Aurora School - Clover Publishing 2021

Establishing Connections; C r e a t i n g Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n s Encounters with Relationships

2020/2021

Establishing Connections; Creating Transformations “Dare to dream and make dreams come true”

-To H o a i 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 buil t 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 connec ting and how cou ld we strengthen this?

We know that it is through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things that children have oppor tunities to try out their ideas and refine their working theories.

We noticed common threads that resonated throughout the school; attachment and change therefore Establishing Connec tions; Creating Transformations was born.

Empowering children to learn and grow requires teachers to foster children’s agency to create and ac t on their own ideas. So it was vital that the children were able todiscover the connec tion between themselves and their environment, the connec ting 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 connec tion and transformation in meaningful, age appropriate ways.It has also been a journey of discovering and strengthening the wonder ful dispo sitions of learning we had noticed. The resilience, courage, curiosity, per sistence and determination found in our children alongside the kindness and respec t they were displaying as they connec ted and formed relationships.

At the beginning of our projec t we also met Cricket. We honoured To Hoai,the great Vietnamese writer through his wonder ful book written in the 1930’s ‘The Adventures of Cricket’. Connec tion and transformation were two very strong themes that ran throughout the story. Connec tion being the joining together in harmony that cricket discovered through the relationships he made and the transformation cricket under takes throughout his journey, of his charac ter, his beliefs, his attitudes and his way of life.We all fel t cricket’s journey became our own.

Introduction

“Children need the freedom to appreciate the infinite resources of their hands, their eyes and their ears, the resources of forms, materials, sounds and colours” LO R I S M A L AG U Z Z I S i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e y e a r, o u r C l o v e r f r i e n d s h a v e i n s p i r e d a l l o f u s w i t h t h e i r j oy f u l, b o l d a n d c re a t i v e ex p e r i m e n t i n g . T h e C l ov e r c h i l d re n have dared to explore materials in deep and thought-provoking ways. As committed researchers, they have focused on cer tain materials over the c o u r s e o f t h e y e a r. B y c o n t i n u i n g t o e x p l o r e f u r t h e r a n d d e e p e r, t h e C l o v e r children have experienced first-hand how limitless each material can be.

F r o m p e n c i l s , m a r k e r s , o i l p a s t e l s a n d p a i n t s t o s a n d , w a t e r, p o m - p o m s a n d loose par ts, the Clover children are constantly finding new ways to push and extend the possibilities for experimentation, expression, communication and learning.

The Beginning All of our Clover friends are interested in drawing on the different sur faces around t h e m . W h e n w e o f f e r t h e m o n e c a n v a s , t h e y f i n d a n o t h e r. I t a l l b e g a n o n o u r f i r s t d ay a s C l ov e r c l a ss . We h a d s e t u p b a m b o o l e av e s ov e r p a p e r o n o u r e a s e l. A n A n chose a green piece of chalk and drew two green sketches besides each twig of bamboo. Observing that she might have created representations of the leaves, we f e t c h e d m o r e j u n g l e l e a v e s a n d a d d e d t h e m t o a l a r g e p i e c e o f p a p e r i n o u r a t e l i e r.

We offered tempera paint. Most of the children painted around the leaves, but Emi painted on them. Some children began mixing the paint with their hands and painting on the mirror on our table. Seeing that they enjoyed mixing the paint on the mirrors, we invited them to paint on our mirror par tition. In the following days, our friends e x p l o r e d m o r e m a r k- m a k i n g t e c h n i q u e s a n d t o o l s . O f t e n , o u r f r i e n d s w o u l d t e s t t h e i r d raw i n g m a t e r i a l s o n d i f fe re n t s u r fa c e s s u c h a s t h e wa l l, w o o d e n b l o c ks , c h a i rs , mirrors and even their own hands, arms and faces!

A f t e r o u r f r i e n d s b e g a n h o l d i n g t h e i r p a p e r u p t o t h e w a l l s t o d r a w, w e b e g a n c o v e r i n g o u r w a l l s i n p a p e r. W e f i l l e d l a r g e s h e e t s o f p a p e r w i t h a m y r i a d o f c o l o r f u l e x p l o r a t i o n s i n d r a w i n g . H o w e v e r, e v e n w h e n w e c o v e r e d o u r w a l l s i n p a p e r, o u r friends still found new corners and spaces to draw on in our room.

Clover Collaborative Artwork

M s M a r y, N a s t y a , M i z u k i , A s a - E m i

Wa t e rc o l o u r - A n A n

Wa t e rc o l o u r - K h a n g

Blue Chalk Pastel on Black Card - Nastya

The children seem fascinated by the control they are gaining over their scribbling. They are deeply interested in the connection between their movements and the lines that appear before them! They are also still discovering what drawing utensils can do and how they can move!

B l u e C h a l k P a s t e l o n B l a c k C a r d - To n y

We also believe that the children are interested in transforming their environment. They love to stick c l a y, t a p e a n d p l a y d o u g h o n t o the walls and mirrors. They really enjoy standing as they work and transforming windows, mirrors, walls and furniture with their ar twork.

We believe that the children relish the freedom to change and al ter their environment. We have observed that they especially enjoy using chalk and m a r ke r t o d raw o n w o o d, wa l l s a n d p a p e r. W e b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y c h o o s e these drawing materials because they m a k e c l e a r, b o l d m a r k s . T h e y s e e m t o be testing whether or not their marks will show up on different sur faces.

We also believe that they are deeply interested in the increased control they are gaining over their scribbling. Some children are beginning to make representations of their friends and family members using lines, dots and circles.

We wo n d e r h ow t h e c h i l d re n’s drawings will develop over time.

S p e c i f i c a l l y, w e a r e c u r i o u s t o s e e how they use drawing, language, lines, symbolism and more to communicate their working theories, share their passions and ideas and learn about the world around them.

All We Can Do With Red and Blue

Ar twork by Wing Wing

Ar twork by Emi

Since our Clover friends are very passionate m a r k- m a k e r s , w e d e c i d e d t o t r y a n e x p e r i m e n t i n m a r k- m a k i n g !

Our drawing provocation included only red or blue drawing marking tools. We used chalk and oil pastels as well as colored pencils and fel t-tip pens. We thought that this provocation might inspire our friends to focus on the thickness of the lines, shine, smudge and other elements of these different tools.

C o n v e r s e l y, w e t h o u g h t t h a t this provocation might also inspire our friends to think deeply about the colors red and blue. What red and blue things are they most interested in? What red or blue things could they dream up? Will the chosen colors steer and direct their play or will they dream up new thoughts without regard for color?

Artwork here

Ar twork by Duong

"Creativity seems to emerge from mul tiple experiences, coupled with a well-suppor ted development of personal resources including a sense of f r e e d o m t o v e n t u r e b e y o n d t h e k n o w n ."

- Lo r i s M a l a g u z z i

“Colour is a power which directly influences the soul”

Paul was hesitant to join the provocation until we offered him the blue and red pens that we were using to take notes. After drawing with the pens, Paul decided to explore the other marking tool!

Bell began by collec ting the drawing utensils and sor ting them before drawing with two utensils at once!

Our friends also enjoyed collec ting red and blue items. A red ball was placed in our box of red drawing utensils. Ti noticed Duong stirring a red pencil in a p l a s t i c b o t t l e a n d d e c i d e d t o d o t h e s a m e . L a t e r, t h e y c o l l e c t e d r e d p o m poms and pastels in their bottles.

Jessica decided to drawing a swimming pool in all red! When we asked her if the water in the her pool was hot, she thought about the idea and repeated “ w a t e r h o t .”

Ar twork by Bell

Painting with Turmeric We began our investigations using turmeric which is famous for producing rich hues. Lids filled with water and turmeric powder were laid on the table.

Wa t e r c o l o r p a p e r a n d p a i n t b r u s h e s w e r e r e a d y f o r s t i r r i n g , t e s t i n g a n d whatever other actions might occur!

Our friends immediately tipped the water into the turmeric powder and began s t i r r i n g ! T h e y w e r e a l s o e a g e r t o p a i n t w i t h t h e i r m i x t u r e s . Yo u s e e m e d q u i t e intent as you painted with your new paint, Clover friends. I think that you were curious about the powder and about the richer colors and the lighter colors. When you poured the paint onto the paper or applied paint over and o v e r, y o u r c o l o r s b e c a m e m o r e b o l d ! T h r o u g h p a i n t i n g , y o u w e r e t e s t i n g y o u r color and learning about what you had made.

For those of you who were intent making more paint in order to learn more about the paint and your own process for creating it, we offered you acetate paper and more turmeric and water so that you could observe the two paint-creating materials on their own.

A s p a r t o f o u r m a r k- m a k i n g p r o j e c t , w e d e c i d e d t o t r y a n e w m a r k- m a k i n g technique: marbling! Our friends dropped ink into a water-based solution, swirled the ink and water using paintbrushes and dipped their papers onto the ink to reveal magical designs! Our friends marveled at the designs they were able to create and the way that the colors swirled in the w a t e r.

This experience, coupled with our p a s s i o n f o r m a r k- m a k i n g o f a l l k i n d s , inspired us to try making our own paints from nature! We thought that our inquisitive friends would love to observe first hand how pigments, water and their own actions can work together to create color!

Tu r m e r i c P a i n t i n g - T i

Tu r m e r i c P a i n t i n g - M J

Butterfly-pea Flower and Lime Next, we tried painting with Butter fly-pea flowers. These flowers are used to make a gorgeous blue tea. When citrus juice is added to the tea, it turns purple! How exciting! We decided to paint with the blue tea and to experiment with the color-changing effec t by squeezing the lime juice direc tly onto the p a p e r. W e d i d n ’ t t e l l y o u w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n , b u t a f e w o f y o u d i s c o v e r e d t h i s a m a z i n g e f f e c t b y y o u r s e l v e s ! Yo u l o o k e d a s t o n i s h e d w h e n y o u n o t i c e d that your paint had turned purple by adding something that was GREEN? This wa s v e r y c u r i o u s i n d e e d… O t h e rs w e re fo c u s e d o n t h e m a ny b e a u t i f u l s h a d e s of blue that the tea could create. The natural blue shades were absolutely gorgeous. We think that you were also impressed by their beauty since many o f y o u w e re v e r y q u i e t a s y o u w o r ke d. We o f fe re d y o u fo l d e d p a p e r s i n c e w e thought you might try pressing the blue flowers to extract more pigment.

I n s t e a d, s o m e o f y o u ex p e r i m e n t e d w i t h m i r ro re d i m a g e s by fo l d i n g y o u r papers to reveal a mirrored painting on the other side. Some of you also enjoyed observing how the paint and juice dripped down your folded papers.

M J, M i z u k i , E m i a n d J e s s d r e w w i t h o i l p a s t e l s b e f o r e a d d i n g p a i n t . H e r e i s their conversation: "It's so big"- Jess (referring to her slice of lime) "It's so small"- Emi "So strong"- Jess (squeezing her lime with FORCE!) "Number 7!"- (MJ points to his paper with a blue seven painted on it) " M J n u m b e r 7 a l r e a d y. M J n u m b e r o n e ! " " Lo o k ! S o m a ny l e m o n s ! S o sw e e t- i t s m e l l s s o g o o d ! Lo o k h e re , s o m a ny ! " Jess (squeezing more and more lime juice onto her picture) "W!"- MJ "A , B , C , D " - E m i ( b e g i n s s i n g i n g ) “ O h m y g o o d n e s s ; M s . M a r y o h m y g o o d n e s s ”- E m i ( p o i n t i n g a t M i z u k i m i x i n g lime in the paint)

It is impor tant to revisit experiences so that we can observe how our skills, interests and knowledge have evolved over time. As we p re d i c t e d, o u r f r i e n d s h av e b e g u n w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r i n i n c re d i b l e ways .

They observe each other and offer their help. They mimic their friends’ work and also share their own ideas.

Butterfly Pea Painting - Asa

Butterfly Pea Painting - Anna

Butterfly Pea Painting - Mizuki

A New Technique - Monoprinting Wing Wing, you made a series of incredible paintings by stamping paint from a nearly empty paint b o t t l e ! Yo u a s k e d f o r m o r e a n d m o r e paint bottles in different colors: " m o r e , m o r e , m o r e p l e a s e ." - W i n g Wing On this morning, we tried a new printmaking technique called monoprinting! We rolled out the paint and drew lines in the paint using q-tips! After that, we pressed a piece of paper down and gently rubbed the back of the paper before picking i t u p t o r e v e a l o u r p r i n t ! Yo u a l l understood how to do the technique quite quickly! We were so impressed!

Yo u l o v e d r e v e a l i n g y o u r s p e c i a l prints!

Monoprinting - Asa

Exploring Inks; A Final Collaborative Piece K n o w i n g h o w p a s s i o n a t e w e a r e a b o u t m a r k- m a k i n g , M s C h a r l o t t e d e c i d e d to introduce a new material to us: inks! Over the course of a few weeks, we w o r k e d o n i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e s o n w h i t e p a p e r a n d b r i g h t l y c o l o r e d p a p e r. W e e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t m a r k- m a k i n g t o o l s : l e a v e s f r o m t h e g a r d e n , b r u s h e s a n d s t i c k s ! F i n a l l y, w e b e g a n w o r k i n g o n a c o l l a b o r a t i v e p i e c e inspired by the collaborative pieces we created at the beginning of the year u s i n g p e n c i l s a n d f e l t - t i p p e n s . O n e d a y, w e u s e d r e d a n d g r e e n i n k s . A n o t h e r d a y, w e u s e d r e d a n d p u r p l e . Yo u w e r e v e r y i n t e r e s t e d i n e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h brushes and sticks to make highly original and creative marks and designs.

A small group of you were especially interested in working with the bold inks a n d t h e d i f f e r e n t m a r k- m a k i n g t o o l s .

We decided to add another layer to our collaborative piece as we love to do. We had many oil pastels in a l l s h a d e s a n d h u e s ! Yo u r f a c e s lit up when you saw so many rich c o l o r s ! Yo u a d d e d b o l d , i n t e r e s t i n g and playful marks to our piece. How do your first collaborative pieces compare to this one? What new lines and shapes have you discovered? How does this piece make you feel? What does this piece tell you about the children who created it?

Ink on Paper - Quoc Anh

Ink on Paper - Jelle

It has been an honor to witness your t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t h i s y e a r, C l o v e r c h i l d r e n .

S i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e y e a r, y o u h a v e b e e n p a s s i o n a t e r e s e a r c h e r s o f l i n e , c o l o r, movement and the relationship between ourselves and the marks we make. As you grow and change, we observe you looking to your friends for inspiration, answers, jokes a n d s h a r e d p a s s i o n s . Yo u a r e m o r e a n d m o r e interested in connecting with your peers, and you see drawing as a way for you to come t o g e t h e r, t o s h a r e a n d t o g r o w. A s y o u g r o w, w e hope that you continue to explore “ the infinite resources” available to you and within you. We h o p e t h a t y o u c o n t i n u e t o d r a w, t o p a i n t , t o e t c h , t o e x p l o r e f u r t h e r, t h i n k d e e p e r a n d t o dare to change the world around you. We love the moments when you look at each other and know that the other will enjoy your idea or joke or even already be thinking about the same t h i n g . H u m a n c o n n e c t i o n g i v e s u s j o y, s t r e n g t h and love, and you have all already found those t h i n g s i n e a c h o t h e r.

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AURORA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 11 - 11A - 13 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. +84 (028) 3744 2991

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Scholastic Year 2020/2021