I had laid out the materials: toilet paper rolls and cardboard squares.
The kids began to pick up and check it out, and in a flash, toilet paper tubes became telescopes.
J: What are we going to do with this?
Q: I can see you!
L: I can see two people!
L looked at us through both tubes, and then everyone had a go.
After I told the kids they were going to build a chair for a teddy bear, they got right to work, following the steps to put it all together. The next week they painted the chairs, and began to imagine who was going to sit in them, and what they should look like. They inspired each other, and learned about different brush sizes, and the nature of the paint.
L: My teddy bear likes polka dots. His name is Mr Spotty. What are you doing Q? Are you putting polka dots?
Q: Stripes and polka-dots. Paint polka dots on my legs!
J: This paint dries fast.
L: Now for a few final touches. Lots of dots!