3rd Workshop of Textiles: Cool down

Monday, April 4, 2016

  

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” (Carl Sagan, american scientist, 1934-1996)

In this workshop we were challenged.

In the beginning of the workshop we learned to weave. Weaving can be so relaxing!

This technique allows us to do an amount of incredible artworks and take us to a very cool down state of mind.

On the second par of the class we created a puppet. We had to think about in which kinds of situations it can be use and about future activities where is possible to include it.

My puppet it calls Bongo, the African King, and it is very powerful. I would use it during the group´s reunions. Sometimes it could give some challenges to the group, help the educator in moments where children are more restless and being use in a storyteller.

All this work led me think.

Weaving is a labor that takes care of our spirit. When the child weaves it is transported to a very calm place, where does not exists rush.

This task demands concentration and focus. Hands and brain needs to be in a perfect harmony during the work. Because of the small movements from the fingers, it also develops the fine motor skills from the child. 
This activity can be challenging. The children can weave a mat, bracelets, little dolls and any other props for the classroom´s space. 
Weaving is an ecological activity. The pedagogue should try to use only natural wool. In this type of art it is also possible to incorporate Nature´s elements, like leaves, shells, flowers…

When a child weaves for the first time the educator should give it small works. As the child starts to be more involved into weaving the educator can give bigger challenges.

The works must be exposed for the families can see what the group has been doing.

Weaving in outdoors can also be a very positivity experience. Weaving in the playground or even in the woods with that marvelous atmosphere can be really inspiring.

The puppet can bring joyful moments to the group. Working with puppets develops the social capacity, the emotional part, communicative ability and the self-knowledge.

The pedagogue can create it a background and give it a personality. The children should be involved in the creation of the puppets. When more involved the children are with the didactical materials more deeper it will be their apprenticeship.

A Portuguese pyjama party?!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Yes…you read it right. I gave a Portuguese pyjama party for the children. And we had a lot of fun!

I wanted to celebrate the amazing time that I have been spending with the group. We went to space, had a boat trip, we visited Lisbon, baked a cake…all of those moments deserved it a celebration.

When I had this idea, the oldest girls asked to the educator if it was possible to have a pyjama party! So…we join the two themes in one big party.

The room was decorated with balloons, little flags from Portugal and Sweden and another party´s ornamentations. Like in every other party we had invitations, posters, music, games, dances and…of course…a delicious cake baked by everyone (we made the cake the day before).  The children could wear the glasses created by them and everyone brought their own pyjama...even I did!

A Sponge Cake made by 24 hands

Thursday, March 31, 2016

In the North of Portugal there is a famous cake very appreciated for all my family. 

Pão-de-ló de Alfeizerão (Sponge Cake from Alfeizerão), it is simple to bake and very easy to eat. 

Bake with children can be so fun! And it is also a moment rich in different kinds of learnings.

The children participated in the whole process. 

First we counted the eggs in Swedish, English and also in Portuguese. They broke the eggs, measured the flour and sugar and worked with the mixer. Along the recipe the group smelled and touched in the ingredients, feeling different essences, textures and consistencies.

As a reward about the hard work each child deserved to dip the finger in the delicious dough and taste it. They were looking forward to that part of the challenge...we all know what is it feel like.  

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

4 eggs

8 egg yolks

300g of sugar

150g of flour

Pre heat the oven at 180ºC!

Beat the eggs and egg yolks together with sugar until it becomes a soft dough.

Slowly add the floor and mix everything together until the mixture is even.

Grease the bake tin with butter so the dough doesn’t stick

Bake at 180ºC until the outside of the cake is baked

When the outside is baked, remove from oven and let it cool.

The center of the cake should be raw!

I think you know what it is supposed to do next…enjoy it!

This journey has been really important for me. I will never forget the wonderful moments I have lived during this time. I will remember each child, each face...before I leave I will give to each one of them the recipe of the cake that we all baked together to prolong the magic time that we have lived next to each others. Thank you children!