21 August 2012
Recently a child’s father from our centre came in and built a pulley structure in the sandpit. It is a long piece of rope which extends right across the sandpit and is secured by two large wooden posts at the ends of the sandpit. There are two pulleys on the rope with one bucket attached to the bottom of each. Children fill up the buckets with sand then hoist them up using the piece of rope and pull them across to the other side of the sandpit. The father asked to make the pulley during a session so the children could see how it was made and could assist him in the making of it.
Ministry of Education (2007) state that children learn when they are involved in shared activities and have conversations with other people. MacNaughton and Williams (2009) supports this by stating that through conversations with adults, children develop technological language and the ability to solve technological problems. This parent spoke to the children throughout the making of the pulley explaining what he was doing and included the children by asking them to hand him his tools and having them help to mix the concrete.
I thought this was a great way for children to really learn about how something is created and put together rather than turning up at kindy and seeing a new piece of equipment that had miraculously appeared in the sandpit. By involving the children throughout the process and having conversations with them, it felt like a joint effort and the children were very proud of themselves at the end.
This activity is very popular with the boys at the centre as they compete with each other over who can load their bucket the fastest and who can lift it the highest. Talay-Ongan and Ap (2005) suggest that coordinated play activity helps with processes such as conflict resolution, problem-solving and self exploration. I agree with this statement as I have observed children problem-solving about how to get past each other as the pulleys meet in the middle and do not overlap. Ministry of Education (1996) states that when children solve problems together they gain an understanding of how technologies can help themselves and others. This is a valuable skill to learn at an early age and is often required when playing with this piece of equipment.
This assignment has challenged me a great deal to look beyond digital technology and see other things that are also classed as technology. Smorti (1999) defines technology as solving problems and helping people and I see that this activity does both of those things. It helps children to carry a heavy bucket of sand across the rather large sandpit and solves the problem of having to carry it.
When looking at children’s learning and development through the use of this activity I believe they learn about cause and effect. What happens if I fill the bucket too much? It is too heavy for me to lift and move. What happens if someone else is moving their bucket at the same time and we meet in the middle? If I fill my bucket with water and it is too heavy and I drop it, what happens to the water?
Children also learn about the capabilities of their bodies and become aware of what they can and cannot lift. I think this is an important thing for children to learn as they begin to take on more challenges and therefore increase their abilities once they first gain that confidence in themselves.
Hey Amanda,
ReplyDeleteVery cool! It is great to hear and see that your centre has a strong relationship with some parents because it is just important for families to feel a sense of belonging as well as the children. I’m sure this dad will love hearing the stories that his child comes home with telling him about how they used the pulley during the day. It is nice for parents to be contributing to their child’s learning at the centre as well as at home.
Smorti (1999, p. 5) suggests that “technology is also a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the development of products and systems”. The children are learning how to be creative in the sandpit with a new system that has been built.
It is important for children to question themselves as it really provokes them to think for themselves, work through the processes and gets the child involved in sharing their theories or understands with adults or the other children (MacNaughton & Williams, 2009).
:)
Heya Amanda.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jac, really nice to hear that there is strong relationships between your teachers and the parents at your centre. It is nice for the children too as they can make links between home and the centre and be with their parents at the centre/ play along side them. Ministry of Education (1996) states that "Children and their families experience an environment where they know that they have a place" (pg.58).
I like the picture that you posted as it shows me exactly what the pulley looks like and gave me a good idea of how it works, aswell as gaining information from the description you gave. I think that this is a creative way of turning technology into an awesome, fun activity for the children. Ministry of Education (2007) states that children develop "familiarty with the properties and character of the materials and technology used in the creative and expressive arts" (pg.80).
Maybe next time you could try and build something with all the children as this would be a great way to provoke many learning outcomes for the children.
:) From Jess
xx
Hey Amanda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool resource to now have in your centre! Ministry of Education (1996) suggests that “appropriate and interesting play materials are provided that children can change and interact with” (p.43).
It was great how the dad wanted to be involved in making it, but at the same time doing it around the children, it's great when parents have a good relationship with the centre and the children pick up on this too.
Ministry of Education (1996) suggests that when children participate in active enquiry they develop their confidence in offering ideas and it enhances their understanding of a topic. I definately aggree, as the children now will have a great understanding of this mechanical pully system and it seems like the activity certainly encouraged questioning.
Well done :)