The Rocketship
"We need more power."
"I have the right power for the ship."
"Wait, is this security? Security isn't what I meant to say."
"Here's more security from the fridge."
"I need to light this plate. It goes in the engine to make a fire."
"Crack... I heard a crack."
"Here's some more powder."
"Where's the engine?"
"It's not cake... It's security."
"I need more gas. More security."
"I'm making more gas."
"Rocket, I have some gas."
"The rocket just landed and the engine broke."
"That's the last load of power."
Me: "How long does it take to fix it?"
"It takes 15 hours."
"The engine broke again because the funnel broke again."
Me: "Can you fix it?"
"If I spread it around (sand) it makes it work."
"We gotta make more in the kitchen. 15 more hours in the kitchen."
"Wait, is this security? Security isn't what I meant to say."
"Here's more security from the fridge."
"I need to light this plate. It goes in the engine to make a fire."
"Crack... I heard a crack."
"Here's some more powder."
"Where's the engine?"
"It's not cake... It's security."
"I need more gas. More security."
"I'm making more gas."
"Rocket, I have some gas."
"The rocket just landed and the engine broke."
"That's the last load of power."
Me: "How long does it take to fix it?"
"It takes 15 hours."
"The engine broke again because the funnel broke again."
Me: "Can you fix it?"
"If I spread it around (sand) it makes it work."
"We gotta make more in the kitchen. 15 more hours in the kitchen."
"Rocketship, explode!" (a shovel is thrown onto the pile) "NO, don't explode!"
Lasterday, I asked the children if they'd like to go for a walk and look for spring. I was the last one outside due to my mudroom duties of Zip Zipping, Lace Tying, and Boot Finding, and when I finally stepped onto the porch I saw that they had taken almost every Loose Part from around the yard and were constructing a Rocketship next to the sandbox. We never went out for a walk.
Together, 7 of them worked for over 40 minutes. When the sandbox was opened, the sand became their Power. It was brought over in cups and plates and bowls, and poured onto the sleds, the tire, the planks and into the buckets. There were soon Rocketship Workers who stayed on the ship to call out orders, and others in the sandbox making Power. An onlooker at one point adds 'Powder' by collecting sand and small sticks from the sandbox. After snack, we decide to have a 'Rocketship Meeting', all climbing carefully aboard and taking trips to California, Boston and Florida. When a Water Break is needed, the porch becomes the Cafeteria of the Rocketship so the play is uninterrupted.
This was one of those late-in-the-school-year moments that we work so hard for through the fall and winter months. I was not needed. In fact, had I done more than take notes and pictures I would have been in the way, and the 2 quotes above were the only times I interacted with them. They were cooperating and communicating, and more importantly, listening to each other. This was a Community Build. Best. Kind. Ever.
Together, 7 of them worked for over 40 minutes. When the sandbox was opened, the sand became their Power. It was brought over in cups and plates and bowls, and poured onto the sleds, the tire, the planks and into the buckets. There were soon Rocketship Workers who stayed on the ship to call out orders, and others in the sandbox making Power. An onlooker at one point adds 'Powder' by collecting sand and small sticks from the sandbox. After snack, we decide to have a 'Rocketship Meeting', all climbing carefully aboard and taking trips to California, Boston and Florida. When a Water Break is needed, the porch becomes the Cafeteria of the Rocketship so the play is uninterrupted.
This was one of those late-in-the-school-year moments that we work so hard for through the fall and winter months. I was not needed. In fact, had I done more than take notes and pictures I would have been in the way, and the 2 quotes above were the only times I interacted with them. They were cooperating and communicating, and more importantly, listening to each other. This was a Community Build. Best. Kind. Ever.
