We have had such a great week of exploration, creation and imagination. Students worked so hard independently, in small groups, and as a whole. Both indoors and outdoors, students set their mind to a plan, and adjusted it as needed. They were resourceful and innovative, using materials in new and wonderful ways. It really was an incredible week to observe!
Students enjoyed a 'mindful moment' with snow falling on their faces. They calmed their body, listened to the sounds around them and gathered their thoughts about what they might create in the snow.
They then set about putting their plans into action! We all worked together for over an hour, and the cooperative language and exchange of ideas was amazing to hear. We were all so pleased with the 'snow tub' we created!
Students were inspired by Mrs. Keiver's lesson about life in the north this week. They worked on recreating the scene from a song we sang, incorporating many animals from the north. Ask your child about the steps they took to create their image.
Creative minds need a break sometimes! This persuasive group talked me into adding marshmallows to our tea this week, and obviously loved every minute of it.
On Friday, we invited our Grade 1 buddies from Mrs. Strachan-Garrells class to join us for a story called, "If I Built A Car". Students had been bringing in recycled items all week (thank you!!) and were so excited about using these materials to create their own cars. What should have been absolute chaos was actually incredible to watch- students calmly collected materials they wanted for their cars, worked diligently at putting their cars together, asked for help from other students when needed, and experimented with new ideas. These types of projects are the perfect example of "process" projects, where the process behind a creation is so much more important than the final product. Students worked for over an hour, trying new ideas and adjusting their ideas when things didn't work. They gained insight watching others work, and felt confident enough to try something new. When I looked at the final products that individual students would be taking home, my hope was that posting here about the process would help parents appreciate all of the energy and effort that went into these amazing creations.
Students are now already looking forward to creating their own musical instruments with the supplies that were left over! This week, Ms. Lizzy inspired us to think about new and interesting ways of combining existing instruments, so I can't wait to see what students come up with!
