Dear Studio Red,
We have been thinking about what makes us feel scared and how we help ourselves feel better. Can you share with your family the story of Lazlo and The Dark?
Love, Lauri and Emily
ZOOMING INTO OUR WEEK
EXPLORING SCARY
How can we work together to create something big and powerful?
“I need to know what it is so I can add to it.” KATIE
Children have created houses and vehicles, and towards the end of the week a monster trap was born. Through this play they create ways of taming their fear, processing aloud with one another and collaborating to create something powerful, though they may feel small.
“It kills monsters. It needs all sorts of parts: lights, guns, that’s the antenna over there.”
“So all the monsters become extinct. Lots of guns, chainsaws.”
“It’s on all the time.”
“This machine knows the monster has six eyes.”
“This gun never runs out of power.”
“Take the power crystals! They provide energy for the base.”
Inspired by the children’s flag research, we read the story of Harvey Milk and the rainbow flag. The story includes mention of how he was killed by a man who disagreed with him. This lead to a conversation about weapons and death. Our talk reflected many of the themes we observe in the children’s play as they explore power and control, life and death, fear and safety, reality and fantasy.
To further explore these ideas and help children process their feelings, we read The Dark, by Lemony Snicket. Reading and then rereading this story, we invited them to think about what scares them and what they do to find comfort. On Friday, each child chose one fear to draw in their sketchbook.
What makes you scared?
SEEING AND CREATING LINE AND SHAPE
Zooming into a beloved character motivates children to draw from observation. They feel such joy as they gain mastery. We have shared back with the group stories of those who have painted the snake time and time again, returning to practice and experiment with new techniques.
What can we learn about the snake?
What can a line become?
Small groups work with balls and rods. They challenge themselves to follow instructions and then envision new possibilities.
How do lines become our name?
