Last week we talked about small spaces and climbing with you. Did you get a chance to try engaging in climbing activities at home? Our Shale friends are becoming much more adventurous in their climbing endeavours and they are showing their natural disposition of persistence. In the Alberta Curriculum Framework, the learning disposition of persisting is defined as this:
“I/we are persisting. I/we are persevering with challenges and/or difficulties. I/we are trying new strategies. I/we are asking for help. I/we are striving to reach our own goals.”
Does that behaviour sound familiar? It should! Our young toddlers are constantly pushing their boundaries and challenging themselves while exploring their world. Because of this, our big idea of “movement” is a perfect match. Through observations and planning together as an educator team, we have been providing experiences for the children to explore movement with different materials. You’ve likely seen materials large and small being used in unique ways. First we started small, with scoops and bowls, different balls and different sized ramps. We used our tables on an incline to create a larger scale ramp that provoked sand movement in the sand table and with LOTS of observation and discovery watching different materials such as cars, bottles and babies slide down to the floor at different speeds.
This was all wonderful exploration and gave our shale friends a chance to explore their theory building on velocity and incline. Once the children explored the materials, they noticed that they moved at fast and slow paces, they were compelled to try it with their bodies. Noticing this need, we built a safe space in the centre of our classroom to give the children an opportunity to grow and develop their need to climb!
It is critical that we give our young toddlers an opportunity to persist with a challenge or interest they have – even if it means stretching our own comfort levels to have them achieve their goals. Think about how you can provide them the experience they crave, but keep it safe.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sarah, Michelle, Cassi, Young