Adventures in Lower Elementary: Pajamas, Parachutes, and Marshmallow Constellations

If you ever want to understand the true spirit of childhood, spend the last day before winter break in Lower Elementary.

The children arrived excitedly reminding me of the rules of the day: pajamas, stuffed animals, and, most importantly, no assigned work whatsoever. Challenge accepted.

What unfolded was a masterclass in child-led creativity, engineering, and play:

• Students built a zoo from recycled materials

• Watched a space documentary and constructed constellations with marshmallows

• Created watercolor night skies filled with sticker stars

• Designed and tested parachutes for their stuffed animals, launching them from the Upper Elementary deck and refining their designs through trial and error  - real engineering in action!

It was problem-solving, experimentation, risk-taking, and laughter all rolled into one.

We ended the day curled up together watching Alice in Wonderland - a perfect nod to their dazzling stage performance the night before.

As we headed into winter break, hearts were full, imaginations were buzzing, and community felt strong.

It was a beautiful way to close 2024.