Early Childhood Girls Explore Happiness Through Collaborative Art

What makes you happy? For our early childhood girls, it’s things like family, nature, and friends. By all accounts, the Abston Building is a bright and happy place, but students have now made it official with an impressive collaborative art installation that sums up their feelings about happiness.

It all began with a simple conversation: What is happiness? Each girl in every early childhood classroom shared what makes her happy. Examples included the Dobbs Farm, birds, stepping stones, butterflies, bees, sunshine, friends, and teachers. Over time, these reflections grew, were revisited, and inspired one another.

Each class transformed their ideas into vibrant, collaborative, unique art pieces that are combined today in a beautiful installation adorning the walls of the Sally and Wil Hergenrader Art Gallery in the Abston Early Childhood Building.

“This collection isn't just art. It's a celebration of identity, expression, and connection,” said Early Childhood Head Elizabeth Jordan. “It is a true representation of our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, where learning is guided by the girls’ curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.” 

Through the Reggio Emilia approach, our students discovered that learning is social, creative, and deeply personal. They built skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging, all while bringing happiness to life. The girls were challenged to be thoughtful and resourceful as they came up with their contributions for the impressive final product.  

“Clay was crafted into birds, beads and wire were intertwined into swirling shapes, and building blocks were shaped into a heart,” said Jordan. “Loose parts, as well as natural and recycled materials, became focal points of these masterpieces.”

In making these works of art, the girls worked collaboratively to make group decisions on what was important to showcase. There was teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, and at times, resilience when things didn’t quite go as they planned. As is always the case in our Early Childhood program, the project allowed girls to have fun while teachers focused on foundational skills. 

“Every girl contributed a personal representation of themselves in collaboration with their peers and teachers, strengthening their sense of community,” said Jordan. “Step by step, a meaningful representation of Hutchison emerged, showing how relationships, shared experiences, and creativity combine to create happiness.”