November, 20th 2009

Today we made Stone Soup! We first observed our vegetables. We noticed how bright the vegetables were. We noticed that the tomatoes were round smooth, and the carrots were long, skinny and rough. Some of us cut onions, and those hurt our noses.

We practiced cutting potatoes carefully so we wouldn't cut our fingers.

It took alot of persistence to chop some of the veggies. We kept at it, even though it was difficult.

We practiced scraping off our chopped veggies into the bowl using our knives, just like real chefs.

After we cut up our vegetables, we took turns adding them to our crock pot. We used our big muscles to scoop the heavy veggies and pasta from the bowl to the pot. We also added the stone and milk. As we added our veggies we sang, "Bring what you've got! Put it in the pot! We're making stone soup!"

We didn't believe Ms. Katie would put a real rock in the soup (we thought it was a potato!), so we took turns feeling the stone before we dropped it in the pot.

After rest time, we tasted our Stone Soup. Most of us didn't like it. Some of us ate our whole bowl. Here we are trying our soup.

We walked carefully to the tables carrying our soup.

We blew on the soup because it was too hot.

Next week, we'll start learning about bread and make something special for Thanksgiving!

November 19th, 2009

Before school today, Sammy drew a treasure map. This is Sammy explaining how his treasure map works.

Today we made Stone Soup! We first observed our vegetables. We noticed that most of the vegetables, especially the carrots, were really hard (and hard to cut!). We also noticed how bright the vegetables were. We noticed that the tomatoes were round smooth, and the carrots were long, skinny and rough.

We practiced cutting potatoes carefully so we wouldn't cut our fingers.

Some of us brought noodles.

We realized that some vegetables were easier to break than to cut!

It took alot of persistence to chop some of the veggies. We kept at it, even though it was difficult.

Some of us brought cold frozen veggies! We predicted that they would warm up in the boiling soup water.

After we cut up our vegetables, we took turns adding them to our crock pot. We used our big muscles to scoop the heavy veggies and pasta from the bowl to the pot. We also added the stone and milk. As we added our veggies we sang, "Bring what you've got! Put it in the pot! We're making stone soup!"

After rest time, we tasted our Stone Soup. It was so delicious. Everyone gave it a "thumbs up!" Except for Sam, who thought that some of the carrots tasted "like dirt." We decided that the carrots maybe tasted like dirt because they were fresh from the garden, and not actually covered in dirt. Here we are enjoying our soup.

Sam's daddy, Mr. Chris, visited us and tasted our soup today. He loved it and thought we were magnificent chefs!

We are just learning our new blog manager job. Two Writers will start this job full time next week! Today, Naomi and Sam R reflected on our stone soup.

"The carrots changed when we put them in chicken broth. They were hard, then they were squishy. The hardest part of making stone soup was chopping up the carrots. The best part was when we ate it. It tasted yummy. I would want to make stone soup again. We didn't eat the stone." -Naomi

"We shared stone soup today with all of our friends. We loved the soup and we wish everyone could come and have some. Jacob got a bleed. It made me more careful when Jacob cut his finger because I was watching him. It (the soup) was hot. There was enough food for everybody because everyone brought noodles, potatoes and other kinds of stuff. That is why we had enough food. itf people hadn't shared, there would be no soup for anyone." -Sam R.

Our special big buddies came today! We read with them and them explored learning materials. We love our big buddies! They also wrote us special notes from their time at outdoor school.

P.S.
Dear Mr. Mark,
Two boards on the playhouse broke off all the way. Because people were kicking the board. Please, Mr. Mark, can you fix the playhouse? We really miss you and we are sorry that the playhouse broke. We have a plan for keeping the playhouse intact by taping a sign that says, "No going in." We are also sorry that you weren't able to have some soup. We love you.
Love, Sam R.

Wednesday, Novemer 18th, 2009

Today we read a different version of Stone Soup. While we read, we thought about the similarities and differences between the two versions.

"I remember something that was the same. They both made Stone Soup. And something that was different. Those guys had different clothes. And in both stories they hidded their food. And there was dumplings and the other story didn't put dumplings in the soup. And they both heat their pots with fire. And they both have stones, but they add a different number."
-Orion and Ava

We reflected on our reading in the Atelier where we painted our own bowls of Stone Soup using acrylic paints.

We looked at picture of vegetables we wanted to include in our soup.

We painted pots for our vegetables to go in. It was hard making circles for our pots.

Some of remembered that there were not ovens in the "olden days" (as in the books we have read). Instead, we drew fire under the pots to heat the soup.

"We made vegetables in the pot. I made mushrooms, broccoli, celery, and carrots. And fire to make the pot cook. We needed fire to cook the soup. The hardest part was making the circle for the pot. I knew what the vegetables looked like because I saw pictures." -Everett

Remember to bring your Stone Soup vegetable to school Friday! We can't wait to make stone soup.

November 17th, 2009

Today we started our study of the beloved book Stone Soup! We read the book and then read a poem based on the book. We reflected on our reading during afternoon centers by using felt board pieces. We started with a pot and added the vegetables and spices referenced in the poem.



We also had music with Ms. Shelley. Here is a video of us singing one of our favorite songs with leaves!

We also made stone soup with play dough in the Atelier. We built pinch pots and added mushrooms, broccoli, and tomatoes to our soup.





Some of us had a problem when making our stone soup. Some students used up all their play dough building their bowl and had no play dough left. They were able to problem solve and decided to ask their friends for extra pieces of play dough to make vegetables. Some chefs offered to make vegetables for their friends' pots! It felt good to work together to make stone soup.

"I had to share because I didn't have enough playdough to make vegetables. Renee and Justin made vegetables for me. There was enough soup for the Whales and the Sharks. I built a big pot of Stone Soup." -Naomi

We are adding a new job to our job chart. Starting soon, two writers will help Ms. Katie write the blog and respond to comments. Today, Jacob, Naomi and Sam R. were our blog managers!



We also had a problem today. The computers were "broken" and a few problem solvers felt it would be beneficial to put signs saying "Off Limits" on the computer station.

We helped each other sound out the words...

And taped the signs to the computer station...

"Off Limits!"

We are looking forward to cooking our Stone Soup this Thursday (don't forget your vegetable!)