End of Unit Celebration: March 28, 2010

On Sunday, March 28, the seven families of the Tapestry of the Desert Co-op gathered for the End of Unit Celebration for Year 4, Unit 3. We had an ice cream social at the Keller's house. The kids enjoyed creating some delicious, sweet treats. Then the older kids wowed the crowd by reciting a large portion of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech followed by the littler kids, who did an amazing job memorizing the poem "The Goops". Afterwards, we had a time of group praise and worship led by Mrs. Reynolds. Finally, each family had a table set up to highlight the work they had done that unit. Everyone was able to take a "tour" of the tables and the kids were delighted to be able to share what they have accomplished and created. Way to go, everybody!!

Co-op in Review: March 24, 2010

Co-op this week started out with a real treat for the kids: a chance to serve others! The kids all filled plastic Easter eggs with candy. The eggs were then delivered (thanks Roberts family!!) to the Phoenix Rescue Mission where they will be used at their annual Easter Celebration. Families from the community will gather to hear the Good News of the Gospel, have fun celebrating the resurrection of Christ and will be helped in practical ways by this incredible organization. After our time together as a large group, the older kids went upstairs and had a groovy time learning about the 1960's. For their craft, they celebrated the crazy styles of the 60's by making tie dye bandannas. The kids looked far out wearing their psychedelic bandannas on their heads!! Downstairs the littler ones read "Play With Me." It's a cute story of a child who wants to play with all of the creatures she sees in nature, but they are frightened of her. Until she sits really still and quietly and then the animals feel more at ease around her and they come near! The kids made a bird feeder out of an orange and a hummingbird feeder out of a bottle, so that they will be able to see God's creation up close!

Co-op in Review: March 17, 2010

This week in co-op, we learned all about the people, culture, lifestyle, geography and food of Vietnam! Mrs. Canode did some authentic Vietnamese cooking and brought some in so we could all sample it! After lunch, the Tapestry of Grace classes had a guest speaker, Ruby Hutchins, whose family is from Vietnam. She gave a wonderful presentation to both classes, sharing a beautiful scrapbook of photos and mementos from Vietnam and answering questions from the kids and teachers. The kids really enjoyed Ruby's presentation and everyone learned a lot! The lower grammar boys then made Non La hats, the traditional, conical hats that Vietnamese farmers would wear to keep the sun off of their faces and necks. Meanwhile, the upper grammar class switched gears and learned about a sculptor named Claes Oldenburg who lived and worked during the 1960s. He was famous for his public art displays--in which he depicted ordinary objects in monumental scale. The kids then used clay to create their own works of art in the Oldenburg style. Downstairs, the younger kids read the charming tale, "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World." It's the story of a girl who wants to make an apple pie, but the market is closed so she travels all over the world to collect the ingredients to make her pie. The kids then made apple print paintings and then shared some yummy apple pie!

Co-op in Review: March 3, 2010

It was an out-of-this-world time in Co-op this week! Both Tapestry of Grace classes studied the space race and the Mercury Space Program. They learned that Alan Shepherd was the first American in space, he made a sub-orbital flight. And, John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth in space, he made an orbital flight, orbiting the earth three times before returning to Earth with a splash! The older kids took a more in-depth look at the space race, making time-lines of the advances of both the Soviet Union and America. Meanwhile, the lower grammar kids were learning what it takes to become an astronaut. They did a test--much like the tests that astronauts take. Okay, it was a lot easier! The boys were tested for cardiovascular health, strength, vision, reflexes, tolerance of extreme conditions and academics. They did great! Then both classes made rockets with film canister engines. We learned that the capsules that the astronauts travel in (such as Glenn's Friendship 7) have no power of their own. They require rockets to launch them through the earth's gravity and into space. After constructing the rockets, it was time to launch them out on the lawn. The film canisters were filled with water and Alka Seltzer and most of them exploded up into the air a few feet. It was a lot of fun! The Five in a Row kids were having a "blast" as well! They read the classic story, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt." In the story, a father and his four children--a toddler, a preschool boy and two older girls--go on the traditional bear hunt based on the old camp chant. The family skids down a grassy slope, swishes across a river, sludges through mud and, of course, finally sees the bear, who chases them all back to their home. It's a fantastic journey!! All of the kids then enjoyed going on a journey of their own! Along the way, they each made an adorable pocket-book describing all the things they saw and did!

Co-op in Review: February 24, 2010

This week our Tapestry classes both focused on the Civil Rights Movement. The Lower Tapestry of Grace boys read the story of Ruby Bridges, a brave six year old girl who was the first black child to attend an all white elementary school in New Orleans. All of the students were touched by Ruby's bravery and her willingness to pray for her enemies. What a great lesson for all of us!! The kids then made Ruby Bridges school buses, talked about the dreams that they have for their futures and made little bitty Martin Luther King fact books. On the other side of the room, the Upper Tapestry of Grace class watched a power point presentation over viewing the major events, causes and people of the Civil Rights Movement. At the end, they were challenged to share their thoughts about civil rights, equality and segregation. Then they looked at a handful of Bible verses that give us a clear idea of how God views racial prejudice. Then the group read about the Freedom Rides, mapped one of the most violent rides and then made a protest poster--with their own ideas and slogan! Downstairs, the younger kids read the book, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening". It's the picture book adaptation of Robert Frost's famous poem. The kids enjoyed going on a nature walk of their own, all around the church campus. They collected little treasures from nature--sticks, leaves, rocks--and then made collage pictures when they got back to the classroom.