Tooling Right Along!

The month of March began with a bang (or shall I say bong) as we explored clocks as tools.  We incorporated the use of clocks and time in our everyday activities and some children became even more proficient clock announcers.   ("It's time for snack!" was heard most frequently.)  Telling time on the hour, half hour, and quarter hours was practiced and perfected at a "timely" tempo.  We also practiced counting by 5, 10, and 2 to aid in our minute counting efforts.
Kindergartners are jotting  their own "List of 100 Tools" after listening to a series of stories,  Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe.  The illustrations and antics of a very handy monkey were hilarious along with a list of tools that included a "donkey wrench" "rubber duck extractor" and a

 "pajama hammer."   We designed
tool belts complete with our own tool invention designs tucked inside.

We also tried our hand at using real tools after listening to a book about sculptor Alexander Calder's childhood and young adult life entitled, Sandy's Circus.   We learned that Calder created toys as a child and later designed a menagerie of circus performers with movable parts.  We put our own hands to task and made our own  sculptures using various kinds of pliers, wire, fasteners, and cork.   Calder, the inventor of the "mobile" (and those big bright  red/orange organic-looking free standing sculptures) would have been pleased to see our creative movable feast for the eyes hanging in our window panes.   We also attempted to create "Galimotos"- a child's toy found in Africa made out of wire scraps.  It is similar to a rolling push toy.

We also decided that March came "in like a lion" with brisk and rainy days and then became very lamb-like mid-month.  We took advantage of our  balmy summer-like weather and our newly acquired skills to present a Kinder-Circus to our K-Buddies.   Kindergartners slathered face paints, brainstormed and arranged their own attractions, and performed on the playground as jumping seals, dancers, clowns, and a ringmaster or two.   During a previous writing activity, we imagined what we would like to see if we could attend a circus.   Our ideas included "I want to see a dragon and a penguin,"  "I wish I could see a connect-the-dot circus" or  "I wish I could see a sparkle kitty."  Our Buddies hopefully enjoyed the trampoline (Thanks Shan), bubble wands, face paints, balance beam,   popcorn concession stations, and making the Ks ideas come to life.

In preparation for our activities, we were inspired by The Greatest Show On Earth by John Prater, Circus Train by Jos. A. Smith, and Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Mc Cully.  We also watched a DVD with excerpts of Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam"  and "oooooed" and "ahhhhhhed" as if we were right in the audience.  Our list of circus tools included hammers, stakes, rope, tents, and trained animals.