Welcome back!

Yesterday, we welcomed the children back to school, and we will continue to welcome everyone back over the next few days.  We took some time to check in with each other, get a few hugs, and share some memories from our breaks. It sounds like everyone was busy and happy.  Some of the children took time to draw and watercolor while they chatted about memories of Santa, La Befana (an Italian tradition), Disney World, and more.  

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"If you put it on top, it changes." - Lochie

"Look! Look what's happening." - Lochie
"Look at the screen, Lochie." - Giacomo
"Look what it's doing." - C.C.

There has been an increasing interest in light and shadow in the Brown Room.  Before the holiday break, we revisited the shadow screen in new ways (animal projections), discovered the moon in our classroom (spotlight), and shadows with shapes and flashlights.  The children had been asking questions (both verbal and non-verbal) about the creation of the shadow, manipulation of the light source, and how they could move their bodies with the light.  

In an attempt to help them explore their hypotheses, answer their questions, and discover new materials/concepts, we offered the overhead projector, shadow screen, and a variety of materials.  Some of the additional materials were familiar, while others were novel. The children had been experimenting with constructing towers and pathways in front of the screen, so we provided blocks, animals, and other building materials.  Closer to the projector, there were baskets of transparent and translucent materials.  Closer to the screen, there were some reflective materials.

"It's gone [light]. It can't get out." - Lochie

Each group experimented with different concepts.  The first (Lochie, Giacomo, C.C., and Jack), primarily experimented with the light source.  They moved the head of the projector many times, and found great joy in finding the projection on the ceiling.  They also covered the base with many, many materials, which they proclaimed to be a "rainbow", which made the light disappear.  

"It's hair. Why is there hair?" - Violet

The second group (Cedar, Violet, and Maxon) concentrated   on the orientation of the light, the shapes and sizes of their shadows, and the reflective materials.  Again, their actions seemed to demonstrate their working theories about how the overhead projector works, the creation and size of a shadow, which side of the screen allows them to create a shadow, how things project onto their bodies (photo to the left), and much more.  

In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to explore all of their theories, create new hypotheses, and continue to layer our work with light, shadow, projection, etc.  

If they share any reflections or insights with you at home, please feel free to send them to us in an email, or share them at drop-off.  We would love an additional information about how they are processing and enjoying the experimentation with light.