcher - It looks like a gem.
    Palmer - It looks like ice.
    Oliver - Sparkles!  It looks like jewels.  
    Fletcher - (Putting the stem on top of the geode)  It’s like a crystal tree branch island.  

SNAKE WATERCOLORS
Wolf has been telling his friends about the Puff Adder snake in Kenya.  Likewise,  Fletcher told us his Kindergarten has a snake named Noodles.  The children used watercolors to create their own snakes.
Palmer:  My snake is King Cobra.  My snake is spitting poisonous venom.
Cannon:  I'm adding as baby snake.  And a rat.  The baby snake is actually a monster.  They're all monster snakes.

1. Gigi and Lane make human figures

Gigi:  Lane, can you help me make the body?  His head fell off!  His legs are hard to put on.
Lane:  What you need to do is make it so these lines go away.  (pressing and smoothing creases)
Gigi:  I just keep finding so many lines.  ....The arms are repaired!
Lane:  You are a master!  You are a genius, Gigi!  I knew you would be good at this.

2.  Wolf and Grace build a "castle"

Grace:  I love clay.  Almost like play dough except you can keep it that way.
Wolf:  We're going to make the biggest castle.
Grace:  Ever!
Wolf:  That will be the bridge.
Grace:  Making the castle walls are hard.  Clump it 'til it's big.
Wolf:  I'm making this nice and flat.
Grace:  This can be a castle for my doll, right?  This can be where her throne sits.
Wolf:  How big is your doll?
Grace:  Probably yeigh big.  (uses hands to demonstrate)
(They both use rolling pins to flatten the castle floor)
Wolf:  Want to try this one?  It's faster.  (he offers to switch rolling pins and she accepts)
Grace:  Because I'm littler, and you're older.
Wolf:  We need a bridge to get to each other.

3. Fletcher makes a tunnel

"It's kind of like a jump rope."  (Using wire tool to cut clay in half)
"This is like a mountain in Alaska.  I saw a movie where Bigfoot went to Alaska to stop the bad oil company.  I'm going to make a huge boulder, because there's boulders in Alaska."
(He uses a wide, flat tool with a twisting motion to take out clay from the hole)
"If only we had a huge drill!"
(He uses the accumulation of scrap clay from the hole to create a "boulder")
"The boulder's getting really huge."

Sing Along
It was fun to lead sing along day! We chose a number of songs with motion since they are so much fun!

Kurt’s Gift: A Baby Yoda Book
We are so excited to be tasked with making an End of Year gift for Kurt. Because of Covid, the children haven’t seen Kurt/interacted with him as much this school compared to previous years. However, at dismissal the children have noticed a little Yoda figurine that he put in his office window. We decided to make a book about Yoda’s adventures at preschool. 
First the children brainstormed their ideas of what Yoda might do. Each child created at least 2 drawings for the storyboard. Afterward, we discussed the sequence of events and put the ideas in an order that would make sense based on our school day. Each child also had an authentic opportunity to try and sound out words to label their drawings. 

Tomorrow we are going to “borrow Yoda” under the guise of joining us for snack. But really the plan is to photograph Yoda having adventures at preschool. We think Kurt is going to love this End of Year gift when we give it to him next month.
​

Watercolor Fun
Yesterday we used watercolors to paint some lovely spring blossoms. Today we continued our work with watercolor and used spray bottles and droppers in addition to brushes

Outside
Today’s spring weather was AMAZING! The children played in the sandbox for the entire hour. Nora and Aida’s narrative was based around animals. Maren and Andy spent their time cooking.

(Afterward, at snack, we asked the children if they enjoyed the park today)

Cannon: It's the best.
Palmer:  I like playing with Oliver and Dakota, and the brownies.
Grace:   I liked playing with Lane, Gigi, Nora, and Maren.  And when Lane told us to, "Skip".
Lane:  Our show?
Grace. Yes.  And playing mighty pups.  And the brownies.  
Fletcher:  It was the best, amazingest day ever.
Palmer: Me and Wolf spinning so fast... We got dizzy.
Oliver:  Playing was the best time ever at Volta Park.  
Cannon: You know the worst thing ever?  That Dakota is leaving tomorrow.

We are so sad to have to say farewell to our good friend Dakota, who is going to switch schools starting Monday.  While it's hard to say goodbye, we know she'll be really happy being at school close to home, and alongside her brothers.

First was a visit from Nora's cousin, Tala (age 7), all the way from JAPAN!

Pod A
Other events from our day:  Huge towers in construction, and testing out a new style of printmaking!

Later in the day, Aida's mom Negar read books for Pod B.
After finishing Elephants Can't Dance we played a fun round of freeze dance.

After adding paint yesterday, The birdhouse needed just a few finishing touches.  Lane and Fletcher were up up for the job.
    Fletcher - How 'bout if we put a bird shape?  Or a bird symbol?
    Lane - We could make furniture.  We could attract them with food.
    Fletcher - (While drawing)  There we go.  Here's the beak.  Here's the body.  A really short beak.
     Lane - (While Fletcher and Melanie are trying to spy on her work)  Easy there people, it's a surprise.
    Fletcher - I'm just so excited.  How 'bout a welcome sign?  My head can almost fit in here,
     Lane - At the top of the tree is a little nest.  There's six little children (eggs).

Each of our kindergarten experts has mentioned that math is a big part of kindergarten.  The Tucker children are beginning to realize that they have done a lot of math without even realizing it.  Today we made dairy-free brownies to serve for Dakota's last day (tomorrow).  We talked about how measuring ingredients is a form of math.
    Fletcher - Like measuring people.
    Palmer - Cannon, I noticed that you are taller than Lane.
    Cannon - Yeah.
    Palmer - And me and Wolfie are the same.
    Grace - You measure water. Sometimes we measure blocks.
The group takes a moment to note how unit blocks can be used to measure other blocks.
 Jill - Did you know that you were doing math when you were building?
 Fletcher - I knew that I was using math when I was building.
 Grace - Now let's do brownie math!

Instead of a mystery reader, both pods watched a presentation of Wolf in Kenya shared by the Baillie family.   The children were so impressed with the slides that they asked to watch it a second time!  We saw images of many animals and many cousins, friends, and relatives.  We were thrilled to see that Santa arrived on a camel and that the children were able to paint the toenails of a hyrax.  Seeing early images of Wolf's head injury also made an impression on the children.  Thanks so much to the Baillie family for sharing this with us!  Lane probably spoke for the entire group when she said, "I wish I was there!"

It was all sand play this morning outside! Nora and Aida played with trucks first and later switched to animals. Maren, Dakota and Andy prepared and baked food for the animals. Here’s some snippets of the dialogue:

Aida: These dump trucks can be friends and a team, right Nora?
Nora: Let’s build a big pile.

Nora: Look, mine makes tracks.
Aida: Oh yeah, mine does too.​

Maren: Guys when it gets out of the oven can you please put it right here so I can cut it and feed it to the animals?
Dakota:  (To the animals) Are you guys eating? (To Maren) They sure look hungry.
Andy: I already put one in the oven.