Playground Inquiry Study

Dear Families,

I am sorry that I have not written in quite some time. Where does the time go? I have been actively getting ready - sadly - for the end of school and the graduation of your beautiful children from Kindergarten and the stepping up to First Grade. Believe me they are ready!!! I am so sad because I would love to keep them all in Kindergarten forever!

A couple of notes....we are in the midsts of our new unit of study in Social Studies this month. We started investigating Playgrounds! The Kindergarten teachers have worked extensively with a staff developer, Renee Dinnerstein, on using the Reggio Emilia approach to investigate new topics. We will continue to collaborate with her over the next few months.
As part of our study, the children will be visiting playgrounds, interviewing contractors, looking at blue prints of playgrounds, and designing our own maps and blue prints of playgrounds. The children will be encouraged to ask questions and think creatively throughout this study.

Some ideas we have for this unit are for the children to design their own playgrounds, visit various playgrounds in the neighborhood, and even create a family “playground memory journal.” We are also going to be comparing photographs of playgrounds and looking at playground catalogues. We will be actively using the Smartboard in the classroom to think and design our very own playground. Please let us know if you have any photographs or pictures from magazines or the internet of playgrounds. If anyone is or knows any landscapers or architects who could come into the Kindergarten classes to discuss how playgrounds are built, please let us know!

On our way to the library last week, we visited several playgrounds and played for a long time in the Windsor Playground near library. I think all the children were exhausted when we returned to school - I know that I was. Thank you to Gracie's mom and Kevin's mom for coming with us on that day. They were very very brave.

I am so excited that on Wednesday we will be visiting the studio of Tom Otterness. Mr. Otterness is an American sculptor whose works adorn parks, plazas, subway stations, libraries, courthouses and museums in New York - notably in Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City and in the 14th Street/8th Avenue subway station - and other cities around the workd. He was the first artist ever to have contributed a balloon to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - he made a giant Humpty Dumpty suspended in an upside-down tumble, as though he might have jumped from one of the swanky Central Park West rooftops. His style is often described as cartoonish and cheerful but tends to carry a political punch! I love that!!! His sculptures are filled with multiple meanings. The main theme of his work seems to be the struggle of the little man against he capitalist machine in a difficult and strange city. If you want to know more about him and view a few of his sculptures, I suggest that you view his website at www.tomotterness.net.

My main concern for this trip is that we will be going on the F train to Carroll Street. Although it is only four stops on the subway, I need my parent volunteers (I will not go without at least 10 volunteers - which I think that I have) to be very very proactive. Each parent will have and be responsible for two children - their own child and another child that I will assign to them. You need to be very focused - not only on your own child but the second child. I do not want any cuddling of your child and need complete attention on both children. You MUST be holding the hands of both children on the subway platform and throughout the trip!!!! I cannot stress this enough.... but the safety of all children is my absolute MAIN CONCERN. I am going to be extremely strict on this issue and need your complete cooperation. I know that I am being rather extreme but the volunteers need to understand that it is not only about their own children but their charges as well. I have never had an issue with my parents on trips but because this is a subway trip, I am a little more concerned than usual. I know that you would feel comfortable knowing that if you were unable to come on this trip that strict rules would be enforced. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. I am looking forward to seeing all of you.

Well...again I am still in school and was just advised that the school is about to be locked so I must leave now. Thank you all for your support.

Fondly,
Ms. Graham