Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Pod A

Happy Persian New Year!!!

Today Aida's parents, Negar and Adam, joined us to celebrate Norouz, or Persian New Year!  They sent in some special items so that we could prepare a tray called the Haftseen, with special items:  A book of poetry, garlic, an apple, wild olives, an egg, a hyacinth, gold coins, Sabzeh, and vinegar.  Each child put one item onto the tray and Negar explained the importance and symbolism for each one.

Negar showed us photos of her as a young child, growing up in California, celebrating Norouz with her family.  Then we saw pictures of teeny tiny baby Aida celebrating her first Norouz.  Negar explained how the New Year signals the Vernal Equinox, a time when the hours of daylight are equal to the nighttime hours.  "Every day, the hours of daylight are growing.... Every spring, there's new life," she said.  Traditionally, it's a time to clean the house, get new clothes, visit your relatives, eat special soup, and celebrate.

After we read a book about Norouz with Negar and Adam, we began preparing our egg dyeing materials as part of the Persian New Year tradition.  We used panty-hose as a way to secure cilantro leaves to the side of the eggs which will create a leaf print on the egg as it sits in the dye.   Blue, red, and yellow dye will be created from cabbage, beets, onion skins, and turmeric.  Some of the dialogue as we worked:
​
Dakota: Who can help me hold this?
Aida:  You got it?  Yeah, that's it, totally!
Dakota: (Setting her egg in the cabbages) Sooo gently.  Like this.
Olivia:  The cabbages are really hard.  Why do I have to put the eggs in here?
Dakota:  Because you have to put them in there so they get color on them, and they cook.
Maren:  I like this leaf shape.  How is it going to stick?
Grace:  What color are they going to turn?  Get one out of the bowl, let's do it.  Can you hold this?  When you drop it in, you have to be really gentle.
Maren:  This isn't sticking.  Maybe I need a new egg.  That's probably the best solution.
Oliver:  I got mine really wet so it can stick, stick, stick, stick.  I think it's going to work.
Andy:  My whole egg is green.

We had tons of fun playing hide-and-seek outside, and playing on an obstacle course in Blake Hall!  We were so lucky to have Jennie as our sub today!

Pod B

The Shadow Screen in Blake Hall

Last week, Pod B thought about some experiences that they would like to have before Spring Break.  There was a lot of enthusiasm for using the shadow screen.   We took the screen, our blocks, the projectors, and some animals to Blake Hall.  Using the projector, our various monsters and creatures became larger than life on the screen.  Children invented scenarios in which the projected creatures interacting with the physical animals.  

Pizza!

Another idea that came up last week was making pizza for snack.  We did it today, and the entire class enjoyed it.
   Palmer - You don't become a ninja turtle just by eating pizza.
   Lane - But I think I will feel like a ninja turtle because I eat so much pizza.
   Nora - I make pizza every movie night.  Me and Ramsey love the olives.

The Water Park

Although it was cloudy, it wasn't as cold outside today.  The children enjoyed their full hour outside, and found many ways to collaborate.  One of their big ideas was building a water park with the tubes.  We may return to this idea after Spring Break, when it's warm enough to include water!

Thank you, Jennie and Maria!

We have missed Rachel while she is away attending her brother's wedding!  We have been fortunate enough to have Jennie (Friday and Monday)  and Maria (today) working with us.  We will have Maria tomorrow as well.  Thank so much, ladies!