Imagination at Work

After a great start to our morning, the power went out.... ugh!  We made the best of it, but then when the power was back on, the four fans in our ceiling decided to blow at hurricane force (and sound). Teaching over the noise and talking over the kids who were all talking over the noise, I decided enough was enough.  We donned our winter gear and went out to work on our fort (building and engineering).  The snowmen/women we designed a few weeks ago (see Strangers in the Woods) had shockingly melted.  The fort was still half standing.  

After about half an hour of building, one of the kids said, "Can we play now?"  I laughed, "Play now? You are playing.  And working."  The look on his face told me I was off base.  So I gave the green light to play.  

Whoa!  Suddenly the fort was a castle that needed defending.  The secondary fort was a hotel with a pool.  There were bedrooms under the pine boughs, snow cups and bowls in the cupboards, and oodles of snow pizza (made by the baker).  And so much more!

Imaginative play... different from structured play.  Thanks, kids, for the reminder.  

The the path to our magical, powdered sugar forest.

A Gorilla of a Guest Reader

Our school board member, Harry Welty, kindly volunteered to read to us for "I Love to Read" month. His story selections kept the class spellbound.  His visit was a delightful way to start our day.  

Honest Abe

Symmetry