Blueberry Projects

....PROJECTS

The Stick Project

Katie: "This stick is me."
She picks up the stick. We observe, listen and believe. And we think, if you can be a stick, then of course you can be a tree and if you’re a tree, then why not a bird? And if you’re a bird, you can fly and if you can fly you can go anywhere and be anything as long as you believe in what you are, who you are. Anything is possible.

At Blueberry we believe that anything is possible. Understanding the significance of a stick in the hand of the child is the opening to many possibilities.

So we asked…
What part of the stick reminds you of you. And she went on to tell me that the stick was long hair, and that it looked like her, and that it was girl. She set it down on the table took a step back and marveled at her idea. Her friends came over and all agreed it looked like her- but added the question “Where are your arms?”

So they went on about the yard to gather and help find arms, legs, eyes and a smile just right for her self portrait. Just right for their friend. And that's how it started....


A Sense of Wonder, A Sense of Place Viewing Nature Through the Images and Words of our Children

Over the past year, Blueberry Atelier and The Children’s Nature Institute (CNI) have been working in collaboration to offer unique, hands-on nature experiences for the parents and children of Blueberry. In a world that is so fast paced, we wanted to create space in our lives to slow down, rediscover and reconnect with nature. Once a month, on a Friday or Saturday morning, come rain or shine, CNI educators, Blueberry teachers, parents and children embarked on an exploration of Temescal Canyon. This canyon became a classroom without walls; filled with places that fed our spirits, imaginations and souls. Hiking the trails and creating art from natural materials, we explored the changes that each new season brought: watching as summer’s golds and browns gave way to shimmering spider webs, creating fiery crowns of autumn leaves and tramping across muddy, swelling streams. Through these dynamic experiences, nature came alive in the hands, hearts and minds of the children.				Porcupine Lizard I love lizard tails I wonder what they feel like Lizards could wag their tail It could feel bumpy If I hold him the tail could slip out of my hand He could run away I think he likes his tail If I had a tail it would be so skinny Lizards like to do push ups It makes people think they are big and fat Big like a balloon That could float to the sky People would go whoa!! Then fall to the ground People could get a net to catch the flying lizards Flying lizards like balloons flying in the sky poem and photo by Hudson, age 4

The Flowers Look Like Saxophones

The flowers look like saxophones
When it is hot it opens
When the flower gets cold it closes
The flowers look like saxophones
But they can’t make music

The leaves have lines
They remind me of a river
They could slide like a waterfall
Rivers of lines into the soil
To make a beautiful flower
poem and photo by Kian, age 5