Storytelling and Other Magical Moments

When children have time to play on the light table I make sure to not say "What are you making?" but always ask, "Would you like to make a story on the light table?" or "What is your story about?" This way of simple questioning has created an environment that when students go to the light table they always tell a story, or create an image with a story.  I have collected loose parts from around the world, donated from friends, found at dollar stores, and quickly picked up things that were going to be thrown away and have created a beautiful space to share them, hoping that their beauty is equally part of the provocation... Loose Parts Light Table Images and Stories "This is that time when the leaves fall down and the people are playing in the leaves. (Fall)" "The lady bugs are in the middle of the beautiful place. They are eating. The flower is beautiful and the sun/stars are there." "This is the bea...

As we inquire into systems of organization in kindergarten we joined with our Primary Arts Specialist to look at how and why we can organize through art.  We thought about why artists make decisions about art, color, line and why they make decisions about their art. They created collaborative art pieces during their time with her and during this time she also introduced the book, Tidying Up Art , Ursus Werli. This made me think about out our collabroative EAL Story/Art, The House with Thirteen Stories.  (See blog post) I asked my students to go back to and look at our story, that was still hanging on the wall. I asked... How can we tidy up our art? Each child took their own personal "story" and cut each piece of their story. In my different EAL group lessons we began organizing the cut objects into categories.  Numbers. Windows. People. Stairs. Animals. Big Things. Things Inside the Home.  Snowflakes. etc... We cut and glued. Organized, ...

I wanted to use some of the new tools that we purchased for an open ended provocation at Outdoor Learning.  All I needed was broken electronics, some screw drivers and a place to organize all the cool pieces or loose parts. The focus, attention to detail and negotiations made with all the pieces that offered a fantastic opportunity to observe language, confidence and also fine motor skills. The group at the table are intently working and  sharing the materials. The foreground shows some of their thinking with the bigger parts. Gray. Silver. Black White. Clear. They chose to sort by color, material, size and texture. Asserting themselves at times in order to be heard and understood.                                   What do we do next with all these amazing Loose parts?

In a discussion about where we live and who we live with, my students decided to use the language of numbers, something they already knew a bit about, to have a silly conversation. We drew our homes and families, created homes with loose parts, described them, what we had in them and talked about the differences between homes and apartments. A Family  A House An Apartment How many families live there? How many people live in your home?   Do you have neighbors? How do you get to your home? What floor do you live on, what number? "100, I do"  declared, Kseniia "No, no 1million, soooo tall!" yelled Gennady "Five MILLION!! We see the plane and clouds. "lLaughed Alex We laughed together and I showed my surprise and I asked: "How long does the elevator take? How many stairs are there? If you walk up and down how will you feel? What can you see out your window?" We acted out walking up the stairs panting, b...

This school year I have the pleasure to work with some of the students I worked with last year.  They have moved on to Grade 1 and new EAL students have joined them. Some have a confidence and ease about them that they did have last year. When I asked students to explore and play in the room after our time as a new EAL group, Sophie was comfortable in the classroom and went straight to the light table and new loose parts. This is her creation. "This is a caterpillar obstacle course. See The one is going in the tunnel and the others is climbing." - Sophie These rubbery caterpillars have been a hit! They have been found by each of my students at some point in the first few weeks. They have been sorted, organized, used in block play, light table and maths. Who knew?

Adding bright colored fabric on a hot sunny day created something unique for each child.  There were dresses, princesses, dens, long hair and blankets for stuffed animals in taxis! Quick and easy opened ended play. Rapunzel adjusting her hair. Off they go to the animal hospital.

While visiting my in-laws, my sons decided to draw with chalk to pass time outside on a hot summer evening. I arrived to see multi-colored roads swirling around the patio and "For Mom, Chalk City" at the top! I decided to surprise them with some loose parts I just bought that day at the dollar store. I am planning on using them in my class next school year, but thought I should let them give it a go.  Below are the boys in action.  Focused, Deliberate. And chatting the entire time about their city, about their patterns, while counting and complimenting each other on each of their neighborhoods.  Furthermore, sharing, organizing and quietly adding detail to their picture with loose parts. "Chalk Town" with a bit of a humorous misspelling! New Loose Parts, Jewels, wooden mini blocks, old cars and a fruit platter container