Small Homes, Big Ideas

If you've passed by the Kindergarten classrooms recently, you might have noticed some miniature architecture underway. This month, students have been hard at work building fairy houses, a project that blends creativity with cooperation. Each fairy house was built from natural materials, such as bark, moss, and greenery found around campus. However, it wasn't just about twigs and twine. The project was the idea of School Counselor Skylar Seligman, who approached Kindergarten teacher Kate Noel about collaborating on a social-emotional learning and nature project. Each part of the project was anchored by a book selection and a lesson plan created by Kate that gave students the opportunity to apply social-emotional learning skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and positive thinking in real-world practice.

The project began with research, as students read several books to understand the concept of a fairy house. They were then paired with a classmate who would share the same location for their fairy house, requiring them to coordinate their designs. As a class, they discussed the importance of cooperation and how to handle disagreements positively. To complete the challenge, students had to creatively incorporate all four elements: Earth (using natural materials), Water (adding a small water feature), Fire (incorporating a light), and Air (creating an element that moves with the wind). To weave in positive thinking, Students crafted tiny signs for their fairy front yards featuring affirmations like “I am Creative” or “I am Strong.” As a final step, students worked with Mark Evans, Director of the Center for Creativity and Design, to create battery-powered LED lights for their fairy houses. Students tested the battery circuits to see how many LED lights a single power source could support. After discovering that the batteries could power two bulbs at once, they installed their lights, creating a welcoming and colorful glow for their fairy friends. 

Finally, it was time for the installation! Partners placed their houses around trees and stumps near the Sunken Garden, collaborating on the landscaping to connect their properties with paths and other design features.  Reflecting on the experience, “Skylar asked students to share a way in which they were proud of their partner’s design,” says Kate. “It was great for them to really think about others and acknowledge their work.”