The Fettuccia
(The Story of Creation)
I have discovered a few important things presenting the Fettuccia, the Italian Ribbon, material over the years. The children love the work and the story of Creation. First, I choose four people who don't usually work together. Secondly, I give a specific assignment to each child and make a schedule with their names on it in advance before the next request to go outside. The atrium is situated right in front of a large alley way and I can watch the children from the doorway. I've shortened the ribbon to fit this area and it's the perfect space to do this work. These are the assignments for each group:
(1) The First child pulls the wagon outside.
(2) The Second child unrolls the Fettuccia.
(3) The Third child reads from the Creation Book while the others place the wooden symbols on the ribbon timeline as the story unfolds.
(4) The Fourth child rolls up the Fettucia at the end while others put the wooden symbols back in wagon.
(5) The Third child also takes the wagon back to the atrium and puts it away.
You'd be surprised how quiet and serious this work becomes when each child has a responsibility. Unfortunately they can't do this work in bad weather or in winter, so they know they can only ask me when the weather is good. They never forget that promise either, so I have my schedule ready.
Another change I've made is that now I only do the Creation Booklet for the children's inside work. The blue strip art work became too difficult as I'd have to set up folding tables and then take them down at the end of class. So I haven't done this in five years. I believe the children get more out of the book anyway as they can read the story. However, I always have that option.
Also, the small wooden box with wheels was my idea, as it gives me a place to keep these materials under a table in the atrium. It is pulled by a long thin rope which the children enjoy pulling.
Refer to an earlier posting of The Fettuccia to see photos of the children in the alley working with this material.
