The Making of a Mailbox
Friends became interested in mail when we received our first letter from our pen pals in Malaysia. How did the mail get here? By hot air balloon? Boat? How far did it travel? Literacy emerges in our 4 and 5 year old classroom. Words are powerful and children are excited to communicate through writing. First by spelling their name and then emerges a desire to write other words. Friends were excited to think about mailboxes. How does the postman or woman know where to bring the letter? What are the numbers on the mailbox for? “I think they tell how much mail to put in there. My mailbox has a 4 because I want 4 mails.” Other friends had ideas about the numbers. Geri explains about her mailbox picture, “This mailbox has a different number then my house on Verdi Way.” Asher explains, “It tells the postman where to bring the mail.”
Friends created their own mailboxes and then we began designing our classroom mailbox. Sam said, “It should have dolphins on it.” We began making our dolphin mailbox from an old box and paper mache.
Porcupines to Monsters: Claywork
We have been very engaged in clay this week. Children used sticks to create a monster and then a porcupine. The porcupine became a character in their pretend play. Before snack Chiezue covered it with a towel. “We have to cover him from the sun!” Referencing the sun pictures behind them.
Gas Machine
Block play has become very elaborate. Children build simple machines. Everything has a function. “It’s a (gas) machine,” explains Hugo.
