In addition to using puppets to tell stories and making our own books, we have been talking about sending messages to others. We can use our symbols to "address" messages and sign them.

And, even "chalk rocks" can be used to write.

We have a new resident in our classroom--A magic mouse, who, it seems might also like to write messages given the "offerings" the children left for him. We read Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni and it gave me the idea to try to sculpt a mouse out of clay with the children. That lead to the secret mouse door...and beyond! Who knows what will be waiting for us when we return on Monday. Some of the children think the mouse may leave us a message, or even build something with blocks. Who knows?

Alphabet City? No, New York City!

Okay, this is just a teaser. You should take a moment and check out the pictures we have in the room and see the little city they have created. ..complete with high rises and the Statue of Liberty...but no smog!

What's In a Name?

This morning during sign-in, a group at the art studio table decided it was time for the animals to have nametags (and symbols, like we have). First we just labeled the animals, and that gave way to more distinct names. 'Bugsy', the gazelle, 'Sweetie Belle' the giraffe, and so on. The same group revisited the table during work time to make little tents and beds for the animals. Koala Lou listens to a story.
Instead of paper on the table, why not under it?

Jumping cars ...through a ring of fire? This later gave way to a super hero boat. Zachary said "I work for the company superheroes...I can stand in fire because I AM fire!"

Orange and Blue

The fog and rain made for a very crafty afternoon. Beading, clay and painting at the "weasel". I enjoyed watching and capturing with the camera how each of the painters used the colors differently, how they stood or knelt, used two brushes at once, and talked as they created their scenes. Their work is hanging in the room and each piece has a unique personality.

Lions and Tigers and Bears....Oh My!

It started with the barn, then a paddock was built for the plastic animals and then it was expanded and turned into a zoo. Catherine became a Tiger that the whole class came by to see, and offer books and food. We are going to add to their animal acting by making masks on Friday.

Miss Teresa Joins Our Classroom

Searching for just the right sculpture treasure

Some of the comments left by viewers of our exhibit included "Your sculptures make me happy", "Very creative...I would love to have them in my home", and "Thank you for sharing your work with us." I agree, I agree, I agree!

Bembo's Zoo

Letters, letters everywhere. It seems as if many of the children came back to school, after the break, with a heightened curiosity about letters. Today, we made letter collages, and all week we have been playing with our wooden letter pieces. Kim and I prepared the Highway Letters so that our race car drivers might perhaps put them all together to make a rambling alphabet road next week. And check out the Bembo's Zoo website.

A Sneak Peek into Our Artists' Studio

The building and sculpting has drawn to a close, the stories are being told and the strawberries will get dipped in chocolate tomorrow...all in preparation for our gallery-style showcase on Friday. Come at your leisure and let their creations take you back to a place where imagination reigns. The sculptures make Kim and I smile...hope they will brighten your day too.

Sculptors at work

Last week, we explored the properties of wood and foil in preparation for starting our sculpture work today. We used wood cut-offs, Beautiful Stuff and cardboard. After our work dries, we will add another layer. Some of their suggestions were to add paper. We also sculpted letters using these wood pieces.

"There's a steering wheel in my heart." --Makayla

We introduced writers notebooks. These can be easily made at home, too. We used story pages with a few modifications. After they draw something, we help them with a word or two about an especially fun detail in their drawing.

We had so much to share and do today...how do we fit it all in? There were animal amusement parks to build, books to share and still more boats to build. On Wednesday, we will dive into a study of sculpture and what materials we can use. Westlake has generously saved their lumber cut-offs for us. In combination with our Beautiful Stuff, recycled material, clay, and foil, we will begin building on Friday.

So Quiet Around Here

You will notice many changes when you come back to our room on January 4th. But for now, the room is quiet...pencils, markers, smocks, paint, clay, blocks...all stand ready to be called into service. What journeys will we take in the coming semester?

All School Newsletter

Kelly Dreier (Half-day preschool teacher) has put together another wonderful all-school newletter.
Check it out!
Second_All_School_Newslett~1.doc‎ (15 MB‎)

Getting ready to set sail!

Don't forget the fruit!

Thinking With A Line

Look what we tried today!

"Thinking With A Line shows you how the edge of a small rectangle of cardboard dipped into paint can become a tool for making lines. By repeating a single line, children discover they can print vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. They also discover ways to extend, cross and space their lines. They find when lines connect they can form shapes. By combining lines and shapes children begin creating complex structures such as letters, alphabets, patterns and designs, trees and plants, buildings, boats, machines and vehicles." --from Thinking With a Line, by Cathy Topal

Cooking Class

We had a very wonderful (and sweet!) visit from Ellery's grandmother (she is the 'Jean' of the former Peggy Jeans Pies in Columbia). After putting on our very own aprons and hats, we rolled out our dough, filled prebaked pie crusts (as Jean says "The magic of television" was at work in our class) with a homemade chocolate filling, whipped cream and sprinkles! And did you know that each pleat in a chef's hat means they have mastered a certain culinary skill? And that some chefs have hats with 100 pleats?

Snowy Day

The frigid temperatures kept us inside all day today...time for Water Color Extravaganza 2009! We pushed together two tables and had nine (yes, nine!) of our 13 preschoolers busy mixing and painting and ooohing and aaahing over their work. Miss Amanda read The Mitten and we made our own versions and stuffed them with cotton. Miss Jennifer treated us to ice cream sundaes to say farewell for the semester. And what would a day be without a sail on the high seas? We capped the day with a quick trip to South America on yet another pirate ship--but this one was special because it could also go under water!

A Preschoolers To-Do list:

Sculpt with clay, check!

Draw something that I built, check!

And, build a pirate ship, check!