Unsatisfied with the unresolved conflict between characters “Mudambo” and “Honkitonk” from the book, Doctor De Soto Goes to Africa by William Steig, the children decide to play out alternative scenarios with paper versions of the characters. Wally (as Honkitonk): I didn’t like it when you called me that bad name. Mason (as Mudambo): I…
While working at woodworking, the children chose to work together on a machine. Lola: Agnes, so what does this machine do? Agnes: It shoots robots. Then the robots become shrimp that when people eat it, they feel love. Clem: Agnes, how about if people are allergic to shrimp? Agnes: Oh, it also shoots vegetables and…
Upon returning from winter break, we discovered the bed in the East Wing House Area had a broken a leg. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to repair the bed and after considering the demands of the children’s play, a cot was purchased. A group of six children volunteered to assemble the cot for the beloved play…
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…
In the Atelier, a light and shadow exploration is offered by incorporating overhead projectors and multiple white materials. As with all materials, we wonder how the experiences will support the children in building relationships. Initially, some children move to the overhead projector and begin to manipulate the materials to project on the walls. Others are…
This school year started with some exciting events and the children in the East Wing have welcomed two new siblings, Alma (Arrow’s sister) and Von (Poppy’s brother). The enthusiasm and curiosity surrounding pregnancy, birth, babies, and traditions (like the ‘photo -shoot’) around these times, are evident by the dramatic play in the House Area. …
The Front Yard (facing Venice Blvd.) is a space where both West and East Wing children work together. Our main focus is to create a culture where the children feel welcomed, supported, and where they feel they can express their ideas and hear the thinking of others. This year, we began by having a small…
Grey: Dylan, you gotta try this! Dylan gingerly picks a leaf from the peppermint plant and takes a cautious bite. After the first nibble, he puts the whole leaf in his mouth and moves closer to Grey who is working on potting an herb garden for the East Wing House Area. Grey: Can we try…
In the West Wing, one of our strategies to build a strong sense of community is to provide experiences that initiate collaboration. One of the ways we are doing this is through a weaving we call “The Thread Game”. The children explain how it is played: Arrow: I passed it to my partner, then she passed it…
In the Front Yard, the children have shown an interest in caring for the environment. They like to water the plants, pick up leaves from the ground, and use them as pretend food, plant seeds, as well as look for living creatures. Teacher Adriana: Grey, Julian is very curious about bugs. Grey: Well, you have…