Every Friday we have a full period of Choice Time. Choice Time is part of the Responsive Classroom program. Students are given the agency to choose what they will do for the period of class time. The choices range from block building to math games to painting to puppets - but all help students build social competency and foster a stronger classroom community. Choice activities are all group based and encourage students to engage with one another.
While some students sit in groups to write stories and read books and others work on building strong bridges out of blocks, many of the students choose to engage in an art project. Last Friday, students made finger puppets using paper, scissors, tape, and glue. Many children immediately began to create stories and personalities for their characters and had them interact with other children's puppets.
a girl, a teddy bear, and a fairy
an animal family and a zombie
This Friday, Sponge Painting was the art project of choice! Students created patterns, new colors, and geometric scenes using sponges, paint, and their imagination. While they all created their own paintings, students had to share materials with one another.
On Friday afternoons, ask your child what they chose to work on during choice time, why they chose that activity, and who they worked with. I'm sure your child will have a lot to share!
