Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Pod A Starts with Backwards Day!

Dakota, Oliver and Andy spent most of their time building an Audi SUV on the play structure. They added pool noodles (which they call van tudors) as seatbelts. Later, when Maren and Grace joined, Grace immediately got into character by asking her mom, Dakota, “How long until we get there?”
Fletcher independently made a volcano out of sand, and pretended it was erupting with chocolate.  He got his classmates involved in the calamity that ensued!
Fletcher: All the lava will pour into here! Drink it! We just have to wait until more chocolate.  
Aida: this is a cake for hop’s birthday.  It’s chocolate and vanilla.
Fletcher: Aida saved the day.  She poured all the chocolate into a hole.  I saved the day. I smashed the volcano and all the chocolate. It’s a chocolate flood!!!!!! Get into the mushroom fort.
Aida: I ate up all the chocolate!
Fletcher: It’s 200,000 chocolate.  How ‘bout we just eat it all? 
Dakota: could we come to your chocolate store?
Fletcher: the factory’s out of control. There’s an off switch.  I’ll turn it off. But we have to eat all the chocolate.
Andy: We can eat chocolate! Yum!
​Dakota: there’s chocolate everywhere in the ground. 
Aida: I already tried some.  Nobody should eat it bc it’s hot.  It’s as hot as blue fire.
Maren: Blue fire is even hotter than red fire.

Collaborative Construction

Here is a snippet of conversation from the collaborative work in construction today.
Aida: We’re making Hop Hop’s new house.
Dakota:  Hop Hop can come over here because there’s a car for me and him.
Aida: Look Dakota.
Dakota:  Cool.
Aida:  Thanks.  Does your giraffe need a blanket for his bed?
Dakota:  He has something fluffy in there.  See?
Aida:  My bun bun is sleeping.  This is the sand box.  There’s buried treasure.
Dakota:  I’ll make some food now.  I’m going to the kitchen.
Aida:  What time is it?
Dakota:  It’s time for dinner.
Aida:  I’ll make the apple juice.  
Dakota:  I’m making two eggs.
Aida:  My car has a flat tire.  I found a old pumper.
Dakota:  One of my wheels fell off.
Aida:  Here’s a bed for giraffe.  I’ll be the alarm clock.  When I make the sound of an alarm clock, that means it’s time to wake up.  Rrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnggg!

Lily as Mystery Reader

Mare’s sister, Lily, is already a great reader in 1st grade.  On her call with us today, Lily was kind enough to describe her experience in kindergarten.  She said there was, “A lot of writing and learning how to read. In science we learned about plants and dinosaurs.”

Miscellaneous and Marvelous

In the slideshow below, you can find:

• Continued brainstorming about redecorating our class’s mobile, taking inspiration from the chandelier in the greeting hallway.  Oliver and Fletcher had the idea to use “gold string and gold beads” to make it beautiful, while Maren and Grace had their sights set on a series of rainbow-colored lightbulbs to bring more light into the Tucker Room.
• Sharing and reflecting on our recent map drawings during snack time
• Finishing up Cannon’s birthday committee

Pod B

Clay and Conversation

Children added clear glaze to their personal clay pieces and the clay numbers that they have made.   While working, the children talked about the upcoming pajama day:
   Which are your favorite pajamas?
   Nora - You know what my pajamas ?  Pink and white stripes.  You're going to love my pajamas when Lane sees them.  she has the same ones.
    Why do you love your pajamas?
    Gigi - 'Cause they're cozy.
    Nora - I love wearing my pajamas everyday because they're so beautiful.
    Cannon - I'm getting minotaur pajamas for my birthday.
    What kind of pajamas can you imagine?
     Nora - I can imagine unicorn pajamas!
     Cannon - I can imagine minotaur pajamas!  With horns!
     Gigi - Cheetah pajamas, because they're my favorite animal.
     Lane - Cat pajamas.  A cat nightgown.  And it has to be cozy.
     What would "St, John's" pajamas look like?  What kind of designs would they have?
     Lane - It could have the same symbol as on our St. John's bags, and the same writing.   Or it could have a picture of the school.
       Nora - The symbol is stars.  That's what my dad told me.  That stars are the symbol of Georgetown.

Portfolio Review

Lane went through the items in her portfolio drawer this morning.  As a veteran to this process, she quickly categorized her work.  One of her first categories was "watercolors."  She then came across a multi-media pieces that included watercolors.  Carefully considering it, she said, "These are my favorites.  I'm going to put them in a different pile."  Other extra-special creations also made it into the "favorite" category.   This pile became the first pocket in her Tucker portfolio.
Lane also recalled the influence of her classroom community in her work.  As she viewed a ballerina drawing she said, "These are my ballerinas -- Gigi inspired me."

Mystery Reader!

As the children gathered for mystery reader today, there was great speculation about which parent might show up.  They were surprised and delighted when M. came on the screen!  She read the very timely "Little Blue Truck's Valentines," which was thoroughly enjoyed by our Pod.  Thanks so much, M!