This morning in the sand area, the children decide to work together to uncover ancient “dinosaur blood” buried deep beneath the sand. To complete this job, Ozzie requests “the big shovel”. The children agree to the safety procedures necessary and everyone puts their closed-toe shoes on.
Rio begins digging. It’s hard work. The shovel is heavy, but he is determined and he has the support of a cheering crowd of both West Wing and East Wing children.
“Go, Rio, go! Go, Rio, go! Go, Rio, go!”
https://vimeo.com/266940728
At one point the shovel becomes so heavy that Rio pauses and says, “Now it’s everyone turn! Pull!” and the children all grasp the shovel together to remove the sand from the hole.
At NSW, the teachers often talk about the culture of the community. From the first day of school, we emphasize the values of collaboration, shared space, negotiation, and the importance of supporting one another through challenges.
By this time in the school year, I find myself watching the children and almost feeling superfluous. They talk the talk and walk the walk and I trust in their ability to work collaboratively as a community in tight spaces, with powerful tools, toward a shared goal – in this case, dinosaur blood. -Teacher Jessica Russell