IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Friends working towards a common goal of creating the set for their production.

Sascha and Angela work to retell a portion of the story. Angela is Goldilocks, Sascha chose to be the porridge/narrator! Who knew such a character existed?

During Writer’s Workshop this week, we have been retelling the story of Goldilocks using puppets in small groups. Yesterday, the kids created their puppets and started making scenery for their productions. Today, our friends were encouraged to begin working together to retell their story and work as a team. They have been dramatizing their stories with great dedication. Miss Schmidt and I were absolutley blown away by the kids’  display of negotiation, sharing, compromise, collaboration, and including of others. We realized that while they are practicing rich reading and writing skills by retelling in this way, our friends are probably getting just as much out of practicing working together, genuinely collaborating, and working towards a common goal.  A sheer joy to be a part of today.

Da'Sean, Carriea, and Sascha come up with a new way to build. How did they do it? Putting their brains together!

Aidan and Christian make furniture for their house.

Tags: collaboration, friendship, problem solving, writing

Salih's tree creation.

The kids had the chance to explore with some natural wood materials today.  Over the past few days we have had a few big conversations about the rings and trees and what they mean.  The kids are excited to explore more about trees.  Check back in a few days to see what we have learned!

Today we shared the drums we made with friends at recess.

Makay'la, La'Mount, and Raki listened to the drum sounds.

They enjoyed making music with our drums.

Jermaine, William, and La'Mount make music together.

Today in Reader’s Workshop, we created a “story path” as a group.  Together we put pictures on a path that helped us retell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  The kids were so excited to retell the story.  The best part was when they got to come up and retell it with a partner during our independent reading time!

Some of our friends working on the story path.

Sophia, Tylisha, and Dorothy retelling parts of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Max and Reid are sharing their retelling with the class.

As if a story path was not enough, the kids went crazy in Writer’s Workshop!  Today we made puppets for the story, The Little Red Hen.  The kids worked in partners to retell the story using their puppets.

Tyler and Salih are retelling The Little Red Hen with their puppets!

CJ and Nytaiya are using the book as a resource to retell The Little Red Hen!

Tajanaye helps her friend Angela create a worm out of yarn. See a need, fill a need- friendship.

Messi creates a garden with clay. There are even little seeds planted in holes!

Messi’s garden

Friends create puppets during writer’s workshop.

Da’Sean and his group create Goldilocks puppets together to retell the story.

Jenesis shows off her set for her groups production of Goldilocks!

Friends create a story path about the Little Red Hen.

Tags: collaboration, friendship, garden