Full Steam Ahead!
The Blue and Green Group Lenni Lenape searched for native woodland animals in our “indoor forest” outside the S.T.P. steam room. Sitting on furs and carpets around our “campfire,” we brainstormed what we could learn from observing animals around us in nature. We then used our animal instincts to find berries and other found-in-nature items to create a collection of subtle natural paints. (berries, wood ash, mud, spices such as turmeric) We crushed, pulverized, stirred, mixed with flour and water and strained in teams of four to produce beautiful colors. White pine “paint brushes,” bark and sea sponges in hand, we created our native paint masterpiece hanging in the hallway of S.T.P.!
In the spirit of Jan Brett’s wintry classic Animal Santa, the Orange Tigers enjoyed their first steam adventure this December. We dipped our hands deep in bird seed of various sizes to get a feel for how we might be able to construct ornaments to feed our feathered friends,. Adding corn syrup, gelatin and warm water to the seed, we concocted a goopy substance we predicted would harden overnight after we scooped it onto our favorite shaped cookie cutter. The following day we searched for a tree “just right” to hang our edible ornaments for our birds to enjoy from us, their animal Santas!
