Hello Athens Forest Kindergarten families!
Welcome back, Maisie! We’ve missed her so much over the past couple of months and are so happy to see her and her family again!
It was another wonderful week exploring our favorite spots at the fallen oak tree below the Crow’s Nest and in the woods near Pavilion 1. This week’s emergent “school work” was very heavily focused on our hands and I’ll share a few highlights focused solely in that area of development.
HANDS
A few students channeled their inner “forest ninjas” this week, practicing stealthy ways to move through the crunchy leaves and help friends and teachers. The ninjas successfully brought water bottles to friends in need, pushed the wagon to and from the play locations, found the boundary cones and mud kitchen tools when it was time to pack up, and washed hands and cleaned up after lunch. We love this team of ninjas!
Using small sticks, rocks, acorns, moss, bark, other materials from the forest floor, a fairy house came to life! Amora, Tilly, Silvia, Nat, and Mabel worked together all week to create an amazing little structure suitable for the Queen of the fairies complete with a “wood burning stove” and feather bed. A very serious debate emerged during the build between Mabel and Tilly: “Do fairies exist or should we make our own fairies?” Mabel was content to wait for the real fairies to arrive while Tilly made a family of fairies using sticks, leafs, mud, and acorns.
Ashley brought primary water color paints and students set to experimenting. “What happens when we mix blue and yellow in “Blue… and yellow… make GREEN!” They painted on paper, rocks, and wood. Did you find a beautiful blue or green painted stick in the bottom of your child’s backpack this week? Take a look!
The well-loved fort/house that we built last semester just isn’t big enough for all the students who are interested in playing inside of it. As a class, we set out to build an even bigger fort next door. Students worked together to gather large sticks and rocks, carry them to the build site, and determine the best place to put the sticks in order for the walls and roof to be covered. Sylvan, Nat, William, Orora, Henry, Amora, Tilly, Silvia, Caroline, and Howl all contributed to this “forest castle.” After spending time inside, Amora did mention that the wind was still getting in, so we discussed what we could do to keep the wind out. “MORE STICKS!” We’ll be working on this castle for a while. Our budding artists also used chalk pastels to “paint” the house. It is so colorful and I’m excited to see everyone work together as we built it! I suggest using your annual park pass to visit Sandy Creek Park this weekend and take a look at our buildings!
All of us are continuing to explore what makes us feel safe and happy while we play together in the forest. Students are encouraged to check in with one another, communicate their needs, and hold boundaries.
Thank you to our AFK Co-op Helpers this week: Ryan, Kirby, Hala, Clarke, and Sarah W.! Teamwork makes the dream work!
