Confetti Playdough

We made this colorful play dough in our class using our regular flour based play dough recipe and then blending it with bits of bleeding tissue paper for a fun, tactile, sensory and scientific center.

First make the play dough and do not add color.  Our recipe is:

Mix together:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups salt
3 Tablespoons Cream of tartar
3 cups water
3 T oil

Heat in a non stick skillet until mixture resembles scrambled eggs.  Then turn on to surface and knead until it becomes play dough consistency.

We made four batches over two days because young children need a LOT of play dough!!!

On the third day, we set out the off-white colored balls of play dough with scraps of bleeding tissue paper.

The children stuck the bits of tissue into the play dough and worked them in to the dough.  It was interesting to watch the various strategies of the students as they added the paper.  Some poked each bit in, others layered several pieces in a lump.

As the process continued the dough became filled with confetti. As the dough was continually kneading and handled it became a range of the colors of the tissue; blues, pinks, purples.

On the fifth day, we added rolling pins to flatten the dough and get even more bits into the inside.

The children really enjoyed the activity and often compared and contrasted different ball of dough to see how they were similar and different and to which ones they wanted to add more color.  We all greatly enjoyed this new twist on play dough, and what better way to celebrate the beginning of the year than with confetti!

First Days

We start our school year off with staggered entry having half the class come the first day, half the class come the second day and then the entire group comes together for the third. 

 This way we can connect with the children in smaller groups and focus even more of our attention on them as they learn the layout and routines of a new classroom.  

Before school begins we have a meeting with the parents to go over the duties of working in the classroom.

We cover positive ways to give directions, ways to say Yes! more than No, how to help foster conflict resolution, and so on, down to the nitty gritty of making snack.

 So our parent helpers are prepped and ready.

The first few days we are always paying close attention to the flow of the room and how the children are accessing the materials.  How is our layout working?

 Do they have enough room to move, to sit, to build. Can they reach everything?  Since we are constantly changing our room arrangements, there are always settings to test.

   
We are also learning their personalities.  How are they getting along with each other?

Who gravitates to whom?  Who needs more help entering play?

We are having conversations, we are listening and we are watching their play.

What are their interests... what will be good provications for this particular group....where will our play take us?

Starting with Gratitude

Sometimes you blink and three months goes by.  That's what seems to have happened this summer.  I had a great experience with Judy Helm at her Deepening Project Work Institute in June and a fantastic summer camp....more on that later...but with being sidelined with a few injuries and lots of mothering of three teenagers-one of whom is searching for the right college for her... the blog was left neglected.

As we start our new school year I am finally able to breathe and am re-inspired to share some of our playful experiences.

As I was preparing my classroom for the start of school I was reminded of the special-ness of being part of a cooperative nursery school.  Our school, Community Cooperative Nursery School,  has one major fundraiser, our annual art show.  It is a showcase of artists from across the country and has a large following. To prepare for this show we remove every piece of furniture, every crayon, every block, every doll...and pack it all into boxes to store in a large container. The school then becomes a salon style art gallery for an entire month.

 

And then we need to put it all back-every year.  In many ways it is a fresh start each year-just like moving in to a new house.  In many ways, it is sooo much work-just like moving in to a new house.  It can be overwhelming.

And then the magic happens.  The parents converge on the school for various working hours and as a team we put our school back together.  The parents who want their children to have a lovely, nurturing, engaging place to play come back to our school to clean cubbies, hang bulletin boards, unpack boxes, label shelves, scrub easels, wipe down bikes and remove cobwebs and weeds.  As we work we reconnect with returning families and get to know those who just joined and our building becomes the little red school house once again.

And despite new furniture that doesn't arrive on time,  and other challenges...on that first day of school, we are ready with smiling faces and beautiful classrooms full of engaging places to play.  Our teammates, the parents, arrive with their little ones proud of the school that they helped set up.  They know, first hand, the difference that they have already made partnering with the staff.

When I was feeling a little overwhelmed the week before school, I just needed to remind myself, that we are a co op.  It always come together-we-always come together and get it done- and we did!

So I wanted my first post this year to be one of gratitude.  I am proud to be surrounded by the children of parents who chose to be part of a co op nursery school. The first lesson your children will learn is that you value learning through play so much, that it is worth more than money- it is worth your time.

I am looking forward to being a team with you.

Let the playing begin!