Festival of Learning 2008
The theme this year is
"The Surprise! ... what children can do!!!"
The Festival of Learning --- It will run for three weeks this year, from April 8th to the 25th. Throughout the three weeks, there be: an Exhibit of children's work that will be set-up on Monday, April 7th, with its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8th; eight Public Demonstrations of Children at Work with an Emergent Curriculum; a Saturday Morning Forum discussing the Celebration of Children's Work and the Exhibit on April 19th from 9 am to 1 pm; a Thursday Evening Celebration on April 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with the theme "The Jungle;" and, the Exhibit will close on Friday, April 25th.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Exhibit of Children's Work ---
It will open the exhibit to the public and be held with great fanfare on April 8th from 11:00-11:30 am in the Great Hall of the Hiram Johnson Building that houses the C5 Preschool Center. The public is invited. Assemblyman Mark Leno will be the Honorary Chair of the three-week Festival of Learning. Rona Renner, executive director and host of Childhood Matters, a weekly radio program, will emcee the Exhibit Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. All C5 children and many of their parents will attend, representing every learning group and ages 2 months old to 5.5 years old.
The Exhibit of Children's Work ---
The exhibit shares the theme of the Festival of Learning, "The Surprise! ... what children can do!!!" Parent volunteers have been working with the teachers and support staff to make this year's exhibit a rich and comprehensive representation of the work that the children do daily at C5. For three weeks, from April 8th to 25th, every learning group will have a display, from very young infant learning groups to the oldest pre-kindergarten learning group. A wide range of work will be shown, from in-depth explorations lasting weeks to complex projects that involved children for months. Exhibits will have extensive annotated photographs and information panels conveying details about what children were learning in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. The exhibit will officially close on Friday, April 25th and portions of it will be relocated for continued display at the locations of some of our community partners.
Children and Teachers Working in Public ---
There will be eight days during the three-week festival when the children and staff at C5, with parent chaperones, will take their work together into the public view. In most cases, the children will be continuing explorations and development of their projects or their current interests and fascinations.
Each week, the children in one or more learning groups from both the Preschool Center and the Infant-Toddler Center will conduct their regular sessions of exploring and expressing for the general public to observe how they are learning and developing along the lines of the C5 Children's School philosophy. A schedule of the demonstrations is outlined below:
Public Demonstration (1) of C5 Elephants Learning Groups children working with their teachers, 455 Golden Gate Great Hall, April 9th, 10 to 11 a.m. Focus will be on: Caring for babies by using baby dolls -- bathing, changing diapers, reading to them, and cooking.
Public Demonstration (2) of C5 Penguins Learning Groups children working with their teachers, PUC Cafeteria, April 11th, 10 to 11 a.m. Focus will be on: Familiarity with materials and processes, including paint.
Public Demonstration (3) of C5 Rhinoceroses, Ice Creams, and Tigers Learning Groups children working with their teachers, San Francisco City Hall, April 15th, 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Focus will be on: Frog & Toad Town's underground pipes and a flowing crater; ice cream truck, riding, and selling; building a city.
Public Demonstration (4) of C5 Lemurs Learning Group children working with their teacher, Civic Center Park, April 16th, 10 to 11 a.m. Focus will be on: Dimensional concepts and creations with recycled and natural materials.
Public Demonstration (5) of C5 Caterpillars and Butterflies Learning Groups children working with their teachers, PUC Cafeteria, April 18th, 11:00 a.m. to Noon. Focus will be on: Exploring home-made instruments, colored gelatins, and papers.
Public Demonstration (6) of C5 Bumblebees Learning Groups children working with their teachers, PUC Cafeteria, April 21st, 10 to 11 a.m. Focus will be on: Dramatic play, clothing, and kitchen activities.
Public Demonstration (7) of C5 Scuba Divers and Mosquitoes Learning Groups children working with their teachers, Civic Center Park, April 22nd, 10 to 11 a.m. Focus will be on: Woodworking with hammer, nails, and goggles; and, attitudes, skills, knowledge, and activities about babies.
Public Demonstration (8) of C5 Monkeys Learning Groups children working with their teachers, 455 Golden Gate Cafeteria, 24th, 9 to 10 a.m. Focus will be on: Manipulating plastic and modular materials; and, exploring transportation.
The 10th Annual San Francisco Week of the Young Child ---
This city-wide celebration is held from April 12th through 20th. C5 Children's School's Festival of Learning Saturday Morning Forum celebrating and discussing children's work is included in the events that are listed and published throughout the city.
Thursday Evening Celebration ---
It will be held on April 17th form 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor and the Great Hall of the Hiram Johnson Building that houses the C5 Preschool Center. There will be food for adults and children, games, music, dancing, videos, and a raffle. The theme for the evening will be "The Jungle." Tickets are available in advance for adults for $10 or $15 at the door by calling the C5 office at 415-703-1277. Tickets are free for children under 12 years of age.The Saturday Morning Forum Celebrating Children's Work ---
It will be held on April 19th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Great Hall of the Hiram Johnson State Office Building. It is a free event that is open to educators, parents, and the general public. C5 staff and parents will represent all learning groups at the school and convene a forum discussing the exhibit of children's work and how the C5 staff works with children and families. Refreshments will be served and a tour of the Infant-Toddler Center and the Preschool Center will follow the open forum.
Please RSVP to office@c5children.org, if you plan to attend, so we can prepare the reception and forum to accommodate all participants.
