Messages, Dragons, and oil!

“I’m already at St. John’s because you are my classroom.” - Saul, 3.9 years

I remember, at the beginning of this year, believing that we needed to name our classroom, quickly find an identity, and always ensure that we were connected to the life of the school on campus (which is still important), etc.  We did find a name, but we really didn't use it, and our cohort has changed as we've had friends come in and out of the virtual space. We love and adore these friends, and we miss them terribly once they return to their on campus cohort, and we've done our best to remain connected to our on-campus friends.  However, despite the  distance and ever changing circumstances of our classroom, Saul and I have found a home in each other.  I am his classroom and he is mine!  

The unusual nature of this school year has lead to some confusion about the structure of St. John's (Brown Room >> Rainey Room >> Tucker Room) because it's an abstract concept at the moment, but today was a beautiful reminder that this does not matter; not right now.  While we will move on to our separate on-campus classrooms next year, for now, we are together, and we are still St. John's.  

Next year when you’re in the Rainey Room, there are going to be new friends in the Brown Room. So, every year we send the new Brown Room children some messages. - Elyse
“I’m making a sunrise. That sunrise doesn’t burn you. It doesn’t burn your tongue because it’s a sun that is cold. It’s so cold you can’t even imagine how cold it is.” - Saul 
​
I’m going to share my screen to show you the photos of the new Brown Room children that are coming to St. John’s. - Elyse
“St. John’s?” - Saul 
These are their photos. - Elyse
“Look! Look guys! There’s somebody [Charlton] inside of the beach.  I’m making a picture for them.” - Saul

Riva joined us to make some messages.

You know, Riva went to St. John’s one time too, so she would be a great person to help us make message. - Elyse
“She went to my St. John’s? She went to my St. John’s? It was a long time ago, and she stayed there?” - Saul 
Maybe you should ask Riva about it? - Elyse
“Riva, you can’t go to my St. John’s. That’s mine.” - Saul 
“But I already did.” - Riva
“But you can’t go again.” - Saul 
I think Riva goes to a different school now. - Elyse
“Yeah, that’s her school. Now it’s[St. John's] mine.” - Saul 
She used to go to St. John’s a long time ago, and now it’s your turn to go to St. John’s. - Elyse
“I’m already at St. John’s because you are my classroom.” - Saul 
Yes! We are.  We’re our own classroom at St. John’s.  Next year you’ll get to be in the Rainey Room at St. John’s, and there will be new friends in the Brown Room. - Elyse
“But the Brown Room, does it have a brown color?” - Saul 
I think there are brown things in the BR, but the name is somebody’s last name.  Like your last name is Miller, they used that person’s last name for the classroom. 
“They named the room Brown?” - Saul 
They did.  So we have the Brown Room, then Rainey Room, and your last year at St. John’s is called the Tucker Room. - Elyse
“The Tucker Room! The Tucker Room has so many hugs and kisses!” - Saul 
I think all of the classrooms could have hugs and kisses if that’s what you want.  - Elyse
“But the Tucker Room has all of the hugs and kisses, don’t you think?” - Saul
I’m sure if you ask one of your friends for a hug, they would give you a hug; or you can ask Sam and Ines. - Elyse
“Sam and Ines are not here.  They’re wearing the [dragon] costume.” - Saul 

Saul added watercolors first.

Next he added oil pastels.

Saul suggested that we use the side of our oil pastels.

“I’m sticking it! I’m really sticking it [watercolors to oil pastels]. - Saul 
Is it working? Is it sticking to the oil pastel? - Elyse
“It’s really sticking! Look!” - Saul 
How did you get it to stick? Oh, maybe it’s mixing? - Elyse

​“I think I”m making a new color out of watercolors and oil pastels.” - Saul



“I can even draw with my hand! Try to do that!” - Saul

“Oil pastels are types of colors that are types of crayons that have so many different colors, but the longer crayons are called pens.  These are more little. Oil pastels are a type of crayon that we can take off the paper of it.” - Saul

Oil and Water Experiment

This week, Saul and I both observed that it is not easy to mix watercolors and oil pastels.  The oil pastels resist the watercolors when they are on the paper together.  So, it seemed natural that we do another experiment (something Saul seems to really enjoy).  We've done vinegar and baking soda (our volcano), cornstarch and water, and today was oil and water.  

Saul hypothesized that it would erupt, but in the end, we had a different experience. 

Do you see what I have in my hands? 
“Oil!” - Saul 
And what do you think might be in here? 
“Vinegar!” - Saul

It’s not vinegar, but it does look like vinegar! What else could it be? - Elyse
“I don’t know. Help me.” - Saul 
What is something I could drink?  - Elyse
“Water!” - Saul 

 Yes! And I’m wondering, if we can mix them together?  - Elyse
“We can do that together and we will make it erupt” - Saul
​“Whoa! It gets yellow!” - Saul

“I smell the smell of it.  The nice big smell.” - Saul
“I’m mixing it. I’m trying to get the oil pastel out of the oil. I”m turning it into an oil pastel color. I’m trying to make it more easier to mix.” - Saul

“Whao! That’s so cool!” - Saul

Dragon Costume Update

I have to show you!  They sewed your dragon scale onto the costume! Do you remember the dragon scale that you made?  -Elyse
“They’re wearing it. They want my scale to put on. Oh, I see, I think there are more scales to put on. I don’t have any dragon scales yet.” - Saul 
Do you remember bringing your dragon scale to the park? - Elyse
“I kind of don’t remember that  again.  Our scale was different than yours.” - Saul

First I want to remind you of the day that you and I worked on the scale. Do you see you? I’m going to read your words.  - Elyse
“Guys! There’s more words! But there’s more words anyways! But can you read some more words? There are more words [on the blog]!” - Saul 
​Here is your scale.  Do you see your scale? “Is that you?” - Saul 
No, this is Remy.  Do you remember Remy? - Elyse
“What does she have on there? What is the black thing?” - Saul 
It says that she was sewing your scale to the costume. - Elyse

Now your dragon scale is on the dragon costume. - Elyse
“Is that the noise of it?’- Saul 
That was the noise of the sewing machine. - Elyse
“It’s a weird noise.” - Saul 

“Why did she took it without asking?” - Saul 
Remember asked and you brought it to the park, and I took it to school.  - Elyse

This is the whole costume. Can you find your scale? - Elyse
“Right there, but there are more scales. See?” - Saul 
Every friend in the Brown Room has a scale on the dragon costume. 
“But then it’s more bigger it’s huger than the first one.” - Saul ​

Do you know what this might be?  - Elyse
“I don’t know.” - Saul 
This is the head of the dragon costume.  There is some fire.  These orange and red pieces are fire. The blue makes blue dragon eyes.  They used something called paper mache to make it. - Elyse