The School-Age 1 group has continued to show a growing interest in exploring the great outdoors. On the playground, you will see them using leaves and sticks to engage in role playing experiences. Keri decided to scaffold on their interest of utilizing loose parts and introduce a woodworking experience for the children in which they would make their own spinning top toys.
Our first step was to head to the nearby forest to collect the materials we needed. We scoured the forest floor for the perfect long piece of wood that we would be able to use for the body of the top. We then each found our own individual little sticks, in which we would use for the handle and bottom of the top. As we ventured back to the playground, we engaged in conversation in how we were going to make our tops. Some children thought they wanted to make a colorful design, while others thought of making a design that changed as the top spun. Back in the playground, the group cheered on Keri as she cut individual pieces for each of us to use. We then each took a piece and used our creative expression as we personalized them to our own liking. We demonstrated a sense of pride as we shared amongst our peers our designs. Inside, we engaged in risk taking as we used a drill alongside Keri to create a hole for the sticks to fit inside. Once we got the perfect fit, we took the tops for a spin!
