Bravo Performers

We were so excited to have the Bristol Bravos perform for us today.  They sang songs and played instruments.  Many friends recognized neighbors or friends performing. 

In the classroom the students painted canvases that we will be using tomorrow during capers.  They built a train track with bridges and experimented with jewels on the light projector. 

Music and building challenges!

Good afternoon! Birch room began the morning by greeting one another and making choices in the classroom. Today, the students were challenged to observe their faces in the mirror and draw a self portrait. They noticed several parts of their faces and some even drew parts of their clothes!

Other friends built spinners with plus plus blocks and created "food" out of our new floam!

During our morning choices, Ms. Katie came into our room and played us some musical tunes! The students enjoyed the music and watching them play their instruments.

We continued the morning by breaking into small groups. A few friends built in the collaboratory while others stayed in the classroom to experiment with water colors at the light table. Some students continued to create self portraits and built ramps and tracks for small balls to travel around the classroom.

Another group went into the hallway to complete a teamwork challenge. Four students had to work together to move the two blocks to the other end of the hallway, without touching their feet to the floor or "hot lava." At first, it was a little tricky listening to each other's ideas. After trying to scoot the blocks while sitting on top of them, one student had the idea for everyone to stand on one block while they moved the other block closer to the finish line.

They reached the finish line and wanted to do the challenge all over again and decided to work together on moving the blocks back to the where they started! 

During the challenge, the students decided to take a break and get drinks of water while not stepping in the "hot lava." The students worked together on moving the blocks to take a water break. 

The students congratulated one another and were very proud of their accomplishments. Way to work together, friends!

Building Challenge

We worked this morning on a new building challenge.  The children were challenged to build a structure for a ball to travel from the wall,  across the carpet and to the table.  They were told they could use any materials in the classroom.   The students quickly began making a path with the blocks.

"We need a straight line." "How will it go up those?" "We could use these like a tunnel"

This challenge really required the students to work together and listen to each other's ideas as well as question each other on their thoughts.

 

 

"Let's test it.  It might work" 

The ball made it through this path but I reminded the students of the challenge.  They were in the middle of the carpet and needed to expand their structure on both ends.  One student said, "We need it higher so it can go down." Another student responded "We need a slide"  The kids went around the room and found some pieces of cardboard and tubes to add to their structure. 

The kids all took turns testing out the tubes and ramps.  When these two tubes were added to the beginning one student said, "It can't do that.  It can't go up and then down."  The other students realized their peer was right and changed their design using a longer tube.

The students began adding blocks to help support their tubes.  I mentioned this noticing and a student said, "It like supports on our bridge" Once the path for the ball was complete the students began decorating the end of the path with our loose parts.

 

As the students were adding the decorations on the end C. was continuing to perfect the ramp/ pathway for the balls.  He tried many different tubes and pieces of cardboard to get the balls to go  under the table and to the decorations.