Tag: Childrens classes

#STEAMMSUNDAY And breathe...

#STEAMMSUNDAY And breathe...

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Slightly off topic from the colours theme last week. On this journey of child led learning it’s been incredible to see how children respond to activities and this one didn’t disappoint. 

Let’s set the scene… a little child’s table, colourful bowls around the edge and building blocks stacked in the middle of the table. The aim is to create a pathway with the blocks to take a ping pong ball to the right coloured bowl. The way to move the ball is by using your breath. The activity is quite a simple one, behind the scenes though there’s so much more. 

I love a good list so here goes;

– The child must use their planning and visualise the pathway they want to create. Does the path have two sides, will the ball fit through the middle and where is it going to start and finish. 
– Getting the correct colour (remember, first comes matching, then identifying then naming) 
*An understanding of how to control their breath* I’ll come back to this one
– Getting their body in the right place to begin
– And finally seeing the final result; a success or something to learn by? 

*Let’s get back to the breath control and delve a little deeper. Think about how much breath controls our adult bodies; when we’re angry, nervous, excited, calm and at rest. For children still learning to control their emotions it takes a while for their breathing to fall in line. 
Occupational therapists use breath exercises to help regulate the proprioceptive system (one of the 7 senses) when a child feels overwhelmed or unable to calm themselves. 

If you have a rainy Sunday and the energy in the house is getting a little much, try activities like these to (try) and help restore a sense of calm (for a little while at least!)

– Blowing bubbles into dishwashing liquid through a straw
– Blowing toy cars to make them roll down a ramp
– Blowing bubbles! 
– In a bathtub blowing swimming flips
– Blow a ping pong ball around a play dough maze
– Playing with a snorkel! 
– Blowing away feathers
– Blowing paper windmills
– Blowing paint with a straw

If you have any other similar ideas, I’d love to know! How great to have a bag of tricks like this for when we need them most. 

Keep in touch, I love to chat!

Have a great #steammsunday

 
 
The Secrets of Construction Play

The Secrets of Construction Play

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This has been a big part of the Wood themed classes this week. It’s really been fascinating to see how each child approached the blocks; both the perfect cubes and irregular pieces of wood.

There’s a lot (a LOT) to be learnt from construction play and it might not always be the most obvious. It’s a tool which teaches so much and provides skills to last a lifetime.

Let’s list out the main benefits before delving in;

– Problem solving

– Fine Motor Development

– Understanding of shape and stability

– Language development

– The basics of structural engineering

– Early scientific thinking; trying out ideas, making adjustments and continuing the cycle to allow children will begin to formulate ideas and build on them.

When children have the opportunity to explore construction it allows them the time to handle materials in different ways. Using their imagination and creativity is the start point for problem solving and a higher level of critical thinking later in life.

It was lovely to see all the different ways the wooden blocks were used throughout the week; a fairy kingdom, a birthday cake and simply a giant tower! The best part is that there really was no right or wrong answer (apart from when the adults guessed incorrectly as to what the structures were of course!) The dialogue used throughout the construction activity was rich and full variance and this really helps to open the world of language to a child.

 

 

The Process

When children are able to see a block, test its structural stability and adjust accordingly they’re beginning to think on a higher level.

Let’s break it down, first they must assess the shape, visualising where they want the piece to go. Then they must place the shape (which also requires some fine motor control) and then they see the outcome. Whether that block stayed up or fell down would then dictate the next actions. What a huge process for a child!

 

This all happens with very little conscious thought; holding the block, feeling its weight, looking at the angles of the base, adjusting to find a balance and waiting for that all important connection! WOW! These children are learning through pure movement. There’s no book or worksheet to tell them or ask them what to expect and how to proceed. The complex brain mechanisms whilst at play are incredible.

 

 

How to encourage construction play at home

Firstly, you’ll already be doing this I’m certain. Every parent is a child development expert, you might just not know it. You’ll have seen when your little one was very young (under 2) the wonderful schemas of learning at play (more on schemas in a later blog) connecting and disconnecting structures.

My son is in that latter phase, destruction! The most fun we have right now is when I build anything (literally, stack anything on top of anything) and see him whizz across the room to knock it down. I’m sure you’ll remember that same phase.

Children won’t be able to associate connecting blocks together unless they’ve first seen how it is disconnected and put back together.

 

So, play! Use your language to build, quite literally. Make observations about the blocks, questions around the process of building or even about the story. When you engage and use that rich language you’ll see the construction play will last much longer

 

“I see that block over there hasn’t been used”

“Look at these two blocks supporting the roof”

“I wonder how the walls are supported?”

“Have you thought about an extension?”

“Can we see any holes anywhere?”

“I wonder who lives here”

“Could this be a machine to make pancakes?”

“That looks like a great podium for the dog olympics!”

 

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“What if my little one isn’t into construction play?”

Don’t worry, you’ll see they probably “construct” in different ways or perhaps just aren’t in that phase of learning at the moment.

Maybe they’re particularly into making roads for their cars or love tying string around things. Connecting things together can cover a whole range of different topics, not just construction with blocks.

 

Have fun this week and show me any structures you’ve created with your little one. Don’t forget to use the #steammsunday

 

Thanks again,

 

Lorna

 

#STEAMMSUNDAY 10 reasons why thixotropic Oobleck is better than slime!

#STEAMMSUNDAY 10 reasons why thixotropic Oobleck is better than slime!

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1. No Mess: The clean up is sooo much easier! I’m talking, let it dry and get out the hoover!
2. Easy Recipe: Super super simple to make; just cornflour and Water!
3. Great Learning: Teaches so much about matter; suspended substances specifically.
4. Motor Skills: Helps with fine motor touch; soft and gentle, fast and slow. What’s great is the mixture reacts to touch.
5. New Sensation: Children won’t have felt anything like this before!
6. Customisable (is that a word? I hope so!) you can add colour and scent to it as you choose!
7. Child Safe: You can add it to your gravy after it’s done…! Jokes, it is totally kid safe though. If little ones are in the eating phase it’s a’ok, it won’t taste great but it’ll be safe.
8. Serious Play: It’ll prompt some serious play! Calming when it’s liquid, frustrating when semi-solid and great when it’s solid as you can almost snap it!
9. Throwback Feelings: It’ll give throwback feels for the grown ups to that wonderful custard powder when we were little. None of this pre-made vanilla infused deliciousness you get now!
10. Easy Clean-up: Did I mention the clean up is suuuuper simple?! (It’s in there twice because who’s got that much time as a parent, am I right?!)

It was such a great activity this week and fascinating to see how each child approached it. We had the whole range, some who jumped right in (quite literally!) and some who touched it once and weren’t so keen to play. 

The mixture is a strange combination of soft, hard, liquid, solid and strangely everything in between. Learning about matter provides so many great discussions and whilst they may not have the obvious “scientific” sounding language it does help create a dialogue. We’re building the basics of understanding ready for higher level thinking.
Children will also get a great tactile workout as they move and remove the mixture, it’s fantastic for working those little muscles in the hands and arms! The isometric movements help to develop strength used for fine motor skills.

Want to try it at home? 
You’ll need:
– a mat to protect your floor
– a big tub or mixing bowl
– cornflour
– water
– and anything else you want to add in! Try… small objects which can get wet, ping pong balls were fun for us last week

Mix the cornflour and water together; adding the water bit by bit to experience each stage of the wonderful mixture!

When you’re done, rinse out in the sink and shake out the mat outside!

Let me know how you get on, I’d love to hear all about it and of course see pictures! 
If you’re happy to share, use the #steammsunday

Have a wonderful Sunday!

From Lorna