As a Reggio inspired school we strive for exploration and learning that is child directed. Some years it is obvious immediately what the children have a special interest in and other times it takes a few months to evolve.
Cassie loves penguins (at least she did until her grandfather told her that they bite). She ignited the class's interest in them. We explored them for a while but were ready to move on. Then, class mom, Lynne Glenn planned our trip to the High Museum to see the Eric Carle exhibit and do Eric Carle style art.We began our preparation for the outing by reading the Eric Carle books that were featured in the exhibit. The children took an immediate liking to his books and his art. Morah Sara created a matching game for the children to use when touring the museum.
Meanwhile in the classroom, the children listened to The Very Hungry Caterpillar in the listening center (thank you Jaci Effron!). They noticed the pictures of the food. At the same time we were saying the brachot/blessings on all our food. We copied the layered painting and collage style art of Eric Carle and made a brachot place mat. For Purim the children put together a Purim Purim What Do You See book similar to the Eric Carle illustrated and popular, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See." Fathers Day included Eric Carle art on a penguin.
We continued to bring Eric Carle books into the classroom. We teachers love them! The writing and illustrations support all learning domains. Carle addresses social emotional issues with books about friendship and feelings of people and animals! Cognitively, the descriptive language, learning about numbers and animals, patterns, repetition and sequencing and singing are a few of the benefits of immersing in these books. Gross and fine motor are strengthened in books with movement and copying Eric Carle's art. The children loved the humor in the book, The Nonsense Show. The Red Fox exposed us to science.
As the year drew to a close, we planned with the children their year end performance. An Eric Carle based show seemed to be the obvious choice. We needed a script with songs, costumes, and props. We could get all that from just three books. We planned and practiced.
We do an exit interview with each child. When asked, "What book/books are your favorite?", many of the children answered, "Eric Carle books." Asked what they especially enjoyed during the year, quite a few mentioned the trip to the High Museum to see the Eric Carle exhibit. At lunch one day this past week, after reading together, we asked the children why they liked the books and what they learned from them. Almost every hand shot up. The children were very eager to share their thoughts on Eric Carle's books.
Ruth: I like to read them. I like the pictures.
Pearl: I like when the hungry caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly.
Freeda: I like the collages.
Noa: I like the different colors.
Levi: I like the words and the pictures.
Cassie: I like The Nonsense Show.
Yoni: I have a game of the Hungry Caterpillar.
Max: I also like The Nonsense Show.
Izzy: I learned about numbers.
Freeda: We counted sheep in The Nonsense Show.
Sam: I like painting like Eric Carle.
Ruth: I like the repetition.
Hannah: My favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I loved reading it at the Listening Center.
Reed: The animals are interesting.
Ari Shacham: I liked the pictures.
Ari Effron: I like the collages.
Dovid: I like the colors, words and collages.
Shaya: I liked the animals.
Freeda: Eric Carle does not make it very real. He uses his imagination.
Henia: I liked everything that Eric Carle made!
The children touched on everything beneficial, fun and funny in the Eric Carle experience.
Children: you made 2016-2017 the Year of Eric Carle.
Morah Ruth
Morah Sara
Morah Gail
