Gem Shadows, Wire Shapes

Light and Shadow Exploration, Continued...

A small group of Brown Room children met in Blake Hall today to continue their research into light and shadow using the projector and some translucent materials.  These "gems" were placed on the projector by Maren. Evelyn and Cannon stood in front of the light and realized that the gems were on their clothes!  "There's gems on me," said Evelyn.  

When Gigi joined, she pointed out the gems on her kitty.

Some children like to watch the projector turn on and off.  As this happened, Gigi said, "The conductor's turning off when you turn it on."  Evelyn noticed that when the projector turned off, her clothes had gone back to normal and she said, "Where's the gems?"

​Maren was very interested in the movement of the gems.  She placed all of the gems from the basket onto the projector's surface.  Then, when we realized we had other materials to try, she said, "I'm taking these off."  Finally she said, "We're ready!"

The second group (Fletcher, Alexandra, and Grace) also began with the gems.  We studied how big the gems became on the wall.

In both small groups, people were inspired to draw on the papers available on the floor.  As Cannon traced one of the gems, he made a circular shape, then commented, "I made a whale!"

When Grace saw the shadows, she remembered her previous small group work in Blake Hall. "A couple of weeks ago, my shadow wouldn't stay," she said.

​Grace said as she took a crayon, "I'm gonna draw a pink witch.

In the video below, you can see the joy we felt as we chased this "moon" spotlight around the room.   Alexandra, Grace and Fletcher giggled as they talked to this moon.  As you may know, joy is one of the four values at our school... We as teachers make it our mission to document moments of joy among the children.

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​"Come back!" - Fletcher

"Come back little moon. Come back here.  Where are you?" - Alexandra

Explorations in Wire
(Stories from Yesterday and Today)

Our first forays into wire have prompted the children to apply different techniques and strategies.  Here, Gigi uses the wire to help Pink Flamingo, who has an injured leg.  Lane uses a plastic tool to wrap the wire around in circles, making a spiral shape, which she then places down.  Maren tests the strength of the wire, watching it bounce back numerous times.

Today's group was provided with styrofoam platforms that the wire could puncture, making a tall sculpture.

Alexandra pulled the wire all the way through the platform.  "Look!! It come through!" she said.

Alexandra then made a wire "family".

​Alexandra: Look! That’s my whole family
Brooke: It is? Can you show me the people in the family?
A: This is me and this is mama and this is papa.
B: Where’s your sister, where’s Lala?
A: Gone back home.

Fletcher and Brooke work together: she holds the sticks while he wraps the wire.

​Talking on the phone with Rainey Room children...

Emilia: "I want you to come to our house someday!"

**Many thanks to Gigi for bringing her ukulele and leading us in a couple songs at the end of our classroom time!**

Thanks also to Lane for bringing in this monster book... we love looking at the pages.