Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Scenario 5
The Coffee Morning – Mardi – Observation taken 12/9/xx
Mardi (4 years 8 months) decided it was a beautiful day to have coffee in the garden. “I just need to get some things for my coffee morning”, she told me. “Do you need any help?” I asked. “No thanks Brooke; I know where to get things. You can come for coffee when I’m all ready OK?”
“OK, sounds wonderful. I’ll see you later.”
Mardi busied herself with her preparations. She pulled the red table over near the rain tank, and then added a cloth & flowers. Next came the chairs. I was intrigued to see Mardi rearrange the table three times until it was in the right spot. As she worked she talked to herself. “No, too hot, just here. Oh, I think I need to move it. There. “Now there’s no room for the picnic.” Mardi moved the table for a third time then went inside and gathered her bits and pieces in one of the large baskets. Lilly wandered over and asked Mardi what she was doing.
“Actually I’m making a coffee morning. That’s when you sit in the garden and drink coffee and eat cakes with your best friends. You say, ‘Oh that looks delicious. I’ll just a have a little tiny bit.’
“I can be your friend and come to the garden Mardi”, said Lilly.
“Yes you can. Brooke is coming too so you will have to sit on the picnic blanket.”
“OK”, said Lilly.
Mardi set out her picnic blanket and her flowers. She also had a bug catcher, shells, a drink bottle, paper, coloured pencils and some rocks. “There, it’s ready now, time for coffee.” Mardi sat at the table and pretended to drink coffee. “Would you like some delicious cake Lilly?”
The girls continued to pretend to eat and drink for a few minutes.
“Now it’s time to look at my shopping. See what I bought? Do you love this?” Mardi started to show Lilly the various items she had set out, discussing each one, the shop it came from and the cost.
Lilly seemed a bit overwhelmed by Mardi’s lengthy descriptions and kept smiling and nodding her head.
“Well I’ll just go and put on the kettle and make some fresh coffee. I think Brooke is coming soon.”

Q1- Provide an analysis of Mardi’s learning and development as evidenced in the observation.
MY RESPONSE IS:
Mardi has a very good observation of how adults host high teas. She may have observed her mum or some adult while setting up for high tea for a group of friends, guests or even just a get together. She role plays how things are organised for coffee morning and is persistent to get things right and the way she wants it to be. She makes sure all of the items from her list are available and arranged. By setting up flowers just to create a space that is pleasant shows how she has developed her skills. By inviting friends and educator for her coffee morning and explaining about number of things she shows her development in social skills too. The scenario also shows how well organised she is for her age. She has a good understanding of how to host people which she may have learnt observing someone at home or observing things at a restaurant.

Q2- From your interpretation identify ways you could extend on this experience for future learning opportunities.
I can write analysis of mardi's learning and development but don't know ways to extend on this experience for future learning opportunities.

Please help with second question



thanks,
nagham

Hi Nagham,

You have touched on somethings, but I'm thinking are you meant to look at the outcomes in eylf to support learning and development?

What do you think you could you could do? Look closer at all the individual things she is doing in this experience, if necessary write them out as list and it may help you to see where you can extend on learning.

Leenie