This week, both the Bambini children and the SK children were interested in building a zoo for the plastic animal figures we have in our classroom. Initially, the Bambini children were playing with the animals by lining them up side by side, and/or carrying them around in their arms or pushing in the wagon. The SK children, on the other hand were more interested in learning about the different animals and how to spell the names of the animals on the white board. |
A teacher asked a few questions to encourage them to play in more collaborative way.
Teacher: I see you are interested in playing with these animals. How could we play with these animals together? Where could all of these animals live?
SK: They could live in a Zoo!
Teacher: That is a great idea! What does a zoo look like?
Teacher: I see you are interested in playing with these animals. How could we play with these animals together? Where could all of these animals live?
SK: They could live in a Zoo!
Teacher: That is a great idea! What does a zoo look like?
Later on that morning, teacher asked the SK and the Bambini children to reflect upon the zoo they built earlier.
Teacher (asking a SK child): Tell me why you decided to build a zoo for the giraffes?
SK child: Animals were walking around the town and they sneaked out of the airport. So we made a zoo for them. Their homes. Lots of people got eaten by lions!.
Teacher (asking a Bambini child): what did you make?
Bambini child: I am making a zoo. They are eating leaf.
Because the baby giraffe wants to reach the leaf. He cannot reach it.
Teacher (asking a SK child): Tell me why you decided to build a zoo for the giraffes?
SK child: Animals were walking around the town and they sneaked out of the airport. So we made a zoo for them. Their homes. Lots of people got eaten by lions!.
Teacher (asking a Bambini child): what did you make?
Bambini child: I am making a zoo. They are eating leaf.
Because the baby giraffe wants to reach the leaf. He cannot reach it.
Together with the teacher, the Bambini and the SK children looked up the images of many zoos on the web. Referring to the images they found, they decided to build a ‘home’ for the giraffes.
Children also talked about what the giraffes need to live: trees and water. SK child came up with the idea of using a picture holder with multiple wire arms as a tree. One of the Bambini children helped to attach the pieces of green tissue paper to each hook to make a tree for giraffe to eat.
The SK child suggested to use translucent glass marbles to represent water.
Children also talked about what the giraffes need to live: trees and water. SK child came up with the idea of using a picture holder with multiple wire arms as a tree. One of the Bambini children helped to attach the pieces of green tissue paper to each hook to make a tree for giraffe to eat.
The SK child suggested to use translucent glass marbles to represent water.
On the following school day, the SK and the Bambini children continued to work on the zoo building. In order to provoke their interest, teacher set up the classroom with a few materials they used to build the zoo last time and showed the picture of their zoo from the previous day.
As soon as the SK and the Bambini children started to build a zoo, the SK children noticed that the Bambini children placed all the animals in the same area.
SK 1: Look, Ms. Matsubara! the Bambini children are trying to put all the animals in the same cage!
SK 2: No, Lion does not go there (with giraffe)!
Teacher: How do animals live in a zoo? Do they live all together in one large cage?
SK 1: No.
Teacher: How come?
SK 2: Because lions and tigers are going to eat up other animals.
Teacher: Did you hear, the Bambini children? the SK children said, if we put a lion and a tiger with giraffes, giraffe is going to be eaten by them. So what can we do?
As soon as the SK and the Bambini children started to build a zoo, the SK children noticed that the Bambini children placed all the animals in the same area.
SK 1: Look, Ms. Matsubara! the Bambini children are trying to put all the animals in the same cage!
SK 2: No, Lion does not go there (with giraffe)!
Teacher: How do animals live in a zoo? Do they live all together in one large cage?
SK 1: No.
Teacher: How come?
SK 2: Because lions and tigers are going to eat up other animals.
Teacher: Did you hear, the Bambini children? the SK children said, if we put a lion and a tiger with giraffes, giraffe is going to be eaten by them. So what can we do?
With the SK children’s help in problem solving, the children decided to build a cage for each animal. While the children were busy building cages with blocks, one for the lions and one for the giraffes, a teacher noticed a Bambini child was sitting with an elephant in his arm.
Teacher: I see you are holding an elephant.
Bambini child: Because he wants to get out.
Teacher: He wants to get out of the zoo?
Bambini child: Yes, because he wants to eat.
Teacher: How about building a cage for elephant and give him some food so he can eat in his cage?
The child fetched several small square blocks and started to line them up in an enclosed form.
Teacher: I see you are holding an elephant.
Bambini child: Because he wants to get out.
Teacher: He wants to get out of the zoo?
Bambini child: Yes, because he wants to eat.
Teacher: How about building a cage for elephant and give him some food so he can eat in his cage?
The child fetched several small square blocks and started to line them up in an enclosed form.
In the end of their play, SK child made a sign for the zoo they made for the animals.