Kindergartners have continued to enjoy our cold, often snowy, mornings in our forest classroom. With the change in season, their use of the space has changed as well. The children have begun to play chase and tag games, as the space has opened up with all the leaves completely down. Often some children will stay in the fire circle area, helping to start and stoke the fire, lending a hand with preparing snack, and visiting with each other. Recently, one child discovered an area of mud near the fire circle that is predominantly clay. Using one of our bannock bread sticks, this child molded the clay around the end of the stick. He then fired it, literally, holding it in the fire to to see if it would make a cup, like when we put items in the kiln at school. Several other children tried to replicate his experiment. Though none of the clay vessels got completely hardened all the way through, the outsides did begin to dry and harden.
Lunar New Year was an extra busy day in Kindergarten. The day before was a snow day, so we had even more than usual to get done the morning of the feast. The children came through beautifully, as usual. They had come up with their own versions of fortunes for the fortune cookies that were our contribution to the feast. Though they are an American Chinese restaurant tradition, rather than a traditional Lunar New Year food, the children love creating the fortunes, stuffing and folding the cookies, and of course eating the cookies and reading the fortunes. A classic Kindergarten fortune this year was, "You will soon have a loose tooth." Along with making the cookies, the children also helped put our dragon together for the dragon dance, practiced the dance in the dragon, and decided on positions for the dance leading the rest of the groups to the start of the feast. The children enjoyed eating the cookies, as well as the tea from Nursery, stir fry veggies made by the Younger Group, and the egg rolls and sushi (an Antioch School Lunar New Year tradition) made by the Older Group. One Kindergartner declared it, "One of the best dragon dances ever!" I would definitely agree!
Valentine's Day followed close on the heels of our Lunar New Year celebration this year. The children spent one morning decorating and hanging their Valentine sacks. The next morning, children excitedly delivered Valentines. There were many intent Kindergartners bent over their cards, checking and re-checking the names and helping friends do the same, to make sure each one was delivered to the correct bag. The children planned to open their cards in the afternoon, which we did right after lunch. When I asked the children if there was anything we needed to remember, before we got our bags and opened the cards, this is what they said, "Say, 'Thank you.' Make sure you get your own bag. Look for the name on the card for who it is from." For the next ten or fifteen minutes, the children opened their cards with tremendous appreciation and gratitude. They patiently opened cards, read names or helped each other read names, and then sought the attention of the card giver to express thanks and give compliments. If you are ever in need of Valentine's Day spirit, visit Antioch School Kindergarten, it is here in abundance!
