Bon Dance, Tape, and Rainbows 9/11-9/15

We started off the week with Mrs. Hussey becoming a grandmother and ended the week with rolls of masking tape.

Monday we found out that Mrs. Hussey has a brand new grandson! We made a card for her. We asked the children what they wanted the card to say. Here is what they decided:

"Dear Mrs. Hussey, Do you love being a grandma? Does your husband like being a grandfather? Why did you get a grandson? Why are you not a grey-hair grandma? What is your grandson's name? What does he look like? Congratulations, The Golden Owls."

We look forward to her response!

We also wrote a letter about the soap we made for Moon Over Manoa and gave Mrs. Hussey a sample. GA delivered it because he was excited about sharing one with her.

The children started "fishing" with cardboard tubes that BH brought in. This led to a lot of tape being used this week. Read on for "tape details."

The children found "little people" around the room. The children will use them to act out stories, problem solve, and decorate - so many uses. We'll see what happens.

Tuesday, Suzanne (EKS's mom) came in and taught the class basic Bon Dance moves to prepare us for a Bon Dance lesson with the 6th graders. Suzanne called it "follow the leader" and made it fun! We hope to have her back again soon.

Ms. Iris read a book about Bon Dance.

RB shared her journal page about going to a "pizza place."

On Wednesday, we went to the "big kids" gym and had a Bon Dance with the 6th graders and their teachers. Sensei Takemoto taught us the basic Tanko Bushi dance, as well as other traditional dances. She ended the hour with a modern dance that had us clapping and spinning. Our preschoolers did so well -- they danced for about a half hour, then enjoyed watching the 6th graders dance around them. We hope to do more with our 6th grade friends.

MF shared his journal page about swimming on the dock at the lake. Someone asked him if there were sharks. MF said he didn't see any, but he caught a church (perch) fish.

Thursday brought rainbows! The children have been drawing and painting rainbows because they have seen rainbows around our classroom. We asked them to draw their ideas about where the rainbows were coming from. Many of the children think they come from rainbow-colored items in our classroom. A few know that light has something to do with it. A couple actually have the idea that they are coming from the crystals and prisms in the window. It's exciting to hear their ideas and theories.

CH,GA, and TH were "fishing" off the steps of the loft. Somehow they got the idea to make a house with pipes and started using two-inch wide masking tape to tape the pipes up.

They decided to divide the loft in half and, of course, used the tape to do so. When Ms. Jordan asked CH to help her mix paints in the atelier, the house of pipes took a different turn. GA and TH started putting magnets, sticks, and pipes on the "dividing" tape to "decorate," which started weighing it down. They felt more tape was needed to fix the problem. Luckily, it was time to clean up, and the boys wanted to leave their project for the next day.

On Friday, the "'web of tape," oops, "house of pipes," grew. Two children who weren't originally involved went in the loft and started adding scotch tape and more "decoration." CH got a little upset that his project was no longer "his."

We had a meeting with the original three and the two new children. It was decided that the original three children would work on the project. They decided to take down the new addition and go from there. We also decided we need to ask before we go and work on someone else's project.

TR shared her journal picture with her brother at her birthday.

KS, LY &CL, JD, and TR wrote stories that we acted out at our reflection meeting.

To end this busy week, we went to CE with Ms. Loriann. She read us the book, Made by God, so I Must Be Special. She also asked, "What makes you happy?" The children's answers will be posted in the classroom as soon as possible. Ms. Leigh, Ms. Laura, and Ms. Iris agree that the Golden Owls make us very happy!

Posted on September 18, 2006 12:47 PM | Permalink