Since last year, this group of children has shown a huge interest in testing the different ways an object travels.
They have formed relationships that make collaboration inviting. Here, they are trying to figure out how a ball can travel through a loop.
Sol: Let’s make it go in a loop!
Cooper: Ok, I can help.
Luke: I know. We can make it stay up with tape.
Cooper: It doesn’t work.
Luke: Oh, no. What are we going to do? Sol, I don’t think your idea works.
They continued to brainstorm:
Cooper: We can make it balance with the small brick.
Sol: Let me test it. Now it almost did.
Austen: We need to raise the top part higher.
Each participant brings a different element to this working group. While they continued to test, discard, and redesign each other’s ideas, they did so with their own personalities knowing that their styles of communication were welcomed. This allowed Austen, who was outside the building space and observing their trials, to enter and offer his idea of making a steeper incline. His contribution was easily accepted and the group moved closer to their goal. – Teacher Adriana