As we prepared for the new school year, the teachers observed the children during their play dates to discover their interests. We learned of their deep connection with food!
We also noticed this group of children already coming into the classroom with an awareness of communication through technology like cellphones and computers. Considering that we are in the midst of an investigation with the West Coast Collaborative on the ‘Intersection of Nature and Technology’, we planned to use these interests in supporting this new class group in making early connections with each other.
Our goal with this focus is to disrupt the current narrative of technology as passive entertainment transforming its use into a language for creative expression, engagement, and connection. We set up several areas in the first week with nature and technology. In the mini-studio, we had veggies and digital-microscopes. In the exploration room, we projected digital landscapes. In the communication area, we used Ipads to capture emotional expressions and introduced cameras. In the mini studio, we observed this first interaction.
Mia: That’s a big pepper!
Eve: I want to cut it to see what’s inside.
Rufus: Is this real?
Teacher Adriana: Ask Mars what he thinks.
Mars: Yes, it is real and it matches my shirt!
Adriana: What do we notice as we cut the food?
Tai: I see seeds. Lots of seeds!
Christoph: Green also lives inside, and seeds, and light green.
Santiago: Look, there are seeds inside here. Let’s take them out.
Presley: No, seeds are not for eating.
Asher: This peach tastes like peach.
Adriana: What does it remind you of?
Asher: It reminds me of my whole family because I’m eating it and I feel like when I’m with my family. It feels sweet in my belly.
Adriana: Let’s use the digital microscope to investigate our seeds.
Chloe: There are seeds inside this pepper. Look! Look!
Penny: Wow, that seed looks like an egg now.
As we reflect on the children’s conversations, we notice how the children are expressing their individual associations to the variety of foods that are present in their everyday lives. Through the use of digital technology, we hope to create a context where the children can experience multiple perspectives and recognize how their ideas are valued in the group. We invite you to wonder with us: How can technology help the children see multiplicity in what nature has to offer? Is nature only for our own use? Are seeds only for our own consumption? – Kristin, Amy & the West Wing Teachers.