Unstructured play, or play that happens when children are familiar with the properties of materials and no teacher has offered a direction for the work, reveals children’s thinking. It’s a great opportunity for us as a team and for you, as parents, to see what is in the minds of the children.
In the East Wing Communication Area, Jake L. is drawing a family picture and Crosby is folding paper.
Crosby: I’m going to make a house for the homeless.
Teacher Cindy following his interest and noticing his design: How will people get inside?
Crosby: Oh, it needs a door!
Jake engaged by Crosby’s focus: I can make a roof.
Crosby: I want to take this home.
Cindy: How will all the children know about this idea?
Crosby: I can show Jake how.
The two work together to make a second house.
Cindy: It’s just like a community.
Jake: If we make more, we can make a village.
With the fires creating homelessness on top of the city’s ongoing street living situation, children are hearing a lot about misplaced people at the same time as they are hearing about upcoming family time together in several homes. Cindy will lead a deeper investigation into the idea of a village and what that means to all of us while offering stronger paper and a way to participate in a larger conversation. – Cindy and Kris