Pezzettino

We read a story called Pezzettino by Leo Lionni.  Pezzettino in Italian means "little piece.”  In the story the characters are constructed out of coloured squares. At the light table, the students used their own tissue paper squares, coloured cubes and imagination to create their own pezzettino characters. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunflower Inquiry

A few weeks ago, a parent brought us a sunflower from the community garden.  She asked us if we wanted it to observe it in our classroom.  We said yes!

 

 

We put the sunflower at our Discovery Centre. Students spent time observing it and many “I wonder” questions emerged and theories about what was happening to the sunflower.  A reoccurring question was “Will the sunflower grow?”  We had a Knowledge Building Circle and students shared their theories.  Many students thought that if we take a sunflower seed and put it in water it will grow.

A few experiments emerged to test out students’ theories.

Experiment #1 – Put a sunflower seed in a box and give   it water.

 

Experiment #2 – Put a sunflower seed in a clear jar with water.

We waited and waited but did not see any changes in the sunflower seeds.  A plant was not growing.

We looked at other plants in the classroom and students noticed that what was missing from our seed was soil.

We then read books about how plants grow and learned that plants need soil, air, water and sunlight to grow.  We then planted a sunflower seed.

 

 

Our sunflower head is continuing to change.  The students are now coming up with other theories of what is happening to the sunflower and why it is changing.

 

 

 

 

 

Classroom Entrance Way

We wanted to create an entrance way that was inviting to the parents where they could sit and look at the inquiry projects that we have been working on with our students. We also wanted to share any books we, as teachers, have been reading that inspire us every day.   Below is a picture of what our entrance way looks like.  Our two inquiry binders on snails are on display.  We have also put up on the cork board our monthly calendar for parents to refer to. 

 

 

Our New Light Table!

We introduced our new light table to the students today and were amazed by their enthusiasm and what they created.  Below are some images of their creative expression and discoveries at the light table.

O: "I make a people and I put two hands."

  

A: "We made different kind of colours. 
We put all of the stones on the different colours and
we saw the stones were changing colours."

F: "I can make green!  Yellow and blue make green." 

 

Z: "I made the sky, the stars in the night time."

We cannot wait to see what else the students create at our new light table! 

Designs, Creations and Constructions

The following photographs represent ways children have used the materials we have made available in our classroom. We have been thinking a lot about our language when talking to children, using words such as design, creation and construction. We are trying to be mindful of how we speak when we interact with the children in our classroom in a way that provokes richer dialogue between us and the children.

Light and Shadow

I'm always in awe of what children can create given materials that reflect and play with light. I've attached some images of last years Light & Shadow Inquiry that continue to inspire me with their beauty!

Stephanie

Before and After: Science Table

Before

After

You may notice the shelf on the far right, it's actually an old play fridge and we simply recycled by removing the door and displaying materials in clear plastic containers.