Searching the Forest for Charcoal

November 1

Today we divided the classes into two groups. One would remain in the classroom and continue their charcoal markings and the other group would be given the opportunity to see if they could find charcoal in the forest. During the previous days, the children had been encouraged to consider connections between the forest and the charcoal. Many of their charcoal creations expressed these interconnections. The group of children venturing outside seemed highly motivated for the opportunity to pursue charcoal in the forest. They eagerly anticipated such encounters. When we got to the forest, the children searched in many spaces for traces of charcoal. Some children located dark-looking wood fragments that resembled the charcoal sticks they had used in the classroom. Some attempted to make etchings with them but were unable to do so. Before long, most of the children came to the conclusion that these wood fragments were not the elusive charcoal pieces they had hoped to find. Some of the children insisted on bringing a few pieces back to the classroom to show the others. Actual charcoal forest encounters would have to wait for another day.