A strong connection between home and school supports children in developing a positive association with school while building relationships with parents. This year, the Quail teachers have utilized the Share Bag as a safe way to engage families in the learning occurring in the classroom and most recently, to extend the children’s ongoing interest in paint mixing.

After returning from winter break, the share bags were sent home asking the children to choose a color that holds meaning to them. Inspiration came from so many amazing places, from a special blanket to found treasures in nature and photographs capturing everything in between. The children were then invited to name and create their very own “recipe” with paint.

As the children continued painting with their special colors, the teachers noticed that relationships played an important role in their exploration. The children often commented on whose color they were painting with or which friend had created the colors. A variety of tools were also introduced in the easel area to allow them to add texture to their paintings.

The children were invited to use their fingers, hands, and various hole punchers and tools to tear, cut, and create shapes with their painted papers to use as collage materials. They also used their special colors to paint in a different way – using cars instead of paint brushes!

The beautiful painted collage materials are being sent back home through the Share Bag now for families to build upon a shared story, utilizing the meaningful paper scraps and shapes created by the children. This connection between the home and school allows children to bring their learning home, extend their thinking, and deepen their understanding and knowledge.