Spider in the Shadow!

At Stomping pretty much everything that we put out for the children is considered a 'loose part'. This means the children have the opportunity to use our things in as many different and creative ways as they can think of. Recently we set out a playscape with spring loaded tongs. The tongs are wonderful for small muscle development, and they are always very appealing to the children. 

We have two sets of tongs - one wooden and the other metal. The children were having a wonderful time experimenting with the sizes and weights of things the tongs could pick up. 

The boy with the metal tongs overheard that there was a spider running along the near by table. As he approached...still holding his treasured tongs...he noticed that the tongs were casting a shadow over the spider!

Soon he was 'grabbing' the spider with the shadow of the tongs. Opening and closing as the spider ran down the length of the table.

This is one of those 'Wow' moments in the field of  Early Childhood Education that could never have been planned.  The children were mostly quiet - they were observing and processing the moment. The lesson was powerfully obvious as our friend followed the spider along the table with the shadow of the tongs. 

Later, when Dianne and I were reflecting on the experience we felt great satisfaction in knowing that by our giving preschoolers lots of freedom to play and experiment with all that we offer we are supporting their individual learning styles and development in a powerful way. 

 

 

It was learning in the 'moment' at its best. Thanks for 'Stomping' by!



Month End Snap Shots!

Here is a random collection of pictures taken over the month of October.  The weather has been very cooperative giving us some lovely warm and dry days. That, along with the leaves,  is quickly changing, and we will soon be truly 'stomping' in the mud!

Enjoy...

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for 'stomping' by....

Five Green And Speckled Frogs...

 

...Sat on a speckled log eating the most delicious bugs, yum yum. One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool - now there are only 4 green and speckled frogs! The children love this song and request it often...but what child can resist 'helping' the frogs make their jump?
 

 

Last week we took the freckled frog jumping to a whole new level...we added all the frogs we could find to the pool!

 

The extended play that grew from this simple act was wonderful self-directed, social and imaginative.

The play involved problem solving, sharing, negotiating and compromising. All are very important lessons that help children learn about themselves and their world.

   Before we knew it, the frog play was then transferred to the painting and print making table.
 

 

The frogs were now swimming in pools of paint...

 

and part of the printing process!

 

It was very rewarding and exciting to see the favourite little song develop...

into such a powerful open-ended exploration of the children's play.



 

This is learning through play at its best; self-directed, full of literacy experiences and lots of fun!