The children in our infant classroom have shown a growing interest in sticky materials and the board outside the classroom and they showed curiosity about the process and liked exploring the tape that Melody had given them. To extend on this curiosity, Kerren set up a hands-on exploration by taping a variety of toys to and underneath a large piece of plexiglass using scotch, packing, and painter’s tape. This created an inviting challenge that encouraged problem-solving, persistence, and sensory discovery as the children worked to free the toys from different types of sticky resistance. Leona quickly noticed that some toys were attached to the underside of the plexiglass and confidently crawled underneath to retrieve a ball. She then returned to the top where she used all her strength to pull a doll free, carefully lifting one side of the tape before successfully removing a plate secured with scotch tape and moving on to a toy carrot, as if thinking, I wonder what will happen if I pull from this side instead. Isaiah showed strong focus and determination as he worked to remove the toys, first freeing a caterpillar and then spending a long time with a baby doll taped down with packing tape, experimenting with pulling the doll itself before shifting his attention to peeling the tape away. Once one side came loose, he pulled and pulled until the doll was completely free. He then removed the tape from its body, handing the sticky pieces to Melody, and then pausing to hug the doll. Later, he brought a new toy from the shelf and attempted to tape it onto the plexiglass himself, suggesting, I wonder if I can make the toy stick like the others. He also carefully observed the setup, noticed the toys underneath, and crawled backward through the tunnel to retrieve them, demonstrating body awareness and spatial exploration. Micah explored different approaches as he freed a toy person taped with painter’s tape by pulling both the toy and the tape, then used considerable strength to remove a tambourine secured with packing tape before crawling underneath to retrieve a toy giraffe, persisting through the challenge. Bennett continued the sensory exploration after freeing a tambourine by stretching, pulling, and attempting to rip a piece of painter’s tape between his hands, closely examining how it felt and responded, then crawling under the plexiglass to observe the toys below, as if wondering, I wonder why the tape feels so sticky and stretchy in my hands. Eva experimented with multiple toys on top, pulling at tape to release a toy person, tambourine, and plate, then paused to study the toys stuck underneath the plexiglass. After watching Leona crawl under, she hesitated briefly before trying it herself and quickly became excited, crawling back and forth with growing confidence as she retrieved toys and repeated the movement. As an extension, this experience could be deepened by introducing tape with a wider range of textures and levels of stickiness, such as masking tape, fabric tape, or reusable adhesive, along with gloves, tools, or textured surfaces, allowing children to compare sensations, notice how their hands feel after touching the tape, and continue exploring persistance, cause and effect, and the sensory jpy they clear;y experienced while peeling, pulling and unsticking materials.
