Printmaking & Storytelling

The Catbirds will build out of any available material, although the magnatiles allow them the greatest freedom of experimentation. These days, new geometric shapes emerge daily, as do structures that seem to defy gravity. 

Friends have begun to try and extend the things that they can do with the power of magnets, using structure and balance. Although these wooden buildings often come noisily clattering to the ground, the Catbirds are undeterred. It is our math and our science and, quite often, our social development.

For classroom clean up, we have been using four very different sounding buzzers. We began with one, and every time a Catbird put away 5 things, they rang the buzzer. We have now moved up to multiples of 5, and friends are using their math skills to figure out how many buzzers they can hit. Some friends run over and say, "I put 7 things away!" We ask how many more until they reach ten, so that they can hit two buzzers. The Catbirds help one another figure out the math, and it makes clean up go quickly.

At Morning Meeting, Darcy the puppet came to visit and read us a new book, What Are You So Grumpy About? Darcy reported feeling grumpy herself, so we tried to help her figure out why.

Turns out many of the things in the book also make Catbirds feel grumpy.

After Darcy was tickled (just like the person in the story), she did not feel grumpy anymore.

After, we rated the story (thumbs up, thumbs sideways, thumbs down and moose ears), we discussed what made it a good story. Friends reported liking it because it was very funny - one of the feelings that can be part of a good story.

We also had a printmaking demonstration, using fingerpaints.

Friends got to put paint right on the table and make a pattern or picture with it. When they were ready, we pressed paper into it, and pulled up a print. We will be doing these for the next few days, as friends were very excited about it.

Also, although we don't have photos, friends also began telling their own stories on video. They also did a group song performance - all of which will be revealed in time.