Busy Little Elves

ELVES AT WORK!

We have been busy little elves the last two weeks, doing big work! Thanks to all of you who sent in gift wrapped, empty shoe boxes, we could assemble our art boxes for homeless children. We filled them with playdough, markers, crayons, watercolor paint sets, glue, scissors, pencils, paper and more. These boxes, which we make every year, are always a big hit, both for the children who receive them, as well as for our children. It is truly one of those "teachable moments" when our bear cub class realizes that some children in our area may not have a home or bed or toys to return to at night... and not even a crayon or paper to draw on! We talk about how our art can help us communicate the deep or difficult feelings which we may not always be able to express with words. Our "Art Box" project always awakens a greater awareness about how much we take for granted...

and helps us plant the seeds of compassion.

We made handmade gifts for our families and carefully wrapped them in bags that we decorated. Though they are enfolded in tissue inside, they are fragile, so we hold them with great care. We are so happy to use our hearts and hands together to create such beautiful surprises!

We're bringing them home today...Do you think that you can wait to open these?

We have worked so hard to keep our gifts a surprise for you!

As fall ends and winter begins, we are thankful for so many blessings in life. We are grateful to be a growing community of families, united to provide wonderful educational experiences for our children. Cathy and I are grateful to work with your children, our days filled with hard work, discussions on topics large and small, interacting with deep focus, lots of laughter, an occasional tear of joy or amazement, and always,

in all ways, hearts and hands sharing big, bountiful bear hugs--- children, adults, together a learning, loving community...

I am thankful for you, each and every one!

Judith

Seattle Center-Pacific Science Center

A Day Full of Discovery!

Our trip to the Pacific Science Center last Friday included a lunch stop at the Center House. We listened to a half hour holiday concert by a public middle school band and enjoyed the twinkly decorations surrounding us.

Ater lunch, we wandered over to see the holiday trains and miniature village...

We saw the stationmaster fixing a train in the depot...

and then carefully place it on the tracks. He looked like a friendly giant in the little village!

Seeing this exhibit increased our interest in noticing details!

Now you see why we started with a pleasant group photo and not the creature, below!

At the Pacific Science Center, the children wanted to start the day with the dinosaurs...

"Walk a mile in my tracks!"

We had a roaring good time!

Our imaginations soared into space on rockets,

and dove into the depths of the ocean with the skeleton of a gray whale.

We visually examined strange and exotic animals from around the world,

such as curled and coiled, beautifully patterned boa constrictors.

We could watch their muscles constrict as they slithered.

Can you spot the gecko?

The naked mole rats from Africa were fascinating. They were "tatooed" (patterns drawn on their skin) with sharpie markers (renewed once a month) so that their handlers could keep track of the generations.

We loved visiting the tide pool exhibit, touching sea stars and anemones with our gentle fingers.

We found physics fascinating as we sent balls rolling around the big funnel...

and waited for the balls to fall into the trough, so we could do it again.

Some of us had other interests...

What happens inside the pipes when the toilet is flushed?

We excel at "high volume," hands-on learning!

Sliding pucks across smooth surfaces makes them go farther!

How tall am I?

Oh no, I'm getting a little too tall for this area...

(Maybe no one will notice if I just make my shoulders slump a bit.)

We moved on to the Beaver IMAX movie which was amazing, beautiful, bubbly, informative and swimmingly enchanting, followed by lunch at the Center House, then returned to the insect exhibit.

We admire ourselves as insects.

and contemplate what a chewy meal of insects would taste like.


Everyone wanted to say hello to the butterflies as our last stop of the day...

followed by waving goodbye to the koi.

Another fun-cinating day of seeing, exploring, thinking, learning,

and growing, friends together.

Judith