This post is about tires! Dirty, smelly, round black tires! Let me tell you a little story about these tires. I had them delivered to our Outdoor Classroom to be used as loose parts. I got a lot of push back about these tires. I have some wonderful volunteers who built the outdoor classroom and have spent a lot of time making our Outdoor Classroom beautiful. These wonderful men were concerned that they would be mosquito breeders, water holders, they were dirty and they werent natural. I told these men that I wanted them to stay so we drilled holes in them so the water could drain out. I told them that if they werent played with all school year, I would get rid of them and I also told them that if they were even touched once that they stayed. Well, I am happy to say that these tires have become fabulous learning tools! The child led learning that took place last week was enormous. It all started with Eli. He wanted to move a tire. He got under it and lifted. He smiled because he did it and we celebrated together. Other children heard us celebrating and came to see what was happening. Other children wanted to see if they could lift the tires. Some gave up right away and asked me to help. I decided not to help because I knew they could do it on their own. AND THEY DID! They rolled those tires and eventually started stacking them. They got 4 in a stack and then decided to dive into the middle. Children were standing back and watching friends crawl up and in so they could mimic. There was some frustration from children but they eventually figured it out! In the meantime, one little girl got tired of waiting and rolled a tire to the bridge to see what would happen if she got it to the top and pushed it down. She did this about 5-6 times! Then another little boy decided to give this a try too! The line for the tires became so long that one child offered to go get a clipboard so they could start a waiting list. The children had to sign their names on the waiting list in order to have a turn. So many things were learned here on this day: cooperation, physics, problem solving, handwriting and literacy, gross motor skills were put to the test and so much more! Child led learning at work!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:25:18 +0000
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