t is for tape playmobil fusion

not at all in the lesson plans…and if i had been asked if playmobil pieces could be taken to the project table, i likely would have paused.

but this lasted a long, long time.  little fingers got a work out.  and nothing was ruined or lost.

p is for picnic

surely there is time for a picnic…way back when style all wrapped up in a cloth of your own.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

note: this activity was done during a week long camp
called “way back when…” for 4 & 5 year olds at our local museum.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

during our week of exploring life way back when, we ate snack on bandanas and called them our “picnic cloths.”

picnic cloths

the first day children chose a bandana and we wrote their names on them.

there was a place in our “classroom” to hang them when they weren’t in use.

our snacks for the week were related to our themes:

on transportation day we ate wagon wheels and horse food (honeycomb cereal and carrots)

picnic cloths

on homes day we ate big and small logs (pretzels).

on clothing day we ate washtubs and fabric squares (individual applesauces and saltines).

there was also quite bit of creativity expressed during our relaxed snack times:

picnic clothspicnic clothspicnic cloths

picnic clothspicnic clothspicnic cloths

picnic cloths

it sure was funny to go home and tell families we ate logs, wagon wheels, horse food, wash tubs and fabric squares. hee hee hee.

picnic cloths

it was wonderful to be graced with beautiful weather for outdoor picnics 3 days of the week…but our inside picnic worked just fine.

inside snack day

h is for home work

this post from my personal blog reminds me of the work that can happen during those unstructured moments.  posted first in 2007 when my kids were 2, 5, and 9.  wow.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

i love
when ordinary items
are used for play…
here we are embracing
the last days at home
before school starts…

we were imagining how eliza might make her “e” some day…

compost soup…mmmmmm…to sally at least…

newspaper soaked in water and rolled to a ball…

w is for wedding

i’m reposting this over a year later in honor of my marriage…15 years ago today.  it’s been as full of color and intensity as this photo.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

i was simply taking a picture of the “wedding” that was happening and then helped clarify that if someone wanted her name to be sally it could be even though that is the name of another someone’s (ah-hem) dog.

i didn’t realize i captured this on the photo (and the dozen others taken around this one).

conflict

i am fascinated looking at each child.  it seems as though everyone is aware of the conflict and reacting in their own way.

we work every day to find ways to work together.  lately one class is working to include anyone who wants to join in already established play.  the latest “rule” is that everyone has to have a role and they have to be pleased with it (within reason…if this isn’t able to be figured out, we teachers move in to facilitate a bit).  just today i watched a little girl with puzzled expression grumble to no one in particular, “yeah, but if i tell him to do that, he won’t be happy.”  somehow it all worked out.