This semester in Infantil III, we are working on a self exploratory project called All About Me.  Using the famous "pingos" in Portuguese and in English, the children are being introduced to our similarities, differences, personal characteristics, and emotions.  It is delightful to watch them becoming more and more aware of their "selves" and their different emotional "states."  

One of the ways that I have been working with this in the English classroom is by creating a big chart together, collecting eye color, height, hair type and color data.  As I asked children what color their eyes were, some would point to the blue eyes and say "blue," even though they had brown or green eyes.  I would kindly point them in the direction of the class mirror.  It was then, in that exact moment, staring into their own eyes that they realized the color.  That is something they will take with them for the rest of their lives, and it is exciting to think that they were thinking about it first in English!

The Pingos had a birthday in their Portuguese book, so in English we threw them a birthday party.  We baked them a vegan cake from scratch that was probably the best vanilla cake I have ever eaten. There really is no need for dairy in this recipe!  Even our lactose intolerant children were able to celebrate!  It was a wonderful way to open the children`s minds to healthy, and adventurous eating, as many of them had never experimented with soy milk previously.  

A less obvious way the project is being worked is during arrival, showers, and packing up the class.  I am giving the children much more autonomy to put their flip-flops on, change into their own clothes, brush their hair and teeth, take out their agendas and put them away, remember their lunch boxes, etc.  It`s all an individualization and self realization practice.  As the year progresses they become more and more independent.  They are even starting to work with conflict resolution and tone.  There is nothing more rewarding then seeing them have a problem, and figure it out on their own.  It`s a process, but it has already begun!

More than anything, this project is helping Infantil III to bond as a group, and to grow as individuals.

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