Brrrr....

 The icy cold temperatures prompted this invitation to build.  Mixed materials were presented to push children's thinking to new heights...sometimes literally!  There was no expectation or provocation, just an open ended invitation to come and create.

MT you created structure after structure each one unique and varied.  I could tell you were experimenting with how the different blocks worked together.  You placed cubes and cylinders, pyramids, and...chocolate candy???  

"This one looks like chocolate candy!" MT

AS you were intent on building a tall tower.  You built your blocks straight up every single time.  You used all sorts of shapes and squealed with delight each and every time it fell!

AD you were so focused on your little structure.  You created a beautiful landscape that started small and sprawled across the table.  With each unique block your structure became more and more elaborate.  I could see the concentration on your face as you tried SO hard to balance blocks atop this...well...this chocolate candy!  MT, you weren't the only one who thought that!  You tried first one block, and then another, and another, and another all with no success.

"This one is too pointy." AD

I can see your brain working like a structural engineer trying to pair beauty in form with functional structure.  Your buildings are amazing!

ESE you had one goal in mind, to build a tower tall enough to reach the mirror.  You started the same way each time, with two large cylinders.  After that foundation you chose blocks randomly, some large, some small, some vertical, some horizontal.  Up, up and up and then...

C

R

A

S

H

With each new attempt your structure changed just a bit, trying to figure out the magic combination of materials to reach your goal.  Though you were never quite successful in touching the blocks to the mirror, I would call your time spent at the light table a huge success!

Icy cold days keep us indoors, but they don't keep us from getting to use our big muscles!

These shared indoor spaces allow us the opportunity to split into small groups for more focused learning in the classroom.  Our classroom work will continue to evolve over the week, but check out what we got to do in the gym!