In the School-age 2 program, the children have been really enjoying exploring outside. Last week they decided to explore with chalk, as each child began to draw individually on the pavement. Without realizing it, they had connected their creation as one! They began describing and talking amongst each other what their plan could be. It all started with a single little house and a road to no where, extending the road with circles. When educator Natalie asked what the circles where they replied “roundabouts, like every road has.” Their roads turned into so much more, Natalie could see development in the making! Braydon drew a “sky scraper” with many levels and windows as well as an airport with a “hanger” that he described. Maddy drew a cross and when she told Natalie about it, it was the school. Natalie asked if Maddy was going to draw the building, her school then turned into a cemetery with multiple crosses. As the children all continued to draw, Natalie noticed Tanner was writing what looked like the name of something on her building. She told Natalie it was “Walmart” where you go shopping. The dialogue between the children continued as the city came to life! Everyone working so well as a team!
As Natalie walked around to observe everything that was being created, Landon was following the road and turned in circles at the roundabouts. The group each took a step back to see what they could add to their city. Maddy added a playground with swings, Tanner chose to add few houses and cars on the road with stop signs. Landon found some chalk and decided to join and make circles and lines which Natalie thought looked very similar to more roads and roundabouts!
While observing the children all being creative, Natalie really enjoyed the team building, talking amongst each other and taking each others point of view. The children have great fine motor skills and amazing imaginations in creating a city with such details! We can’t wait to see what they will create next as a team!
