Welcome to Fall 2013

What can we do to make things move?

What joy we are finding as we learn and move together!  Many materials are being introduced to the children to provoke their thinking and learning.  Making motion seems to be a rich topic with this group, whether we are dancing or being scientists or exploring literacy.  The water pump has instilled a multi-sensory awareness of moving the water, both in the pumping action and dashing the splashes.  Those splashes became a delightful dance partner for the children’s feet. 

A long tube, formerly used to deliver new carpet, has been transformed into a means of motion as the children determine ways to get the ball all the way through it.  On a side note, the children have noticed the sound of the ball in the tube.  This presents another thread of study to consider for exploration.  

Since the tube was continuous, the thick slats were presented to the children to present them with the opportunity to construct connections to promote the motion of spools running along them.  This endeavor to connect has presented the children with problem-solving situations as they encounter the terrain of our room.  

To further think about motion, the large lazy-Susan provided the occasion for the children to see the results of the turning motion.  Tops and spinning gourds have also garnered thinking about spinning motion, along with pinwheels.  

"If there is a wind cloud, the cloud can make the wind and it can spin."

To show how the pinwheels would move, the children illustrated their thinking and then tested their theories.  We will continue to move things in our environment, including our own bodies, to build our vocabulary of motion and as a means to express our knowledge on other topics.  For example, motion will be key to expressing what is known about the spiders and the webs they weave as they are invading our environment this autumn.