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| Marble run |
The Marble run has been a great interest to most children in my centre in the last few weeks. It started by using the marble run in the sandpit and got extended to endless experiences in the indoors and outdoors. With the assistance of teachers, the children were able to construct their own marble run by using their own junk materials such as boxes, milk bottles, cello-tapes, scissors and more.
Then one day, the ramp we have in our centre came to a very good use. One of the children inspired me to facilitate an experience utilizing our ramp area to make our very own marble run.
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| Experiementing with more material |
One day one of the children threw a marble down and watched it speeding down the ramp! I thought that was a great idea so I suggested if the children would like to make their own marble run on the ramp. The group of children agreed with a lot of excitement showed on their faces! I asked the children how they think we could make it, and their response was to use the blocks. In my mind I had the marble run idea, but the children wanted to have a marble RACE instead which was amazing!!
The children worked co-operatively in bringing the blocks from the block room and made their own marble run or I should say marble race! This experience was a great one, especially because it extended on the children’s interest of marbles and marble runs. This was very exciting as the children initiated this learning themselves and they were capable of constructing the whole learning experience by being creatively expressive. Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory as cited in (Santrock, 2008) asserts that children construct their own learning to make sense of the world around them. This is in line with Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 1996) as it promotes the nurture of children being capable and confident learners in ECE.
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| Being creative |
Nurturing creativity in children is very important in early childhood education. Creativity according to May (2009) is “the ability to construct something new out of things or ideas that already exist” (P.5). Creative thoughts and expression are also defined as the way we form unique ideas to solve a particular problem utilising the multiple intelligences (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2006).
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| Making a marble run using different materials |
As an early childhood teacher I believe that we influence whether or not children become creative. Therefore, teachers need to believe that all children have creative potentials in order to flourish the originality in them and to provide them with the tools and materials needed to stimulate their imagination even further (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2006). Craft and Jeffrey (2001) argue that teachers are not the only main influential factor in fostering children’s creativity, but also having the space and the resourceful environment are important aspects to inspire their sense of creativity.
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| Using junk to make a marble run |
Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. I really like the way you allowed the children to pursue their ideas and experiment with different objects and materials. Diti Hill (2008) wrote an awesome article about igniting a passion for learning in children. According to her we do this by allowing them to create their own knowledge through experiences just like this marble run. When we do this, she believes that our own passion for teaching is ignited, in return. This is the true Ako experience (Tamaiti, 2005)- Ka mau te wehi, my friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Rana, I thought the marble run was a great idea I'm going to give it ago with the children in my centre, I will use golfballs instead of marbles since I'm working with toddlers, I agree it's a great way for the children to be creative, and explore the different ways of using the object and materials around them.
ReplyDeleteHi this is a good exploring experiment. Your children has shown great creativity in making their own game tools to extend their game. I found it interesting because I have this marble running set at the centre,and it would be worth allowing children to give ago in their invention.This would become a good learning reflection for the children.This could lead to science experiments with marbles.Children have developed a working theory to explore,solving problem and think logically about experiments.A good learning environmnet and resources and a thoughtful teacher encourages children to extend their interst in various means.
ReplyDeleteWow.. an excellent reflection. It involved with technology and science concepts. Children loved it.
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