Reggio to Rainbow

I have always loved the Reggio approach to education.  I incorporated a lot of its aspects into my classroom once upon a time.  The above photo was on Pinterest and comes from atelierpourenfants.blogspot.fr  I was so inspired by it.

I went in search of clay and decided to go to my local dollar store, because it's inexpensive and didn't know how well the project would go over. They only had rainbow clay and that's okay. 1) G loves rainbows and 2) it was cheap. I didn't want to invest a lot of money in clay if G was interested.

But G WAS interested - intrigued even.  She loved molding the clay aka tree bases and adding different twigs to make the trees - big and small, straight up or "very branchy".

Roo, who is 20 months, also LOVED making the trees.  She spent about 30 minutes making her trees.  She likes to do everything that big sister does, but also this is her kind of project.  She likes to figure things out.

The above was my Rainbow Forest.

This above photo is G and Roo's Rainbow Forest.  G has plays to expand her Rainbow Forest.  "We need to make it big enough for all the animals of the world." She said.  I had to go pick up 4 more packs of Rainbow clay.  In between breakfast and preschool this morning, we were making more trees for the Rainbow Forest.  I smile, because I think in true Reggio fashion, we have a project lead by the child's interest and it is a project that it being added to and growing with the child's thoughts and imagination.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Sneak Peak

 So we set up today.  Even though I had a plan, it still took about 2 hours to decorate the space.  Above is the entry way, decorated with photocopies of old photos of my grandparents when they were dating and first married.

 Layered on top of yellow table coverings were b&w photocopies of old photos forming a photo table runner.  I matted a few of the pictures on either black cardstock or natural craft brown cardstock.  I skopped every Goodwill in the area to find vases for my centerpieces.  I clustered different sizes and added simple flowers, feathers, and twigs.

 This old metal truck (found at Hobby Lobby) pays homage to the fact that my grandfather has loved and fixed trucks and cars all his life.  This will be the food table.

 More pics of the bottle centerpieces.  Look closely...see the vintage looking matchbox cars?

 This blue Ford truck is my favorite.  I added these matchbox and hot wheels for several reasons - to add some whimsy, in honor of my Grandpa's love of cars, and so if there are any kids there, they might have a little entertainment :)

 yellow. happy. sunny.

 I love yellow!

 I think people will sit and eat and look at the photos and they will be a great conversation piece.

I love my grandparents.  I mean, everyone loves their grandparents, but my grandparents have been a HUGE part of my life.  They lived less than a mile from my childhood home.  They have been a safe haven, an example of a happy couple, a Christian example for me and the community.  Even now, I write to them every day.  Yes, I said every day.  I write them a 1-3 page letter every day sharing with them my day, what my girls are up to, plans, every day ordinary stuff.  They are a part of my life...in a big way.

Happy Anniversary!
Mel