Given the children’s enthusiasm over their collection bags, we’ve begun to meet in small groups, sharing those very special treasures collected and brought from home. Working this way, in groups of two or three, most often affords children a level of comfort and ease that may not always be present within the larger group. It provides an intimate environment in which every child’s voice is clearly heard, also giving them the opportunity to question others in the group. During this activity, one group also shared a connection while discovering that they all found some items that were similar in nature.
So these are the things that I found. WILL
Look what I found at Callen’s beach. Look at this black coconut. You can crack it open and it’s the kind that you can eat. At Grandma’s house she has a walnut tree and this fell down. SAM
I found a acorn in the playground. ZACK
Look what I found at the library. It’s from a truffula tree. It has spikes. SAM
This has spikes too. ZACK
I have something with spikes too but I don’t know where I put it. WILL
Wow, so everyone found something with spikes.
Look at this. ZACK
Oooooh – I already saw that but thanks. Anyone want to squish this? SAM
Look it – one, two, three, four, five. Five acorns. ZACK
This is my favorite and my heart rock. SAM
Is there anything that you collected that is your favorite?
I like acorns. ZACK
I like feathers. WILL
I found an acorn. URSULA
That’s a pinecone. KYLA
Know what’s so cute in my collection? Look at this feather. KYLA
Oh, it’s two feathers. URSULA
No it’s just one. KYLA
It looks like two feathers (pointing to the dividing line or shaft in the feather.) URSULA
Snake skin. TESSA
That’s very good that you found. Take it out, I can’t see it. KYLA
I brought all things that are delicate. KYLA
What do you have in your collection bags?
Two dead jackets. KIERAN
I brought a leave. Someone brought a picture (noticing a photo of a bunny in his bag.) I brought seashells. KAYA
Where you brought them from, the beach? KIERAN
No from Mexico. KAYA
This is a nice one. KIERAN
I got a collection of them. All of these seashells are from Mexico. KAYA
A pinecone, a rock, and I forget what those are. AMELIA
Are they crabapples?
Oh yeah, crabapples. AMELIA
Those are all green. AMELIA
