New to our posts: children will be referred to by their first initial. This will hopefully provide a little more detail as well as keeping the children's identities secure.
Tuesday morning brought us all together again, in an imaginary car. We took a trip around town to various places; each child took turns driving and chose a couple destinations. First to drive was S, who stopped at the library and picked up a book for each child (distributing them from our book basket) and then headed to Por Que No, where she picked up burritos (blocks) for one and all. Then T drove for a bit; we stopped for a dog show and then a cat show before the car ran into some problems: we needed gas (lucky we had a gas can!) and then a trip to the mechanic, who also happened to be the driver. Finally, J had his turn and we ended up at the zoo.
This has been a week for group activities. We gathered around a big piece of paper on the table; using spoons to drop paint on the paper, we then ran our cars through it, their wheels making tracks all over the paper. This was great for watching how the colors change when they are worked into each other, and noticing that the spoons could also be used to make designs in the paint.
We have also been discussing the word "collage". I think it's important for the children to know that this mix-up of materials has a special name, because so much of their work is based in collage-type creation and it's just nice to have a word handy when describing one's work. This week, we had three different collage experiences.
First, we discussed the idea of collage at our Morning Gathering on Wednesday. I'd brought to our circle a large piece of sticky paper and precut pieces of various papers. The children put this together, but T was confused because the group piece didn't have his name on it anywhere. I suggested doing another and the kids jumped on the idea. This time, they wrote their names on little squares of paper and cut all the paper to their own liking. We used ribbons, bread bag tabs, mulberry paper and sequins. The difference between the two collages was remarkable--left to their own devices, the children created something far more artistic in both balance and placement of the materials. V used long pieces of curling ribbon to create striking lines; S distributed the bread bag tabs and sequins with some thought. All of the children added bits and pieces; the result is hanging in our back window, catching the light.
Our last collage was done on Thursday. We used our car painting paper and practiced using the little glue bottles. We had beads, buttons, little puff balls, sequins and macaroni to stick on. The glue flowed thick and fast and our paper was soon covered with objects.
Wednesday, too, found us working together. Last week we made our "hand flowers"- hand tracings which the children decorated and then cut out. We dipped paper leaves and the hand flowers into little dishes of glue, and then stuck them on a large paper tree. Colorful, the tree now hangs in our library area and the children can tell their hands from their friends'.
On Thursday morning, we had such a rambunctious group that we needed a neighborhood walk to get our wiggles out. S, V, and J first ventured out to the front yard to explore. We sniffed the spicy scent of the native currants, tasted the rosemary flowers (great for salads, by the way), parsley and tarragon, and smelled the strong lemony Melissa (lemon balm) before gathering up fallen camellias and walking around the block. After our tasting, V asked a lot of questions regarding which plants were edible and which weren't, and it's always great when our kids ask before putting something into their mouths. We collected more flowers on our walk as well as some pricklies, the sweet gum pods we find everywhere in our neighborhood. These materials were used outside later to make a rainwater 'soup' of petals, pinecones and pricklies. V and S stirred the soup from afar with long branches of the currant, then pretended the branches were fishing poles, sticking out of the gate. "I caught a flounder!" exclaimed S.
Other moments this week:
Cutting fabric scraps with S, T and J. "I'm going to save these for my mommy" said T, before loading up an envelope with pieces of cloth.
Snugglebunnies! V and J playing bedtime on the rug with pillows and blankets. Such giggling!
Sandpaper and chalk were introduced outdoors. The sandpaper was actually paired with pieces of wood, but the children were far more interested in making the chalk into fairy dust by scrubbing it onto the sandpaper. They've also decorated parts of the fence, the children's house, the sandbox and the cedar rounds...we have a very colorful backyard!
T and J using ramps, rolling down wooden animals as well as the wooden play food and nuts.
S explaining the windsock, and how it works, to T.
A quiet moment: V reading The Three Bears (Paul Galdone's book) to T while J and S worked together to build the silo of the big barn puzzle in the other room.
V and S playing bus ride. "We are going to the zoo" announced S; then she and V were peering under the kitchen table, in another world. "See the chickens in there?" V asked.
J making 'pretzels' in the sandbox as S walked over a piece of wood which lay over a 'valley'. S:"I'm standing on a bridge!"
As usual, we'll see you next Tuesday for another busy, fun week.
