This past Friday, April 23rd Dawn & Dusk hosted an inservice on the heels of Earth Day, and our itinerary for the day was built around Earth friendly activities.

We began our day with a community walk to pick up trash.  Armed with garbage bags, gloves, and an enthusiastic group, we walked to a few parks to clean them up. We started with our own school yard and wound up blocks away, with three full garbage bags successfully filled and placed in trash cans.

About an hour and a half later we arrived back at the school to have lunch, then we were back to our activities! We started the afternoon off painting our own terracotta pots, to keep and take home.

Next, we headed to the gym for a fun online class with Chris from DNA Rhythms. Chris has been coming to our centre for years and drumming with the kids, so it was really fun to have him projected onto the wall and hosting a body rhythm workshop. He showed us all the ways we can make sounds and beats using just our bodies, and using "found objects". He showed us that really, anything can make music from our toes to our tummies.   

When we wrapped up the drumming we enjoyed some freestyling music before moving on to the next Earth friendly activity - making wildflower bombs.

Each child had some mud, some clay, and a package of wildflower seeds. The idea is to mix all three things together and form a small ball that will harden with time. In a few weeks, after May Long Weekend, just toss the flower bomb into a garden, on the lawn, or anywhere you'd like to see a cluster of wildflowers sprout up. This was definitely a favorite activity of the day.

In the video clip below, one of our kids explain how she made a bunch of tiny seed bombs instead of one larger one. Awesome thinking "outside the box" moment!

Your child knows to wait until after the May Long Weekend to toss that bomb, but may need reminders to wait as the weather warms up and it feels like its safe to plant​ ;) 

Since the Spring season began, Club 4/5 has been busy doing Sewing Club every Tuesday inside or  in the forest, depending on the weather.
During these days, the children talk about the materials they are using, like needles, colors of thread or what kind of  fabrics they chose, scissors, pins, safety pins, ribbon, measure, pencil, paper etc.
We reminded ourselves the rules of sewing: know where your needle is, be safe, remember that nothing is perfect, and take your time to sew. 

The children created their own stuffy animals, a donut, mini purses, pillows, etc. As they worked through each project, they practiced the running stitch, back stitch, and cutting fabric using the patterns. Many children mentioned that they were excited, as these were new skills for them.

Lets talk a little about what the running stitch and back stitch are.
A running stitch is when you thread the needle and tie a knot at the end, then insert the needle through the fabric and bring it back up the top side from the bottom side of the fabric. Keep stitching in that way and the same length until you finish and tie the last knot.

A back stich is when you thread the needle and tie a knot at the end again, but this time you push the needle through the fabric and go back to the front to create the first stitch, bring again the needle into the fabric and go into the fabric behind the thread of the previous stitch etc. after you make a knot for finishing.

For the upcoming weeks, we plan to learn the blanket and cross stitches. We will sew a bag, make-up bag, head band or a dress for dolly, to practice how to insert the elastic with safety pin in the bag, and how to add buttons or beads onto our projects.

​ - Chantal