Welcome Colors!

After the dreary grey of Winter, the festive colors of Spring are so fresh and exciting!  Flowers are blooming, grass is growing, and trees are budding everywhere.  We have been using Rainbow Blocks in Harmony's House, which are fascinating to build with because they are transparent.  The students' plans have included making a rainbow castle for CareBears, colored shadows, Disco dance parties for the dollhouse people, and even rainbow beds!  These blocks are irresistible with the fun colors and smooth wood, and offer endless fun on these Spring days.

Transparency and Shadows

To follow up this post, Ms. Harmony added boxes, wooden community helpers, and flashlights to the Toy and Puzzle Area.  The children have been experimenting more with light and shadows.  Exciting stuff!  The Rainbow Blocks are transparent, and when the light goes through the block, it comes out the other side in a new color!  The wooden people and Mirror Blocks make shadows.  The people block the light, and the mirrors reflect the light.  It's been super fascinating to hear the child's language about their discoveries!

Friend "H" noticed if he waved the flashlights really fast it made his shadow people look like they are "dancing."  He also learned that building in the boxes made the shadows show up better because the light from the window didn't "get in the way." 

Friend "K" enjoyed watching the shadows grow and shrink based on how close or far away she put her flashlight.  She also discovered that she could make the shadows move and change size based on how high she put the light source, above, even, or pointing up at her blocks.

Let the Light Shine In

One reason I love working in the Toy and Puzzle Area is because there is so much natural light!  I deliberately planned to have Magnetiles and Rainbow Blocks here during the summer months to enhance the play with light.  Check out the structures our friends have created!  Next I will provide opportunities to work with shadows, and the effect of distance of light sources on objects.