It’s so sticky.

It’s so sticky.

For most of the year we have been thinking through cardboard.  Cardboard has helped us to express our ideas about ships, shapes, characters, and design.  We are now bringing cardboard back to its beginning, back to pulp.

Saved scraps of cardboard and paper have been salvaged and snipped into tiny bits.

The bits were added and soaked in containers of water.

Some are not floating.

It’s sticky.

I have words too!

It might turn more mushy and gushy.

It turned a brighter color!

Parker, feel it!

That water is purple, look at it.  

I love it.

I’m becoming Paper Violet!

Wouldn’t it be cool if we had snorkeling gear and we could look inside?

Do you want rain?  SQUEEZE!

After a night of soaking the scraps were blended into smoothies!

Do you want to feel it?

It’s paper.

Look, when I rip it, what’s inside!

Looks like mixed up trash.

I made a mountain.

Avery made a mountain.

The blended paper was mixed with glue and salt.  It was then molded into shapes and forms.

I’m going to make a sculpture.

Once the glue is gone…

Did you see our sculptures Parker?  They’re drying in the sun.

Mine’s a big plop!

As we think about children becoming citizens of the earth, we try to expose them to practices that might later inform their lives.  Composting and recycling are amongst those practices, those responsibilities.  Empathy is cultivated through these practices, children become advocates for their world when they understand the impact their choices have on the greater population. 

We as teachers believe it is our responsibility to expose children to the realities of the world, for children are capable of understanding and want to share in the care of the greater community.