Monday, Freezing cold and brrrrr.
The Robotics team captured an honored title, securing 3rd place in the regional Lego First competition. Today they were back in action, preparing for their next competition.
In Sewing the children learned about patchwork. Many stopped in and sewed swatches in checkered patterns to begin quilts. They learned to measure and cut fabric and sew it together to hide the seams. In PE we played 4-Square for the first time this year. The kids taught and learned the rules and refereed their own games. This game has a fast-paced turn over so every student had lots of chances to play and to watch.
In writing our older students talked about Memoir, the next genre in our writing program. Many are familiar with this genre and have great ideas and insight. The younger children continued with their story telling, writing and reading. In science some students unveiled their fossils and found pieces to use in an identification game they are creating. In global studies the older kids talked about focus and future topics of study. What are they interested in learning? Some expressed a desire to study the history of music.
Tuesday, Cold, snow on morning hike
Recently, students have shown interest in quilting. With this in mind, we introduced the quilts of Gee’s Bend. Gee’s Bend, an area in Alabama near Selma, is an isolated community where African American quilters are, in the purest sense, folk artists. They perpetuate a tradition that dates to the 19th century in a place that has been isolated and immune to outside influences. These quilters have mastered the technique of making art from textile. * This morning we offered a lesson on the quilts and their geometric patterns. We tried to imitate the patterns that captured our attention, making cut paper designs. As we continue our studies we will connect the work from and culture of Gee’s Bend to that of other communities and times in history.
A boat building station was open and many students repaired and designed new boats to sail down the river tomorrow when we visit the work of the water-drilling project on our neighbor’s property. Confusion during physical education was the catalyst for a community meeting. Children decided they must produce flags or vests for team identification. This might be addressed during sewing. This afternoon we listened to music that the older students feel passionate about. Each shared lyrics that held meaning and we identified over-riding themes. Hopefully this study will show us how music speaks about history and culture and how themes are repeated over decades and even centuries.
Our younger students are studying Kente cloth, originally woven and worn by the Asantes of Ghana and the Ewes of Togo in Africa. Children created similar patterns recognizing that these are repeated in items all around us. Consider a band-aid. Then we closed out the day with music, older kids practiced guitar while younger ones talked about tempo integrating Italian words.
Wednesday, Cold, really cold
Cooking went on all morning with three groups rotating though the kitchen. Children made chicken parmesan, fried zucchini, marinara sauce, ziti, garlic bread, salad and zeppoli. The kids loved this lunch! They worked hard grating cheese, chopping lettuce, breading chicken, and making dough. This is an activity that reaps success only if everyone is committed to the desired outcome.
Students revisited the boat building and the quilt design stations. Guitars could be heard throughout the building while some took out watercolors and experimented; combining skills they had learned during art class. Finally, children’s books created were laid out so that they could read each other’s work and leave comments, questions and suggestions.
During reading and writing the older kids listened to a short memoir from Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Then they engaged in a free write session to sharpen memoir-writing skills. Both students and teachers shared their writing, which ranged from the sounds around us to moments of personal challenge.
Thursday, Cold again, not as windy
Beading was popular this morning. Jewelry is more polished and unique as the children become more familiar with the material and the range of design possibilities. Chess is always a popular activity. Students either play the traditional game or bug eye, where two games are played side-by-side. Players on each side of the board work shoulder to shoulder as a team passing pieces they have taken to each other. This requires focused attention and strategy as one player can sacrifice a piece for her partner and a win. Italian lesson combined with card games is growing in popularity. Today children were challenged to expend heir vocabulary and use phrases.
After writing, we went on a field trip to our neighbor’s worksite. We saw the pumps used to pull water from underground to the surface and ask questions of the men working on the site. Our visit brought about many theories about the water in the area around us. After returning to school we examined pictures of the drill bits and machinery used and talked about water, where it comes from and goes. We used a dictionary to define “aquifer”. No doubt children’s theories will drive our continued study of this topic.
Friday, Still quite cold
After a brisk walk and morning meeting we disbursed for reading and writing. Some children began watching Tuck Everlasting in an attempt to compare the story line of the move to that of the book. Already students have noticed the time period of the story has been extended and a main character appears significantly older in the movie. Other students engaged in free write and storytelling. Some played Monopoly and everyone tended to their math.
*http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/kente/about.htm
