New for Spring

The Sunshine class celebrated spring with new yellow play-dough, some new dishes, and a new set-up. These materials were arranged to be used by four children at one time, with identical settings and a designated space defined by the orange mats. This was a departure from our usual practice of dividing the material among as many children as can fit at the table. Set-ups can support creativity by offering seemingly limitless time and supplies, and the elbow room needed to create comfortably. They can visually enhance the materials, spark interest, and contribute to a fair and equitable environment. Some children were a little awed and reluctant to disturb the materials, asking, "Who did this?", but Ali got things rolling and was soon joined by others. All the children will have the opportunity to enjoy this and other set-ups at their leisure; for the Sunshines, it is a new way to explore materials and to work independently within the classroom.