Wonder Arts: 9am Class: Foil Tissue Paper, Coffee Filter Watercolors, Rainbow Crayons, Shadow Play

I wish we had time to do Shadow play every class. For me, I see so many possibilities for the children (and adults) in this experience. But backing up for a moment, let's ask ourselves... What is the value in exploring shadows? In the book, Everything Has a Shadow Except for Ants, published by Reggio Children, David Hawkins (scientist and Humanist) tells us, "It's hard to believe how many adults haven't the slightest notion of the genesis and geometry of light and shadow, and are not able to predict where a shadow will be before the light is switched on." And then I love the list explaining why shadows are so attractive to children:

• Shadows are capable of incredible and amusing paradoxes and mysteries (Why is a shadow there but you can't hold it? Why doesn't it weigh anything and it goes to the bottom of the pool?)
• Shadows are extremely evocative and can be found anywhere.
• Shadows do not discriminate between you, the light pole, the cat, the building, etc...
• Shadows have the virtue of doubling you, giving you supreme power, to make what you want and pretend what you desire.
• Shadows stimulate an exciting and bizarre logical reflection when you attempt to discover the laws that govern them.

"Shadow events happen to all children. However, to ensure that these encounters and confidences do not get lost but, instead, continue and grow, we need the testimony of an adult who plays along, who shows interest and amazement, a desire to question, to become a detective and researcher herself, giving value and importance to the friendship and adventurous intelligence of this encounter between children and shadows. Two other conditions are necessary as well: that the children have the good fortune and privilege to be with other children, animating a fertile market of ideas, exchanges, and conflicts that no adult would ever be able to promote and carry out; and that the children have freedom and perceive this freedom as a force that authorizes them to think, to do, and to negotiate without worry or fear."

Everything Has a Shadow except for Ants

p. 25

Watercolor, coffee filters, droppers, and jars can lead to so many possibilities for learning! The children must practice their fine motor skills in learning to squeeze and "drink" up the watercolor liquid and then squeezing it back out again onto the coffee filter. This process engages the visual senses and encourages that sense of wonder as the colors spread "magically" and mix together to form new colors. If we are being careful to follow the child's lead and interest... then we observe that some children are deeply exploring the act of transference, which is why the glass jars are an important addition. When we respond to their interest with, Hmmm.... what can I get you that will help you to further your investigation? We are communicating that we are on this same path of understanding. The child ask themselves, "How does the water change as I transfer it, how does it stay the same?" What part do I play in this movement?

Helping children and parents to discover the Hundred Languages has been a joyful journey for myself. What I love about teaching in the Reggio Way is the belief that all children are strong, curious, purposeful, and that they have a inherent drive to understand the world around them. As I've probably state so many times before, my role is not to fill your child up with facts and information but instead to provide a SPARK, a carefully planned environment that invites... as well as provoking thought, intentionality, and problem solving. I want adults to create conversations with children, and not be seen as the all knowing but as fellow learners! We can help our children see that learning doesn't end at a certain age but is a forever path we are all on!

This week in Arts class we continued our exploration of the Language of Glue. We have explored it's properties (during the last 6 weeks) in isolation, encouraging the children to feel glue on it's own. We have used it in the bottle form and introduced the idea that it can be used as a adherent, adding sand, glitter, puff balls, paper, etc... This week the idea of collage was introduced with glue mixed with water. I look forward to exploring the medium of collage and learning it's "alphabet" with the children in the next few weeks!

The tissue paper provided a new textural experience for the children to explore a different kind of paper's properties. It easily tears, it crumples, it creates color when the glue wash paintbrush is applied. For some of the children, investigating the paper itself was very important.