The Problem (the exciting opportunity for learning):
Tabib and Aisha are playing with a small farm set - a barn, various plastic animals, and a plastic "farmer" figure. Aisha wants to have the farmer's children feed the animals, but there are no children figures.
Children's Possible Solutions
1. Aisha takes a push-on clothespin and markers from the Art Center. She draws a face and clothes on the clothespin. "Now we have a child," she announces. The clothespin child "feeds" the animals.
Your Role: Compliment her on her creative solution. Support her decision to use art materials in the Manipulative Center.
2. Tabib declares, "That can't be a child. It's bigger than the farmer."
"This child is in high school," Aisha rebuts. "She is very tall." Other
children join the discussion.
Your Role: Support all discussion. Ask if there are other ways to make people of all sizes for the farm.
3. One child makes "people" from spools; another cuts pictures from a
magazine. Another child uses construction paper and cuts trees and grass for
the farm while others make pipe cleaner animals.
Your Role: Provide needed materials and compliment the children on their creations.
To Extend the Experience
1. Sing "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" and have children make up verses about all of the items they made, showing the items as they sing the song.
2. Have children make a "farm" bulletin board. Perhaps they will want to include the figures they've made for their pretend play.
3. Read books about farms.
4. If possible, visit a small farm.
This problem solving activity helps children develop their creative thinking
skills, motor skills and social-emotional skills.
 |