weaving together curriculum and creativity

This past week the children engaged in the creative and empowering process of building books; science journals to use in our outdoor classroom. Our experience connected to essential Kindergarten curriculum. The children worked together and supported their peers, demonstrating strong social and emotional skills. They persevered at new and challenging tasks and followed specific directions. Throughout the process there was a strong sense of community, joy, challenge, flexibility, and pride.

What do we know about the structure of a book?

front cover
title/author
back cover
spine
pages

Ms. Shelley, our skilled Librarian, shared her book making knowledge and tools with us. Our process began with the naming and passing of the tools. The children felt the weight of a rubber mallet and the sharp point of an awl. Gathered around the rug Ms. Shelley taught us the steps in making our science journals and supported our community throughout the experience.

First we needed to fold a piece of paper, creating a front and back cover. Using a bone folder, students carefully pressed and pushed against the fold.

Then they counted 15 pages to go inside. We counted in groups of 5. Once their paper was secure with binder clips, the children helped to measure three holes with a ruler.

At this moment SW leaned in to help SH to measure and mark her three holes. Is the building of books an opportunity to build community? We observed as children helped their peers to follow the steps in our process; they held paper steady and gave kind reminders to be careful and give it a try.

The Kindergarteners then used their strength to lift a rubber mallet and hit it against the back of an awl, creating three holes along their fold.

The children cheered for their peers with each hammered hole. The mallet was heavy and they had to connect it to the back of the awl. One student said she couldn't do it, it was too heavy. Her peers encouraged her to use her muscles. She was able to hammer her three holes and proudly smiled, "I did it!"

 

 

 

 

 

Our second part in the process was attaching a thin stick as the spine for our journals. With the help of teachers, the children carefully sewed their book together. Weaving waxed thread over and under their sticks and through the holes they made, securing the spine and pages together.

Our journals were missing something important on the front cover, something that every book has.

The name of the author and an image to show what the book is about!

Once again we gathered together. The children used letter stamps to stamp their names across the top of the front cover; we read left to right and top to bottom. At the bottom of their front covers they chose a nature stamp; a rabbit, a plant, or little mouse tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

During our Tuesday morning meeting we used our strategy for stretching words and listening for the sounds we hear to add labels to a picture of our book making tools. The children were able to transfer skills and knowledge from our writing workshop, listening for sounds and writing the corresponding letter. Writers add labels to give information!

How do you feel after building your science journal?

Happy
Good
Proud
Happy
Proud
Proud
Amazed
Proud
Powerful
Happy
Excited

Kindergarten curriculum connections;

Literacy

knowledge of the structure of a book (front/back cover, spine, pages, author/picture)
naming and describing tools/materials (vocabulary)
labeling the tools needed to make books (letter-sound correspondence, hearing phonemes in words)
sharing how we feel after making books (speaking and listening, social and emotional)
using letter stamps to stamp our names (letter identification and formation)

Math

measuring sticks to use for the spine (same length as the front cover)
math language; top, bottom, left, same/different
counting and cardinality; three holes, 15 pages in all (groups of 5)