Lets Dig Deeper
As you have read in the past few blogs, we are on a journey discovering movement. We’ve touched on the importance of movement with materials and big body movement with songs. This week we’ve continued both of those focuses as well as introducing sensory movement into the room. Most of you have mentioned how exciting it is in the morning to walk in and see the provocations* that are ready for exploring through the day. They are filled with wonderment and curiosity. Usually in Shale they are simple provocations, like scoops in a table filled with water, but as they get older the provocations can become more complex. One of the provocations we set up this week was funnels, cones and scoops in the sandbox. It seems simple – the children built with the cones, poured and scooped sand with the funnels and scoops, they made piles of sand, and they sometimes just ran their fingers through the sand to make trails. However; if you take the time to dig a little deeper, you can see all of the boundless learning that is really happening.
When Vera is slowly shovelling the sand with a metal scoop and pouring it onto her legs, she is being an agent* in her own learning process. She is discovering cause and effect as well as building theories about why and how things work. Why does the sand fall when she tilts the scoop? Why does it feel the way it does when it falls on her leg? If she scoops more will it feel different? When our Shale friends explore and investigate with simple objects, they are building on so many underlying skills; experimenting with problem solving, developing vocabulary and creating patterns and theories are only to name a few.
A provocation that really sent our friends into a deep-thinking process was our ball experience. We took small coloured balls and wrapped them in painters tape. We made sure to apply the tape upside down so it was sticky to the touch. When we entered the room that morning, our friends were drawn to the balls right away as they are one of their favourite things. When we reached them they grasped them without hesitation but were immediately taken back. The balls stuck to their palms. In shock, Eva tried shaking them off. Friends observed her and then tried the same thing. Some friends were unsuccessful and needed to try a new tactic. Audrey used her other hand to remove the ball – but much to her surprise, it stuck to her opposite hand!
This kind of problem solving play really allows toddlers to dive deep into theories they’ve explored in past experiences to come up with new theories on how things work in their world. We are excited to see where this journey in movement really takes us. We are a young group on the move, and excited to participate together to continue theory building, problem solving and many more dispositions.
This weekend, take some time to observe your child closely while they play and explore something simple. Can you see them problem solving and doing deep-thinking to figure out how things work and new theories?
*Provocation – “a experience or set-up that is done with intention to explore and provoke a child or children’s interest.” *Agent – “a person or thing that causes something to happen.”
Have a great weekend of observation! Sarah, Cassi, Young and Emily
