The Green Room's “Web House” investigation sprung from their interest in communal, improvisational building. As the web developed from a few pieces of tape into a playhouse, I supported kids to observe and record their work through photography, drawing, and writing. As they reflected, it became clear that their biggest motivation was to make a place to play pretend. The professional soft sculpture artists that kids were researching inspired a series of experiences with textile joining techniques, including embroidery, weaving, and tying knots. Kids enjoyed the challenge and responsibility implicit in this work; they carefully threaded "real needles" and practiced knot tying again and again. As the group explored the work of Nick Cave, they found resonating elements: the use of found objects, embellishment, and teamwork. In late spring, kids all made individual panels in order to complete their sculpture. Each panel started with a plan and a trip to our materials closet. Kids relied on the many techniques they learned about throughout the winter, tempered with their desire to improvise, to attach their materials to their wire panel. This activity inspired thought about the relationship between our work, our plans, and our inspiration. 

Blue Room's bagel investigation was deeply rooted in the group's needs, dynamic and interests. Since the beginning of the year, kids were fascinated by cooking: the joys of coming together to get something done, the responsibility of helping out and using real tools, and the thrilling textures and colors of mixing wet and dry ingredients. In winter kids mixed salt dough and formed pretend food. After these treasures were baked, painted, and presented along with play cookware, an interest in pretend food became immediately clear. As the baking investigation developed and turned towards bagels, classroom teachers shared texts with vivid illustrations. Kids were entranced by rainbow bagels and unicorn bagels, swirling colorful treats. It was at this point that we decided that the specialist's role was to support the fantasy element of this work. As small groups mixed enough batches of playdough to do rainbow bagel pretend, kids took increasing responsibility — measuring, pouring, and mixing by themselves and with peer assistance. We returned to the medium of baked salt dough at the end of the year as kids made pretend bagel sculptures. In this process that relied heavily on loose parts, kids demonstrated both knowledge about real bagels and their unique vision about what a bagel could be. Each bagel was presented on a place setting at a long table. As kids circled round this imaginary banquet with their grownups during our culminating open house, the community aspect inherent in bagels, baking, and dough shone through. 

Merry, Art Specialist ‘22-23