IMPACT STORIES

At the end of a year of learning and growing together, kindergarten and first grade children used a collaborative and creative process to reflect on their year, celebrate their growth, and design three stained glass panels to commemorate the year’s three themes. First, children looked through photographs and chatted with peers about highlights of their year. It became clear that children’s greatest excitement was for their theme projects, so those became the focus of their collaborative year-end project: stained glass panels. To design their panels, children first worked with a partner to draft a theme symbol. Then the group reviewed the drafts and built consensus around a final version of the symbols, using skills they’d grown this year for listening and collaborating. Finally, children created their stained glass panels, sharing ideas on how to use the paint, taking turns, laughing, and enjoying working together.Children were so proud  to share their beautiful stained glass with their families! Now, whenever they see the stained glass in our windows, children remember the joy and community they felt in their collaborative year-end project, and in their year together.