After being off for two weeks, I wondered how the children would be upon their return. Would they struggle to come back to school- getting up and dressed and out the door in a hurry, missing their parents and siblings, longing for laying on the floor in their pyjamas and building lego? I know I sometimes have a hard time making the adjustment back into a schedule life. I was surprised that the children bolted in the door with great enthusiasm, quickly grabbed their name tags, chose a cubby and off they went their child's world of playing, chatting with friends and checking out materials. I was so happy that they were eager to be back and I think it speaks to their relationships that they were able to comfortably pick up where they left off. It also tells me they feel safe and secure in this place. How fortunate they are really; it is not something to take for granted as children all over the world, near and far, live in circumstances that they are not safe.
We went to the library, chose our books (this should be another blog! Stay tuned) and went to South Arm park to play in the chilly air and on the slippery equipment. We brought back 24 books, one of which was on beavers.
We did not have an area of study or inquiry as we wanted to see what the children were interested in after our break so on Wednesday we put out the beaver book and some provocations around beaver dams to see if the children would show an interest in learning about these animals. Soon enough children were investigating the sticks, rocks and pictures. We opened the book and the questions started flowing out. It did not take long before Kahlen asked for blue paper to make water.
Then suddenly two more children wanted to make water.
Then many more children.
The following conversation took place whilst they were cutting.
Emma: I have seen a real beaver dam.
Makena: I've seen a baby beaver in the forest. With my grandma and mom. 18 years ago. I am not fibbing.
Kahlen: I've seen a beaver on t.v. but not a real beaver.
Makena: We need more water.
Kahlen: It's home is all done.
Makena: They eat and bite on trees.
Connor: I wanna make the Indian guys that beavers like.
Sebastian: They live in water.
Makena: And they make a dam so water doesn't get it.
Connor: They eat wood.
Jordyn: I saw a beaver dam, Teacher Emily. It had sticks.
Kahlen: Mommy beaver and baby beavers should be in our game.
Once again, I am impressed at their knowledge base. They know so much already! This dialogue also shows how far they have come in the last few months in terms of their ability to attend to a topic through conversation. They are learning how to listen, offer information and stay on topic. Later we made a list of what they know about beavers and what they want to learn.
On Friday, we took out the beaver book in circle to see if we could answer some of their questions. It seemed like you could hear a pin drop as we went through the book as the children were so interested in learning. Then they decided they wanted to make a beaver dam in class. I asked them how we would make it and this is what they said:
Kensie: Go to the park, the teachers take a machine to get wood to make dam.
Miele: We can go outside and collect sticks.
Makena: We can use this blue sheet ( pointing to sheet on wall used for the projector) to make water.
Addie: We can cut the tree down.
Kahlen: We can cut the tree from brown paper, into stick shapes.
Connor: We need an axe to cut down the tree.
Emma: What's an axe?
Makena: What does it look like?
Connor: Its long, with a thing. ( trying to show a handle)
Rhyan: We can find sticks on the grass.
Grace: We can use sand.
Rhys: Use a cardboard box, wrap it up and rip paper and glue it on top.
Connor: Get blue paper to pretend water.
Joban: Get sticks from beaver dam.
Miele: They would be wet.
Addie: They actually would, for real.
Jordyn: Get sticks in the grass.
Sebastian: Use sand.
Koltyn: Get sticks from all over.
Makena: We can get a beaver!
We ended the conversation with a group decision that each child would bring 10 sticks to school by next Friday and they had to fit into their knapsacks! The journey will continue!
Other moments from Friday's class.
Emily
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