Solo Play

There were all kinds of opportunities for creative play this morning.  You'll see that each of the kids shown in the photo has found materials to create something new: a tower, a road, and a garage.  Imaginations are hard at work in the Keshet classroom.

New Heights

Colton occupied some prime real estate on the rug today while he showed what persistence can achieve!
It was interesting to see how much movement was involved in this project; Colton began in a sitting position, shifted to his knees as his magnetile structure grew, and later stood on tiptoe, stretching to add the final levels. He accepted a steadying hand on the tower just for a "photo-op moment", clearly proud of the results of his work.

Building together

The Keshet children found a very large basket of magna-tiles when they arrived this morning.  We saw various individuals and groups doing a lot of experimenting with them.    There were multi level buildings where each floor contained open space, solid towers, AND a superhero rescue from the top of a tower.  Last but not least, it seems that Ethan may have created a new wing for the Natick Collection!

Focus, determination, and teamwork were all evident as the children worked.  Physics lessons are learned in our experimentation as well.

Etzim Fairy Houses

The Etzim class has spent the last two days in "the woods" happily collecting sticks, rocks, grass, leaves, and other items that they would like to use to create our fairy houses.  Our imaginations are soaring, our "mountain climbing" skills are growing, and our ability to walk very carefully around fragile fairy houses is fantastic!

It's A Dollhouse!

Today Ellen brought us some fabric samples. The Etzim children, being the creative and resourceful children that they are, decided to reinvent an overlooked space. We reinvented some old cubbies, using the scraps, and created a dollhouse! Audrey, Jack, and Jacob made pillows, rugs, and mattresses using fabric scraps and tissues. We will continue to explore other items to add to our new creation. If anyone has any dollhouse furniture, we'd love to add to our homemade collection!

Every Garage Needs a Pinecone

Josh, Jacob, and Audrey were hard at work building a garage when Josh realized it needed one more piece, a pinecone topper!

road work ahead

Lily and Victoria worked so nicely to build this beautiful road.  They organized their tiles, worked cooperatively and created a road wide enough to enjoy at the end!!

Group Building: Negotiation in Action!

Earlier this week Ellen gave the Tel Aviv class a neat box of Styrofoam blocks.  Micah Gladstone was so exited to have a new building material and he quickly got to work.  Shortly, a few more kids decided to add on to his structure with magnet tiles, then a few more added to it with wooden blocks. Before we knew it the whole class was at the rug creating a very intricate group building structure! There were so many children and building materials on the rug and they worked together and used their words to create a structure that everyone was excited about.  I was impressed that they used their words to plan different areas of the structure and made sure that multiple children’s ideas were heard. Great Negotiation Tel Aviv! Amazing class Structure too!

A Bridge!

Once again, we saw the Keshet children exercising their imaginations as they constructed a tunnel, decorated the top of it, and climbed through it.  They even climbed on top!  We enjoyed looking at the photos of the Shamayim children's creations on our shared wall.  Thank you for sharing your materials with us.

Inspired by one another...

This week, Jacob, Eli, Dylan, Zack, and Hannah used the Kapla blocks from the manipulative table and a basket of cars to construct a race track on our morning meeting rug. At the start line they wrote the message "go" and at the finish line they wrote the message "stop." When Ezra, Max Goldberg, and Noah saw the race track, they were inspired to build their own track in the block area. In the Kohavim class, children are constantly inspiring each other, whether they are painting at the easel, pretending, drawing, or when building. Inspiration is just one way the children in Kohaivm learning from each other. What are some ways your children inspire you? 

Shamayim Construction Co.

We turned our classroom into a construction site today.  There were wooden blocks and cars, larger cardboard boxes and hammer and "nails" to bang.

Josh had a fabulous time moving from one renovation site to the next.  He and Max worked together at two different projects and made very cool race tracks with the wooden blocks and the larger cardboard boxes.

A work in progress!

Wooden blocks are always a great medium for the children to play with on the rug in the center of the Levana classroom. Many of our friends enjoy using the plastic tool sets to hammer, saw, and measure the blocks while constructing towers, castles and other creations.
Sydney worked very intensely to build a structure as she came up with an idea of what she wanted to make. It was a work in progress, as she continued to add on throughout free play.
It is always interesting to see what the children create. We will continue to allow the Levana students to explore balance, building and mixing mediums through their play with wooden blocks!

Our Busy Morning Building!!

What's In the Box??!?

                               

Wow there are a lot of peices!! What could it be?

Elias: It's a ladder!

Noah: It's a house!

Micah Rosin: It's a drying rack!!

Elias: Look! I found a picture!

We can all help to build! Some of us use screwdrivers to help. Others hold peices stedy to make it easier for the kids using screw drivers! Good Teamwork everyone!

Mazel Tov Tel Aviv Kids! The Drying Rack is done and ready to use!!

Building Challenge!

 

The children have been playing with different kinds of building materials, experiencing how the stability of their structures are affected by the ways they put materials together and by the materials they use. Some of the children have become interested in stacking blocks; others build tall structures such as rockets and towers as part of their magnitile and block play. On Monday at our morning meeting we invited the children to become expert tower builders by trying to build the tallest structure they can using foam and/or rectangular wooden blocks. We asked the children..Which blocks do you think are best for making tall towers? Which towers do you think will get the tallest? As the children were busy building towers we engaged the children in breif converstions. We asked them about their structures and then in the context of their play encouraged them to build up. For example...Tell me about your building? Can you add a look out tower? Tell me about the house you are building can you build a roof? Some of the other children were really interested in making a car garage and playground. We did not want to interfere with their focus. Today we discussed strategies for tower building, Charlotte suggested, "Building flat helps blocks stay up." Elias and Josie said, "A lot on the bottom will keep them up." We will continue to facilitate science talks, take photos, sketch structures and encourage the children in the tower challenge!

A Bar of Chocolate?

Over the last couple of days we have been learning how to use real screwdrivers and screws.  We were all able to identify the different screwdrivers and screws, but not everyone was able to identify the bars of soft substance we putting the screw into.  "Is it chocolate?" "Is it candy?" Finally, Eliana yelled out "It's soap!"    

What's your plan?

What's your plan for building?

 

Like all of the classrooms here at TBSCC, our free play in the Etzim classroom is a bustling time in our morning routine.  With lots of busy little bodies in motion and creativity filling our rooms the children get very excited when exploring different areas of the classroom trying to bring their ideas into a physical manifestation.  One area that gets a lot of attention in our building unit is the block area.  We have many different types of blocks that are shared on one big blue canvas, our rug!  This area is also a favorite for picnics, family book reading, and the occasional babysitting of dolls.  When many feet start to head to the rug to explore, often, Laura or I will ask the children, "What's your plan for the rug?" or simply, "What's your plan?"  This simple prompt gives the three year olds in our class time to organize and internalize their intent. 

In the picture above, one child was building, when other children wanted to come over.  Together we asked "what is your plan for building?"   The child building was able to effectively communicate with the other children, about his plan of building a Sukkah.  All the children who wished to join were able to hear his intent for the building, and were excited to join it and help this plan come to life. 

With Great Focus

We have been busily learning how to use tools in the Etzim classroom.  It is challenging to use a hammer and a screwdriver, and requires patience and persistence to even drive a nail into something.  We were ready to build with something that provided more immediate results (and great satisfaction!)  Such intense focus in a room filled with activity! All you need are mini-marshmallows and toothpicks!  Yes, we eat ate one, but only one.  We have focus and amazing self-control!   

What do you want to do?

Looking around the classroom today, I was intrigued by the ways that the children found activities that engaged them fully.  The focus in their eyes shows the attention and energy that they are putting into their various creations.  Now that so much has been accomplished in getting to know their teachers, their classmates, and the routines that structure the day for the Keshet group, the children are exploring their activities more deeply.  It's wonderful!