Oh the winsome days of summer... wait, it is JANUARY. Well we aren't going to ignore a blessing like a seventy degree day in the middle of winter. So on Tuesday we voted to have a picnic at the park on Wednesday and that is just what we did.We gathered some sun-nut butter sandwiches, pretzels, red peppers (thanks Chase), craisins and even a few cookies and headed off to the park. When a class takes a field trip it seems like a 'day off', and in many ways it is, but it is also a fabulous learning opportunity for the children and the teachers.
Before we had walked more than a few feet down the sidewalk, the students caught sight of an interesting sculpture."What is that?", a student called out. Another answered, "A rocket", another, "A space ship", and one more said, "I don't know, but I like it".
We walked on and soon a chorus of children, call out, "Hey what's that sound?"Boom-da-ta-boom-boom-hammer
The sound captivated the class. Some students covered their ears, others laughed aloud, while still others tried to mimic the sound. This experience prompted us to begin listening for the other symphonies of sound all around us: the scurry of a squirrel, the rustle of dry leaves, the thud of foot fall, the zooming cadence of cars stopping and going... one student commented, "The world is full of music". Yes it is and all too often we forget to listen...
Upon arrival, we lay down our picnic blanket and gathered around it. The sandwiches and snacks were quickly divvied up and the students settled into eating, drinking and chatting with friends.
When all the food was either consumed or abandoned the playground called irresistibly for play, which was answered by an eager rush onto the sandy pit. Watching the full body movements of the young is always a treat. Here you can see some photos of the fun:There was climbing,
And more climbing,
Sliding down poles,
And sliding down slides,
Jumping on a jiggly bridge...
And even riding on a chipmunk.
Then a common interest emerged... DIGGING and soon the sandy floor was peppered with small bodies in motion, scooping, digging, piling, pounding.
There were deep motes for pirate ships,
and castles full of adventure,
or danger.
There was even a hole so deep that it was difficult to see the bottom of it without the glaring flash of a camera. 
One of the interesting things about an open ended child driven/directed project, like digging in the sand, is the storytelling involved in the process. Each child or group of children was engaged in an evolving story and the digging motion was inextricably linked to that story, in a sort of invisible dance. It is always breathtaking to watch this process, like watching a ballet or hearing a great poem read or a stream of music played. The spontaneous creativity of the very young never ceases to amaze.When we returned to the classroom, Shannon read us several fabulous stories, made all the more fantastic by her gift of storytelling.
It was a wonderful day and a fabulous week! In closure, we would like to extend a heartfelt hello across the oceans to our friend Patrick and his family! Say hello to the salty sea for each of us!
Announcements:Studio Night has been changed from Thu. February 12th to Wed. February 11th.
There will be no school on Feb 13th-17th.
The reader sheet has been on the sign in clip board. If you would like to be a reader in our classroom, please sign up. If those times are not convenient for you, please see Angelina or Shannon to find another date that is.
Please make sure that we have a winter-weather appropriate change of clothes for your child.
We'll see you again next week!
The class of WHPM
Meanwhile during the day, we continue to explore the environment, have new lessons, and practice work we enjoy. Poking out continents is a popular geography activity. Using a stylus to perforate a shape builds pincer grip strength and eye-hand coordination. Children like to do one continent and wear it as a necklace or poke out all 7 to make a map.
Over the winter break we rearranged some areas of the classroom and added many new works like counting with 
Shoveling...
Building snowmen...
Playing hide and seek...
and making snowballs.
