Establishing Connections; Creating Transformations
Encounters with Relationships
Establishing Connections; Creating Transformations
“Dare to dream and make dreams come true”
-To Hoai
At the core of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and our own, is the emphasis on building and sustaining relationships. We believe that strong communities are built on relationships.
So when we gathered as a teaching team early in the year, it was only right that we had many discussions about what we had been noticing in the classes when observing our children. How were they developing a sense of belonging? What were the signs of a community of learners connecting and how could we strengthen this?
We know that it is through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things that children have opportunities to try out their ideas and refine their working theories.
We noticed common threads that resonated throughout the school; attachment and change therefore Establishing Connections; Creating Transformations was born. Empowering children to learn and grow requires teachers to foster children’s agency to create and act on their own ideas. So it was vital that the children were able to discover the connection between themselves and their environment, the connecting links between family and school, the relationships between materials and how all of these could be transformed.
Through the hundred languages we have explored these very broad concepts of connection and transformation in meaningful, age appropriate ways.It has also been a journey of discovering and strengthening the wonderful dispositions of learning we had noticed. The resilience, courage, curiosity, persistence and determination found in our children alongside the kindness and respect they were displaying as they connected and formed relationships.
At the beginning of our project we also met Cricket. We honoured To Hoai,the great Vietnamese writer through his wonderful book written in the 1930’s ‘The Adventures of Cricket’. Connection and transformation were two very strong themes that ran throughout the story. Connection being the joining together in harmony that cricket discovered through the relationships he made and the transformation cricket undertakes throughout his journey, of his character, his beliefs, his attitudes and his way of life.We all felt cricket’s journey became our own.
Our Journey Together
From the beginning of the year, it was very obvious that our Bamboo children's interests were driven by the language of imaginative role play. Although, we didn't know in advance what direction the learning would go, as teachers, we observed, listened and planned provocations in order to facilitate and to enhance their working theories, ideas, feelings, understanding and knowledge. The connection and transformation aspect was very present when we noticed bonds being made between children, connecting links with their family and the transformation of themselves as they acted out various roles.
Their imaginative play was becoming more complex day by day. Pretending to be someone or something different other than themselves swept the class. Much of the play was focused on family life imaginative role play, dressing up and on construction. We noticed there was a strong need to express their 100 hundred languages, so were also encouraging the many ways children could express their ideas through drawing, playing, painting, sculpting, dance, music and movement.
In the dramatic play area, the teaching team, acted as play-partners, scaffolding the children’s learning to a new level, encouraging collaboration and providing different settings for them to explore and experience. Observing our children immersed in role playing also gave us a glimpse of our children’s understanding of their world. It was a wonderful learning journey alongside the children.
Stegosaurus Dinosaur - Yousol
"Family
and dramatic play occurs when children take on the role of someone and act out their feelings and events. When children act out their own life experiences, it helps them make sense of what is happening in their lives and the world around them"
-
Te Whariki The Early Child hood Curriculum of New Zealand
Painting with flowers - Minh
Engaging in Imaginative Play...The Begining
An invitation to make crowns for fairies and to have a fairy tea party felt magical. Let's celebrate imagination and play...
James and Castille had so much fun playing and creating fun fairy stories after making their headbands with feathers, flowers and other loose parts.
The World of Make Beleive
Doha and James created their own world of a jungle and the ocean...
“I make the ocean gate”James Jungle cave” - Doha
“This is a crocodile and this is a baby crocodile” - Doha
“Look, this is a sound ocean” - James
It’s always fun having a picnic with friends. The children had the idea to set up and prepare their own picnic area and food.
‘‘There is no friend as loyal as a book’’ - Ernest Hemingway
On Book Character Day, our children were invited to dress up as their favorite characters from books they love and many brought their favorite book to read together.
Yousol's mum surprised us with a very special book today - a book about Yousol's life and adventures in Vietnam. It was written and drawn by Yousol and her dad. Such a treasure to share.
The Hobbit - Hugo
Watercolour and String - Mip
Master Chefs
Following their interest in cooking , we offered our Bamboo children an invitation to explore in our outdoor garden. We spent the morning playing coffee shop, making coffee, tea, and even a few fruit smoothies. We offered our children coffee, dry orange slices, cinnamon, leaves, flowers and flower bulbs…
"I want candy. Can I have one, candy? Yummy... and I want a smoothie”
- - Hugo
"No, smoothie now". - Yaua
"Here, Hugo, come eat your lunch"
- Yaua
"Add sugar to this'
- Hugo
"I mix it?"
- Castille?
“Who wants sugar?”
- Yaua
"I put more sugar for you, Hugo?"
- Castille
"Yes, but keep the candy for me"
- Hugo
“Too much water, it's the soup”
- Arthur
“Cinnamon smells so good”
- Chip
“I love this coffee”
- Amber
“It smells so good”
- Yousol
Imaginative play supports learning in many ways. In particular, children’s developing capability to be expressive, where they discover and develop different ways to be creative and where children are encouraged to learn equitably alongside each other. When play involves other people, opportunities arise for children to become aware of others. When there is conflict in play or when children want the play to continue, some level of negotiation or compromise often needs to occur.
Cat Family - Arthur
Ghost - Julia
Great Monster - Doha
Discovering Insects in Our Garden
We have loved seeing an interest in creatures found in the garden. The children’s curiosity has been joyful to observe. A dragonfly that visited, saw the children deeply engaged and observing... even though they told me they were a bit scared of it. There was much conversation as to why the dragonfly couldn’t fly. “It’s too tired and hungry to fly..."
" We found millipede!!" - Yaua
" Yes, me too" - Doha
" I found a black one. It's mommy "- James
" I have a baby" - Doha
" The daddy is there, let's go" - Yaua
“What’s important is that children have an opportunity to bond with the natural world, to learn to love it and feel comfortable in it, before being asked to heal its wounds.”
— David Sobel
Snail - James
The Adventures of Cricket
Our cricket came to life through the the language of paint. This provocation was an amazing collaborative experience as the children discovered the power of expression. Painting is always a good opportunity to help the children show their imaginations. This provocation was an amazing collaborative experience to discover how the brush strokes differ and interact.
“Dare to dream and make dreams come true”
- To Hoai
“ All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow”
- Leo Tolstoy
Hair Salon Provocation
Mip got a cool new hairstyle with feathers by our creative hairdresser Yaua.
"I want to wash my hair" - Yuri
"Ok, you sit here" - Thao Vy
"Wait, get a shampoo" - Yousol
"Hugo, do you want to do your hair? - Yaua
"No, I want to go to the spa" - Hugo
"I want to lie down here" - Doha
" "Put cucumber on my face" - Hugo
"Me too " - Yousol
"Put cucumber on my eyes and clay on my feet" - Chip
"Ok, we will do it” - Yuri
Rainbow - Castille
As the Bamboo children continued to grow , their imaginative play expanded day by day. It was wonderful to observe the interests driving their play. We noticed that during their pretend play some of the children decided to create family life where everyone had a different role. It all began when teachers spotted James, Yaua, Castille, Julia and Thao Vy setting up their own home corner. It was very interesting to observe what they were doing…
After observing the play over time, we noticed the different roles being assigned. Some chose to be the babies, others the moms and the big sisters. Some of the children took the role of the cook and made sure everyone had something to eat and that they were comforted when crying! It was lovely to see the caring happening with comfortable pillows and the addition of fabrics as bed covers added. The negotiation and democratic process of deciding on the characters was evolving too as were the invitations for more friends to join.
House for Mummy - Koi
I cook some food for baby"
- Castille
I'm Daddy. You are Mommy, okay? "
- Koi asked Thao Vy
"Yes, I'm Mommy"
-Thao Vy
" Baby drinks milk" - Koi
"Baby is cold, get blanket for baby"
-Thao Vy
"Wear diaper for baby" - Udon
Background art by Udon
Daddy, Mommy, Vy - Thao Vy
Mommy, Sister and I - Vi Anh
For some of the children, the little house became a big boat in the middle of the ocean! We decided to bring that amazing idea outdoors… "This is a boat. So windy. It falls in the ocean" -Hugo "I'm a Shark in the ocean" - James "I'm a Pirate" - Hugo "I'm a Crocodile "- Doha "I'm a shark too" - Koi
The dramatic area was very busy, with the children engaged in different play and it was lovely to see how well everyone was taking turns to use the baby bottles and the tub.
“ Because the baby is cold, I cover her” - Yaua “ Shhh, baby goes to sleep already” - Hugo
Baby Needs Clothes
Ms. Charlotte invited the children to make new clothes for baby. Many different fabrics with bright colours and a variety of textures were offered. Some children chose to use the fabric to swaddle the baby. Very gently, they made many layers to wrap the baby. “Is baby cold? Ms. Charlotte ‘’No she’s very hot’’ Castille It was obvious the children enjoyed cutting the fabric with scissors and then the magical discovery of ripping the fabric occurred. It was noticed that ripping made a loud noise!
It’s wonderful to see how this kind of role-play allows the children to understand and express feelings through new experiences. It provides many opportunities to learn about cooperation and to develop an understanding from another person’s point of view.
Bamboo Builders
Bamboo love role playing builders. So when they were invited to the Outdoor Atelier to explore carpentry and real tools there was much excitement. They practised how to hold a hammer and how to use it safely. The colours added to the wood creations were so amazing and bright
Those of you who chose to hammer loved seeing the nails go into the wood.
''smash smash smash'' - Yousol
''band bang bang' ' - James
''So loud'' - Vi Anh
There was wonderful collaboration as we noticed the children helping each other, Some chose to hold the nail in the wood whilst someone hammered it in. Being careful with your fingers of course.
We Are Bamboosaurus
Experimenting with Tracing Paper
Tracing paper and a selection of dinosaur images proved to be a wonderful experience When the children had finished their tracing, and the tracing paper was lifted off of the original image, there was huge awe and wonder
Artwork by Vy Anh
Artwork by Vy James
Artwork by Chip
Artwork byArthur
Artwork byAmber
Using Fabric to Imagine
Arthur told teachers and friends that he wanted to be a pterodactyl so he needed wings... let’s make them together! Arthur’s idea inspired other friends who also dressed up like a Pterodactyl or a Trex, let’s bring the dinosaurs outdoors!
by Yousol
Artwork
I have noticed throughout this project such wonderful dispositions to be learners Bamboo. You are curious, you love to be challenged and you know that learning is about practice and perseverance. I have seen resilience, resourcefulness and creative problem solvers, who can work alone and in a team to achieve their goals and to tackle problems in a positive way. What a wonderful journey we have all been on.
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