Scenario: Josie and Priam

[Arundathi]

was just wondering if i am on the right track on this scenario

Josie (4 years) is trying to make a bridge using a cardboard cylinder and a small box. The Educator has provided play dough and natural materials such as twigs, stones and leaves to promote the use of open-ended and natural materials. She has also offered pictures and artwork of bridges. The children’s interest in building bridges has followed on from an experience where they learnt the nursery rhyme ‘London bridge is falling down’ and an outdoor experience with an obstacle course containing bridges.

The Educator notices the Josie is having trouble building the arch of her bridge. She is becoming very frustrated.
“Josie, Priam was making a bridge yesterday, maybe he could tell you how he did it?” Josie nods. Priam (5 years 2 months) sits next to Josie. He says “Maybe you need some play dough and sticks to build the arch”. Josie finds some sticks and playdough and Priam helps her to secure the arch of the bridge. He shows her his “special way to use sticks”. Josie wants the bridge to be “higher” and the two children spend a considerable amount of time trying to solve the new problem.

1.How has the Educator supported Priam and Josie’s thinking and promoted the development of their problem solving skills?
Answer:
• The Educator Supported Priam and Josie’s thinking by responding sensitively to their attempts in building the bridges.
• The educator was emotionally available and supported Josie’s frustrated feeling when she was unable to build the arch of her bridge.
• She then supported and provided time and space for Josie to collaboratively work with Priam to create an arch bridge.
• The educator responded to Josie’s displays of learning dispositions by commenting on her work and providing encouragement and additional ideas of asking help from her friend Priam.

2.What teaching strategies did the Educator use to engage the children in the learning process and encourage creative expression?

Answer:
• The educator used peer scaffolding to encourage Josie to try a different technique, which her friend used to build an arch bridge.
• The educator provided resources that encouraged the children to represent their thinking of building bridges
• The educator encouraged collaborative learning between the children about bridges.
• The educator responded sensitively to Josie’s frustration and supported her to resolve it by giving her choice of asking her friend Priam’s help

3. What materials were offered to encourage creative expression?

Answer: Cardboard cylinder, a small box, play dough and natural materials such as twigs, stones and leaves to promote the use of open-ended and natural materials. Pictures and artwork of bridges were also offered to encourage creative expression of the children.

4.List two open ended questions the Educator could ask the children to investigate new ideas and concepts.
Answer:

• What other shapes can you use to build the bridges?
• What can you use to make the bridge stable and not letting it fall?

5.What experiences did the children participate in to promote creative expression?

Answer: following are the experiences the children participated to promote creative expression:
• Have meaningful experiences- using open-ended materials to build the bridges the children had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful experience.
• Express thoughts and ideas – the children had the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas through play
• Solve problems – the children solved the problem seeking help of their peers to build an arch on the bridge.
• Work collaboratively and Engage in reflective thinking – the children worked collaboratively together to build the tall bridge and engaged in reflective thinking of how to build a taller bridge.

[Lorina]

Yes, you're on the right track!

,
Lorina