February 23rd, 2021

Pod B

The Pajama Project:  Patterns and Planning
Pod B started the day by thinking about the pajama project.  We looked at the pajama and fabric samples that are on display in our hallway.  This group has become pattern experts and soon recognized patterns in the fabric.
    Palmer - I notice cement mixer, backhoe loader,  crane truck, dump truck, cement mixer (repeats pattern).
   Lane - I’m going to do a pattern of purple and blue.
   Nora - I’m going to do pink, purple, blue, pink, purple, blue.  Pink unicorn, purple unicorn, blue unicorn.
   Palmer - I’m doing trucks, trains, blue, yellow, green.
   Gigi - I’m sticking with cheetahs.
Children went on to draw their pajama ideas.  Cannon’s pajamas were being worn by a Medusa with a tail.  Currently the children are thinking of individual ideas.  We will move on to more collaboration in the coming weeks.

FOMO-Based Experience
Every now and then, Pod B will look into Pod A and declare, “No fair!”  Sometimes it can be as simple as the fact that the snack looks better through the glass.  About two weeks ago, Pod B was very intrigued by a light table monster environment that they saw through the glass doors.  We decided to try it ourselves.  The work began on Monday when Nora began to create “Dino-land” on two light tables.  She connected the two areas with a bridge.  One area was dedicated to eating and sleeping.
    Nora - They love eating crystals.  They’re their favorite.  We need two water bottles.  They love the leaves.  They (the leaves) are their beds.  If any animal comes, they can lie on the bed.  There’s hot beds and light beds.  
   Cannon - (Joining Nora and bringing along his ninja turtle)  Is there a bed for Ninja turtle?  
    Nora - Yes, of course. (Palmer joins with some larger dinosaurs.) We’ll need bigger beds for bigger dinos.  (She gets one fabric for the beds.)
    Palmer - (With a piece of blue fabric)  That’s how I make a waterfall.
    Nora - The red gems are the pizza gems.  
    Cannon - For my ninja turtle.
    Palmer - And for my dinosaurs.
    Cannon - Can I have some pizza gems?
    Nora - Sure!
    Palmer - This Dino-land is the coolest.  
    Nora - I just built it because you guys love dinosaurs.  
    Palmer - We’re using cool materials.

There was building throughout the classroom.  Lane and Gigi worked on an oval mirror to create “Reflection Land.”  This led Lane to observe, “Reflection has more color than shadow.  Shadow is just black.”  The Reflection Land later became “Happy Land.”  Before joining Nora in Dino-land, Palmer and Cannon built tall to make “New York Skyscraper World."   After snack today, children returned to their various construction projects.

Here Comes the Sun!
Pod B had a great time outside today.  Animal enclosures were popular there as well.  Some of the animals even went skating.   We can’t wait for it to be 60 degrees tomorrow.

Pod A

The Rainbow Planets Mobile

Since last week, the children have been working as a team to create a mobile that incorporates rainbow colors and spheres.  Last week, when we discussed the plan to make each sphere one color of the rainbow, children began to associate each ball with a planet.   Fletcher said that when the two halves of the ornament connect, "They make a planet.  A huge planet.  Jupiter! Because it's so huge."  As we kept talking at meeting, Dakota commented, "Saturn is my dad's favorite moon."   Aida said, "There's already a red planet.  It's Mars!"

Children took turns using mod podge and tissue paper to transform the plastic spheres.  Aida said, "I'm making Neptune."  Andy commented that "Venus has so many tornadoes".  Dakota said, "What if we're pretending to make real moons and we're artists?"  Oliver said "[These are] real planets, but small."

When Fletcher volunteered to mod Podge the yellow planet, he said right away, "I'll do the sun.  It has to be bigger than Jupiter."  We searched the Tucker Closet for a larger sphere and ended up using an old styrofoam hat-stand mannequin/head.  Together, he and Grace covered the sun completely in yellow materials.  Fletcher said, "It looks like the sun is shining bright."  

​Later, Fletcher had another awesome idea.  He put together a green half-sphere and a blue half and said, "If we put these together we'll make planet Earth."  He identified some white glue inside, saying "This part is the fog.  Pennsylvania is very foggy."

Hot glue has been used to connect the planets together.  Today we incorporated paint, gel medium, wire, and some other 3D collage materials as we continue to decorate and enhance each "planet".  Some planets have "rings" like Saturn.  The children are very excited to hang them up soon, potentially tomorrow.

Brainstorming about Pajamas 
Children looked at Lou Lou Baker's pajama designs on display in the hallway.  Then they began to draw initial ideas of what  could included on St. John's pajamas.  We are still working with children to understand that the pajamas will be a school-wide collaboration.

Getting Familiar with Compasses

Children have been working in pairs to try and deduce the functions of a compass.  Some have guessed that it works like a clock, while others have some familiarity of directions like "North" and "South".  We're planning to delve deeper into this compass work in the coming days.