January 2024
Following Through With Our Designs
January 2024
This month in the school age room, we’ve seen lots of designing. The children have been sketching out characters, painting plans, and drawing out ideas before producing them in a 3D form. In the past few weeks, we have watched our 2D plans and ideas transform into 3D masterpieces! R S and M began drawing on a piece of paper different lines and shapes. After their drawing was complete, the girls took pieces of string and glued them on the lines they had planned out. Adding 3D components to paper drawings was seen all around the room. C and A D added ribbons and string to their creations to add “texture.” “This string makes my picture soft,” said A. “It’s a different texture,” said C.
Noticing this interest in both painting and 3D explorations, the school age room utilized a table and wrapped cling wrap around the legs to paint on. R painted on the wrap and had some interesting observations. “The paint is floating!” said R looking through the wrap while looking at her painting. “The paint is in the air?” asked G. “Its just pretend. It looks like its in the air,” said R
We saw more planning with crochet explorations in the room. R G drew a bunny on a piece of paper and said, “I’m going to draw it here so I can copy it when I do my crochet.” A also constructed a plan for his crochet creations. A drew out a picture of Pikachu. “I’m going to make a ball for his head and then I have to figure out how to make points for his little ears,” said A. With a little help from educators, A sewed all the pieces together and then coloured on the details.
Reflecting on designs was a bittersweet experience in the school age room. Some children found it challenging to follow their designs exactly and had difficulties comparing their product with the plan. The school age children demonstrated incredible problem solving skills with these difficult feelings and found ways to alter their finished product or tweak their original plan to better fit their wants.
Hopefully these intricate creations continue throughout the following months and we’re excited to see how these ideas continue to expand!
Jen Kesner RECE, Bobbi Abraham RECE,
Gagandeep Kaur B Phys Honours, BEd, MEd, specializing in environment and sustainability
