Children take their real-life experiences and incorporate them into their play. “Restaurant” has been a reoccurring game in the House Area.
The children set the table up and invite friends over. Using mini clipboards from the cubbies, they take customer’s orders and make menus on the dry erase boards from the communication center. Some children use mock letters (scribbles) while others have been asking teachers how to spell different foods.
The teachers see this as an opportunity to enrich the children’s play and are creating a menus with the children to support their interest in writing.
What happens at a restaurant?
Lua: When we get there we see tables, napkins, forks, knives, plates. And they give us glasses. They give us menus for whatever we want and they give the same food we ordered on the plate for us. They ask us what drink we want and they bring it to us, like lemonade.
Addy: When I go to the restaurant I see some food there.
Teacher: How does the food get there?
Lua: The restaurant people bring the food. The chef wears special clothes and they wear special hats and it’s all white.
Mia: There’s a waitress that writes down what you want to eat like spaghetti and meatballs. The chef rings the bell when the food is ready. The waitress brings the food when it’s done.