We have the most wonderfully cohesive, loving group of children.  They know each other so well, and have truly embraced the process of birthday committees.  Just before our FaceTime interview with Lucia, her friends shared a few ideas and things that they already knew about her: 

"Lucia likes kitties and pink." - Audrey, 5.2 years
"Maybe she likes dolphins because that's her symbol." - Nora, 5.8 years

Sylvie, Audrey, and Nora each took time to draw their thoughts and ideas. In the end, they all agreed on Sylvie's plan for a mobile that included some of Lucia's favorite things. Sylvie asked to add color later on, so that she could "add more detail". 

The committee had such a solid plan, that it only took us one meeting to make it ALL happen! They designed and shaped clay pieces, made hand-sewn books, and collaged on transparency paper with loose puzzle pieces. Later, the girls decided that the confetti should be created using the "confetti string" that we found in Tucker Closet! 

Truly, the longest part of our process was waiting for the clay to dry and be fired! They were SO excited to see it out of the kiln! 

When Violet stepped away, with the promise that she wouldn't "peek", the children immediately began brainstorming how to use Violet's answers to create the perfect gift just for her. 

"Oh, I know! We can make a garden!" - Elle, 5.4 years

Elle's suggestion was met with a lot of enthusiasm: 
"Are you all up to the challenge?" - Elyse 
"I'M UP!" - ALL

As we sat down to brainstorm what Violet's paper garden might look like, the children began to imagine the kind of flowers they might create or where the trees might be found. Sitting down to draw is always a great way to share ideas with each other, begin to visualize their thoughts, and they inform our 3D work. 

Throughout their time at St. John's, and in life, the children build a repertoire of skills, materials knowledge, languages, and shared ideas. When the committee gathered to think about a garden, they instantly began to employ knowledge and techniques for paper that we have previously learned and used.  

For both Janie's birthday gift, and our stop-motion "Rat world", they've referenced an artifact left behind from a previous Tucker Class who also made paper grass [as seen in the left hand photo]. By looking at this former Tucker Room work, we discovered that there are many ways to represent grass by curling paper, cutting it, bending it, and even using wire. 

They measured out the size of the rectangle that they would need so that it would cover the whole cardboard base that would support the garden. They counted inches and centimeters, and Elle decided that she liked centimeters best because "they are smaller". 

The children were thoughtful about the arrangement that they were creating in the garden. They were careful not to "block things" and they wanted to spread out the flowers so that the whoooole garden would have some. 

With all of their thoughtful additions, the garden was complete. 

Violet's family came to celebrate today! For snack we had cake pops and some special "unicorn lemonade" (Butterfly pea powder tea mixed with lemonade).  When the lemonade mixes with the blue tea, it turns pink! Very magical! 

After snack, Violet's mom and dad joined us to shared a beautiful photo book of Violet's 5 years! They also shared a book that has ALL of our symbols in it! How fun and special! 

Happy birthday Violet! We love you very much! 

A very happy birthday to Audrey! Sarah and Dan shared three years of video memories and a well-loved book. This was followed by presenting Audrey with her special birthday gift, thoughtfully created by many children who participated in the making of it. Lochie, Nora, and Reed were primarily behind the idea of a creating a "tablet" as Nora put it, which if we know Audrey, we know that the digital language comes naturally to her. So the gift idea of making her an iPad/laptop/tablet just made sense. Inspired by a sparkly blue box, Nora proposed the idea, Lochie supported it, and Reed added to it by suggesting the accordion folded paper for the keys on the keyboard. 

As we were wrapping up the work on our clay rat tunnels, Giacomo suggested that we needed "a real turn" in the tunnel. After studying the clay slabs he had rolled out and cut, he shared that he did not know how it would work; how would the clay roll and twist into a turn (curved piece).  After a few attempts, we collected the curved pipe from the white area. Giacomo initially added that to the tunnels and proclaimed it to be finished! Not so fast though, it needed to be made out of clay in order to complete our clay tunnels, which will remain here at St. John's! At this point, I reminded him of our new paper armature technique, and this created a spark within him. He was enthusiastic and immediately set to work. 

Today, at the beginning of morning meeting, Melanie read a book called Ish by Peter Reynolds. It's about a boy who loves to draw and gets frustrated with his work. The children began having a conversation about how they love to draw, and what they love to draw. The first answer we heard when we asked, "What do you love to draw?" was, not surprisingly, "RATS!" This comment sparked a conversation about what kind of rats they love to draw.  

We heard: 
1. Unicorn Rats
2. Mermaid Rats
3. Banana Rats (revisiting Janie's idea from February)
4. Cherry, Kiwi, and Watermelon rats
5. Mermaid Unicorn Rats 

Naturally, we shifted our plans for the morning and invited the children to the low table to draw these ideas! 

Below you will see some of the things we just discussed with you at classroom stories: the imaginative/mythological nature of the rats, drafts of their drawings, versions of rats (particularly on the same page), and the contamination of ideas! 

CC and Audrey were sitting next to each other at the low table. You can see the contamination of ideas and even similar drawing styles. They also seemed to draw from our previous work and conversations by adding the stars and constellations.

Below, you can see Elle's drafts for her Mermaid Rat

Brown Room has been making plaster collage messages for the new, incoming children. Today, a few of the Tucker Room children were invited into the atelier to learn the process from the Brown Room who have become experts. 

The children were eager for an update on Monday morning, and concerned that the landscapers weren't there right away. They did eventually come, and they brought a mini excavator with them! The excitement was HIGH! When the Rainey Room came outside, we were still watching the work, so they decided to join us! It really can be the little things in life that bring us great joy! 

Our birthday committees have been so beautiful and lengthy this year! We appreciate everyone's patience as we take the time to give thought and time to these gifts.  We will certainly be celebrating everyone before the end of the year!