November 09th, 2020

Birthday Committee work for Wilder and Jade 

To add Wilder and Jade's birthday colors to their messages we used underglazes, which is a special "paint" that can be used to add decorations to pottery.

For her birthday color, Jade chose BLUE.

Lily explained to Bea, who wasn't present for the first part of the birthday gift, what her and Wilder had created out of clay.

Lily: We made frog jumps. With Wilder. Yesterday.
Bea: It goes like jump, jump, jump. 

Bea then painted lakes, ponds, and little babies and Lily painted logs to sit on for the frogs. 

---

Cape continued his work on Wilder's birthday message and this time Jade joined the birthday committee as well. They used underglazes in different purple tones since Wilder chose purple as his birthday color. 

Jade: What are you doing?
Cape: I'm painting.
Jade: What are you painting?
Cape: A road.
Jade: I'm painting a monster.
Cape: I'm painting a monster's house.
Jade: Is that this monster's house? (pointing to her painting)
Cape: No.

​Cape: I like his birthday.
Ines: What do you think Wilder will say?
Cape: Great! I think he would say great work.

 I hope it didn't crack.
(expressing worries about the firing process) - Lily
​
While creating the thoughtful birthday messages we discussed the process of firing clay in the kiln. The kiln is a special oven to fire ("bake") clay. In that process the clay will go from the greenware stage (unfired clay pottery) to the bisque stage (after first firing). The clay can then get glazed and fired again -  then it is called glaze ware. If air bubbles are trapped inside the clay or it it didn't fully dry before the firing the clay sculptures can crack or break. Once the messages have fully dried ("bone dry" - dried clay, not cool to the touch anymore), they will be ready for the bisque firing in our kiln. 

​Did you know St. John's has their own kiln?
​We are very excited to use it for the first time soon. 
​

---

​We are starting to think and talk about Thanksgiving in the Brown Room ...

What is Thanksgiving?
​
Bea: It's like when you give stuff to people, like candy.
Lily: Having people over.
Bea: We are going to Poppy's house.
Daniel: Where is Poppy's house?
Bea: In Arizona.


What does it mean to care about someone?

Bea: You love them! ​

​

​
What are you thankful for?

​Bea: Sam and Ines. Because I just love you guys.
Lily: Daddy.
Bea: I want to thank daddy. Because I love him. he hugs me. And he puts me upside down.
Finlay: For my mom. Because her get all my toys. Also surprises.
Remy: Elle, my Elle.
Hugh: For my dad and for my mom. because they bring special toys.
Cate: For mama. She gave me Didi.

We will continue to work on our Thankful Tree in the classroom and we will soon start to add our personal "thank you" notes to it. 

So far we read the following books together: 

"I am Thankful" by Suzy Capozzi
​
"Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - Thank You Day" by Farrah McDoogle

and

"Splat says Thank You!" by Rob Scotton.

If you have any favorite books about Thanksgiving or "being thankful" and would like to share them with us, we would love that! Just send us an email or bring them in during drop-off or pick-up. 

---

---

On our way to the Chapel of the Carpenter for dismissal Finlay noticed a big box. When we opened it to see what's inside we found....

BUBBLEWRAP 

Oh what a FUN-tastic way to end a wonderful Tuesday together!