Dinner's ready!

It is interesting to see how the manner in which children play with the same materials evolves and becomes richer over time.  There are often two or three children working in the kitchen area together in our classroom.  They might share some food or cook together.  This morning Ethan set the table in the kitchen with about a dozen different plates.  He chose and prepared food for each one: a slice of challah, a tomato, some lettuce, or some carrots.  He grabbed a pot and a spatula and banged away - extending an invitation to the rest of the children: "Dinner's ready!"  He was very excited when Harrison and Nancy joined in to sample his cooking.  It's great fun to cook, but to have others enjoy what you've prepared is a wonderful feeling.  Yum, delicious!