Like the East Wing children,
The children in the Dandelion group have started exploring the ways in which they can use notes to communicate and build connections with others. The children started the year by creating notes for their family members and loved ones.
Emma: This is a note for my sister, Zoe.
Marcel: Hey, I am making a note for my sister.
Spencer: I have a brother, Cyrus. This is a note for him.
Arya: This is for my mom.
As the children started deepening their relationships with each other, the Dandelions started to make notes for other Dandelions. Since we’ve introduced the small roster photos and the glue sticks in the creation of our paper chain of connections, we’ve invited the children to continue to use those materials in their note-making.
Evyn: This is a purple note for Emma. I’m going to put her picture on it.
Dana: How will Emma know whom that note is from?
Evyn: I am going to put my picture on it too. My picture and her picture will be next to each other because I want to spend time with her.
Zoe: This note is for Ana. She’s not here today.
Dana: What will the note tell Ana?
Zoe: I am thinking about her.
Arya: I am going to make a note for Ana too. Here’s my picture and here’s her picture.
Emma: I want to make a note for Ana next.
We see the Dandelions starting to create notes for other children in different groups. One morning, Eddie noticed Luka’s photo in the box.
Eddie: I am going to make Luka a note. He likes to build, just like me.
After finishing the note, Eddie took it outside and called through the plexiglass divider: I have a note for you, Luka!
Luka, Leo, Emme, Wiley, and Silvana came over to see.
Eddie: Delivery!
This note making exchange interest came up at a perfect time. The Dandelion teachers took this opportunity to invite the children to work on two thank you posters, one for the Cilantros who presented us with a gift of a dandelion seed packet a couple of weeks ago (we have some planting to do!) and one for the Basils because they very generously agreed to switch outdoor spaces with us twice a week.
What do you think the Cilantros will say about their thank you poster?
Emma: They like it.
Zoe: Thank you.
Arya: Thank you.
Why did we make this thank you poster for the Cilantros?
Eddie: That was a thank you. I was saying thank you to these Cilantros. There were seeds. [Flora] has them.
We also asked the children: What is one thing you could let the Basils know that you like to play in the wood chip area?
Cary: Sliding down.
Marcel: Sliding down. Going down the slide and going in the tunnel.
Arya: Climbing on the top of the structure.
Zoe: Sliding and going in the tunnel.
Evyn: Sliding on the slide.
Emma: Going in the tunnel and sliding down the slide with Arya.
Spencer: I like to go under the slide with Evyn.
Eddie: Slide down [the slide] with Leon.
Cary: Sliding down with Spencer.
Flora: If Ana was here, what do you think she would say to the Basils?
Evyn: Sliding down the slide.
Emma: Sliding down the slide with me.
The thank you notes and posters have inspired us to learn more about the children in all the groups. We will continue to facilitate and learn along with the children about the new ways we can communicate and connect more with all the groups even through our physical distances. Children’s nature is to build new relationships. As for the posters, the plan is to deliver them next week. We wonder what message may then be returned?