Creativity and Cove Molding

I know I am several posts behind on our Pasta study and how that is progressing, but I wanted to share with you the creativity, problem solving and scientific inquiry that has been happening in our block area.

We placed some cut up pieces of cove molding in the block area along with some large and small marbles and a few small boxes with holes cut into them.

We lay them out in a welcoming provocation and see how the children will explore them....

 They found ways to roll the marbles from one box to the other using the molding.

They found how to angle the molding to allow the marbles to roll to the floor.

They connected the molding and made long pathways that spanned the carpet and usually went under our tables.  This caused some of them to invent ways to stop the marbles using boxes and other blocks off the shelves.  

They experimented using other surfaces in the center for their ramp ideas.

They "measured" using the marbles and created ways to contain ALL of the marbles.  One is never, never enough.

 Problems had to be figured out and solved.  The boy pictured above couldn't get his marble to roll from one box to the next.  The bottom of the box was pushing up on the molding so the molding touched the edge of the hole blocking the marble.  After inspecting the situation for awhile, he flattened the box and lifted the molding to the next hole.  Out rolled the marble!!  I was sitting right near him and could easily have lifted the box to free the marble.  Instead, I said, "what do you think the problem is?"  "why isn't your marble coming out?"  "what can you do to solve your problem?" And then I waited.  I supported him by being near him, but I did not give him suggestions.   When he figured it out he was quite proud of himself and empowered despite his recent frustration. I also made sure not to finish with a "good job" for him, but rather, "wow, you looked at it and then you solved your problem!"  He already felt good because of what he figured out.  He didn't need me to tell him he did a good job, but I wanted to make sure he realized that he was the one who solved that problem and remember how giving it a try...worked.

Children worked together trying each other's ideas and offering suggestions.  

They also explored the properties of physics balancing the marbles using various techniques.

It was a very engaging center allowing for a great deal of creativity and many possibilities.  

Cove molding can be found at your local hardware store.  Our sections are two different lengths.

I usually hunt for my marbles at dollar stores.  

This week we are continuing with this discovery process by adding PVC pipes cut in half, paper towel rolls, flexible tubing cut in half and pool noodles of various lengths also cut in half.  We also added masking tape and have only the large marbles out.  Time for some problem solving and inventing!!

Have any other suggestions for our block center that would extend this play?  Please leave a comment and share your ideas.  

Pasta-Just Do It!

One of the questions that my class had in our pasta project was how do you make pasta?  As I wrote about in an earlier post, one of my goals is to get them to learn how to answer these questions.  I loved when asked how we could learn about pasta, one child yelled out, "do it!"  So we did.

We made the pasta dough and rolled out the dough with a pasta maker. Then we cut fettuccine noodles. Of course we enjoyed our work by tasting the noodles, but not before comparing them to store bought fettuccine and discovering what boiling water looks like.

The children were so fascinated and excited about this process that many of our families have dusted off the pasta makers they had in their attics and tried it at home.  The home/school connection that this type of learning inspires is incredible.  Even for those that do not make their own pasta, the children now have an excitement when they are served pasta at home and are having discussions about it with their families.  This past week the children hunted around their homes for pasta equipment.  Everyone had a pot and a colander, and then it varied.  The children are eager the share with their classmates what they have discovered at home.

We put playdough and the pasta tools in the dramatic play center this week. It was incredible today to watch the children recreate all of the steps needed to make the pasta, from the flattening to the separating of the noodles on a dish towel, to cooking them in a pot.  They are "practicing" what they have learned from their "research", making sense of it in their own ways.

Other than a cheese grating area in preparation for making macaroni and cheese later this week, my centers do not focus on pasta.

It is not our theme.  We are building with foam blocks and shaving cream, painting with crayon resist and liquid water color, exploring nature items, writing our own stories and messages to friends, building with new brick blocks and more.  Centers providing engaging opportunities to try out materials and foster creativity.

The children interested in following their wonderings can do so, as in these photos:
 

This little girl found something in a book she wants to share with the class.  "Where are the sticky notes?" she calls out trying to tag a page that she has discovered in her "research."  I had posed the problem earlier in the morning that we didn't have a recipe for macaroni and cheese and we want to make it this week.  Tomorrow she will share this, which may help us to answer one of our questions or may very well lead us to more questions.

CAEYC Conference

This clip is from my art workshop.  After the presentation, we spent the rest of the time hands on exploring the activities.  This was the last session of the day and it was great to see the enthusiasm and energy level as this group played with the materials. 

I had a wonderful time presenting at the CAEYC conference this weekend.  I presented two workshops; The Process Of Becoming An Emergent Curriculum Teacher and Artistic Explorations.  Thank you to all the teachers and directors that attended my workshops and took the time to fill out the evaluations.  I learn so much each time I present from the thoughtful questions and the sharing of experiences from the attendees.

Based on the evaluations, I am excited for the children in your programs:
"I can't wait to try this in my class"
"I feel that I can give this a try now"
"I learned refreshing ideas on how to keep my classroom interesting for children AND teachers"
"This impacted me as a teacher and I will bring this into my classroom"
"I want to try this!"

One person wrote, "I think the presenter is very open to support through facebook and her blog sharing"
I am!  I would love to hear from you via blog comments or you can email me directly at danagorman@playfullylearning.org

A few people wrote comments such as this one, "I would love for you to come to my site and show this to the rest of my staff"
Please email me directly and we will discuss this further.

Some people left their emails and asked specific questions.  I will be getting back to you shortly.

A special thank you to my colleague, Lini, for helping me turn a hotel room into a classroom full of messy art activities...not an easy task.  I am happy to say the walls were clean when we left ;-)

It is invigorating to be around other educators so full of passion for what they do. Let me know how it goes as you give the things you learned a try.  Remember...I am right here to support you.