toddler painting with Amy

Amy came into the toddler classroom today to paint some of the collaborative clay works with the children.

The colors were beautiful. The care and concentration that went into mark making was equally magical to witness.  The morning toddler class has been reading Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.  Amy and the class teachers made a connection to the text and the clay buttons being painted in preparation for the show.

Another great studio day.

still life with cabbage

Figures in Motion

 As the children explored figure's in motion using mixed media lot's of big thinking emerged.

Not only was there talk of joints, flexing and how parts join together, some children realized that the softer oil clay people needed to have bones in order for them to be less floppy.

The resulting figures were whimsical, fun and conveyed each child's thinking throughout the process as they negotiated the possibilities and limitations inherent in the new materials.

sandwich making

In addition to our movement study, the studio is presently a sandwich makin' station .  Children from every class have been coming through to make their personalized sandwich.... and eating them.... YUM!

Thank you so much to the families who continue to supply the studio with the food needed to make this ongoing food study possible!  We couldn't do it without you.

movement

Amy joined me in the studio this week to investigate movement.  We brought in some drawing mannequins for a provocation and used our own bodies in motion to illustrate how the mannequins could depict the bodies ability to bend, flex, jump and dance.

These tools helped children to isolate the various body parts responsible for our fluid, flexible and moveable form.

 Several children asked if they could try to create their own drawing mannequins.

So a plan was formed and Thursday we will begin this investigation in 3-D.

Mama mia... spaghetti and drawing in the studio

The children from all of the classes have been flowing through the studio this week, preparing spaghetti however they like it.  The table is set with pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs, parmesan, pepperoni and fresh bread.

There has been an enthusiastic response from the children... "I love pasta!", "I love pasta with cheese", "Mmmmm....I want to eat more meat balls", "Pasta is sooooooo good".  In addition, we have spent the week drawing various food items.

 The children are enjoying this investigation of food and together we continue to decide where our study will take us.

Tacos in the studio

Following the children's suggestion we spent the week making tacos in the studio while continuing to explore other creative avenues like paint, collage, found art sculpture and more.  Rather than prepare each ingredient with the children, our families generously volunteered to contribute toward the weekly menu.  This week they brought in: hard taco shells, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, ground turkey, refried beans and guacamole. I set these supplies up into a self service station allowing each child to create tacos to suit individual taste.

This has been a huge success and we look forward to enjoying spaghetti with meatballs next week.

Thank you so much to all our families for their support!  We couldn't do it without you.

pizza party

 The children have been eagerly creating pizzas in the studio.  Each one is uniquely tailored to the tastes of the chef.

 It has been a huge success!  Up next... Taco making... ole'!

We are always learning

In 2009 Colorado adopted revised mathematical standards and curriculum in all publicly funded education.  This was further modified to reflect the statewide implementation of common core standards (Don't worry if this doesn't sound familiar).  Many of our children will leave CGMS and head to schools using curriculum that reflects these standards.  We are confident they will arrive well prepared.

In the studio we are learning through an emergent process that reflects our interests, ideas and questions.  Yesterday as G. played with one of our wooden instruments he noticed a pattern of colors.  His interest prompted me to ask if he'd like to draw it, which he did.  Next he chose to represent it with collage on paper.  As he worked he inspired others to look for patterns in the studio. The Colorado Department of education identifies pattern sense as one of the mathematical expectations for kindergarteners.  It gives children a "...lens with which to understand trends and commonalities."  And as children recognize and represent mathematical relationships and analyze change they are learning that "...the structures of algebra allow complex ideas to be expressed succinctly." (https://www.cde.state.co.us/comath/statestandards)

Children have a natural capacity to learn when provided with an environment rich with opportunities for discovery and exploration. They also readily share their learning with one another.  This emergent process preserves a child's right to wonder, curiosity, big questions, appropriate challenges and internal motivation.  

Here at CGMS we embrace the philosophies of Montessori and Reggio Emilia.  In so doing we support BOTH emergent learning and a skill-based curriculum with concrete strategies for learning about the world.  We feel that the combination of these philosophies provides a rich and meaningful early learning environment, respecting each child's right to wonder while providing them proven methods, tools and curriculum to deepen their thinking, abilities and learning. 

Food...food...food

 Tortillas are back by popular demand.  As a school we are exploring the needs of human.  The classrooms have been talking about shelter, transportation, food, protection and more.  The kids have been telling me in no uncertain terms that it is time to get back to cooking.... FOOD.
"Angelina let's make quesadillas... spaghetti with meatballs.... tacos....apple pie... pumpkin pie....and.... everyone needs food".
Of course I listened to them and this week we resumed tortilla and quesadilla making and the children (toddlers all the way up through extended primary) loved it!
Next week I have a request for tacos.  Stay tuned... the children have a mind to create a cookbook too.  Fun and food is on the horizon.