Groundhog Day

It's Groundhog Day and we went looking for shadows.

Inside, behind our screen the children play with the overhead projector.

Not all of them notice the shadows that they are making on the larger screen

but once they do they tend to add more.

At the art table they tried to make their own shadows using small toys

and flashlights.

That was very simple, the hard part was documenting that shadow.

Paint, brush and water were provided 

but it was hard to make the shadow and paint it.

This process made for a good cooperative activity with their grown up.

Off to the side was another area to explore.

 Then we went outside.

We first we stood close to the school where the sun couldn't find us.

After looking and not seeing our shadows

we walked into the sun.

Using chalk we traced each other's shadows.

Before we went out we read the book "The Black Rabbit"

by Philippa Leathers.

At the end of the book rabbit and the Black Rabbit hold hands

and walk off together.

Some children tried to trace their grown ups shadow.

It took her a while but she persisted and finished it.

Light in Our Dark Space

 

We added the overhead projector in to our dark space this week.

Play, colour exploration and noticing shadows.

Tucked inside our dark space children are having fun.

Seeing things in a different way.

Overhead Projector Exploration 2016

The overhead projector is available to use quite often, in our centre, but then other ideas happen and something has to be put away.  That's what happen during November and December so when I brought it out after Christmas break is was like a new toy.

I used pvc pipes to create a frame so I could hang

a sheet for a screen. 

Bare walls are limited in my room so this worked well.

It also works well on the other side so no matter where you are

in the room you can see what is happening.

It's like enjoying a theatre production.

 

At first the children explored the light, turning it on and off.

Then the parents encouraged them to use their hands and helped them connect what they were doing and what was being seen on the screen.

We learned that what was put on the glass was the opposite

of what we saw on the big screen.

Then they began to explore with materials provided in baskets

in front of the projector.

I soon noticed other toys from around the room were

finding their way to the projector.

We began to see stories unfold.

This was the beginning of our light and shadow exploration.

For two weeks the children would revisit the overhead projector

using whatever caught their interest from around the room.

Exploring Shadows

For the past month we have been exploring light and dark, black and white. 
                This led us to using light to create shadows.
                  

The children recognize the light, and everything between the object and the light, but finding the shadow that lays on the table behind the object is very difficult. 
                
As the children played with the items on the table they created a spot light which
                  prompted me to get out our crank flashlights.
        
The only dark place, in our room to use the flashlights, was under the table.
                 Turned out the children liked the little hide away.
                  
                    I decided to give them something to search for.
                    
        I printed pictures of a bunny, cow, dinosaur, eagle and letters A-F.
                   
As we were discovering the pictures and letters, this child noticed that B goes with bunny.  Together we matched the rest of the letters to pictures but noticed that two letters didn’t have pictures to match.
     
A and F were missing pictures.  When asked what starts with A (ah) she thought and said "apple".  I encouraged her to draw a picture to add under the table.
                  
Then we worked on the letter F and decided to draw a frog but she said she didn’t
                              know how to draw it so I volunteered.

                
                    For a few days I left this message on top of the table.
    
           
                       More children discovered the pictures and letters.                    
                     It’s wonderful learning when the unplanned happens!

Light and Shadows

Our overhead projector is always available and we usually use the wall for a screen.  The last two weeks we’ve moved the projector and now it shines on to a big white sheet set up on a frame.
                   
                   
                We started with coloured rings, little fairies and trees.
        
The children playing with the overhead slowly made the connection with what they put on the glass with what was shining on the big sheet.  But they hadn’t yet discovered that others could see it on the other side.
   
            
We added shapes and snow flakes and watched as they pieced them together
                                   to make pictures.
            
      
We added doilies, stencils and see-through fabric.  The children were beginning to move back and forth between the light source and the screen.
             
      
Working together (a little begrudgingly) filling a stencil with jewels and coloured gems to make designs, drew more attention from the people in the rest of the room.
               
                     
We will continue looking around the room and trying different materials on the overhead.  What pieces combined will make interesting designs?  Which will let the light shine through?  Which will be solid and just a black shape?