Last week's changes to the playhouse--the addition of the roof and part of the floor of the loft--were not as dramatic visually as the first week.  For the children, though, the structure became a house.  The roof provides shade, and the loft a climbing challenge, as well as a new view on the familiar playground. 

     Children from all the groups helped with construction this past week.  The foundation was completed with the addition of numerous buckets of sand--filled on sand hill and carried to the house.  The children used their feet to stomp it down and their hands to level it.  This work went on while Andy, along with a parent volunteer, worked on installing the roof.  An OG student helped Andy lift plywood into the loft to be screwed down for flooring.  The Kindergartners, aided by a Nursery visitor, were able to use the power screw driver to secure the floor. 

     By the end of the week, groups of children began utilizing the house--to climb, to gather in its loft or on its dirt floor, to play in its shade, to make it their own space. 

     The beginning of this week brought the delivery of the straw for the walls, and the clay for the plaster, which we were not able to dig from our own site after all.  With four basic materials--straw, sand, clay, and water--we will build and finish the walls for the playhouse.  Check back here to see the children's finished work soon, or better yet, if you're local, stop by in person!