“Pass the line to a partner”. With this simple and open ended invitation, a group of children sat down in the West Wing with charcoal and a large piece of paper to play a game.
Archer: A curly line is like a path.
Ozzie: First you go straight then bonk, bonk. It makes a zig-zag line.
Isla: It’s a zig-zag.
Archer: It went to me.
Everly: It looks like a waterfall from Isla to me.
Isla: Yah!
Ozzie practicing Isla’s technique: It looks like a waterfall. I used the side (of the charcoal).
August: I made an A line.
Ozzie: This is a rollercoaster line. It goes up, up, then around and around and around.
August: I am making a train line. It goes straight.
By engaging in turn taking with one piece of charcoal and having a shared experience on one large piece of paper, the children are better able to observe each other’s discoveries and techniques with the material and practice thinking of the work we do in the classroom as “ours” rather than “mine”. Sharing discoveries and experiences means we will, in time, be able to share ideas and theories and allow the influence of others into our learning process. –Studio Teacher, Amy