During movement with Ilaan last week the West Wing group explored different ways of traveling. To support this Ilaan brought out carpet squares for the children to build a path that they would travel. After the group placed the squares in a path we started getting familiar with it by just walking around it. Organically, the group started mentioning other ways of traveling.
Dashiell: “Let’s fly!”
(The group all flew down the path.)
David: “Now let’s fly and jump together.”
Griffin: “We can crawl.”
David: “Babies crawl.”
Griffin: “Crabs crawl too.”
This conversation about crabs crawling sparked an interest in moving like animals, which was different from my idea of traveling steps such as skipping, jumping, and tip toeing.
Carla: ”I’m moving like a horse.”
Noticing this interest in traveling and moving like animals, the following week Illan read a book of how animals move, called Move for further inspiration. She also brought a variety of animal figures, and asked each child to choose one to hold. I have found that children often expand on their knowledge when given visual, and tactile experiences. Each child took a turn putting their animal in the middle of the rug, and then moving how they imagined that animal would move.
Sergio: “I want to be the shark. He swims in the water.”
Miles: “I want the bird. He flies!”
David: “The lizard crawls on the ground.”
As I watched the children engage in this experience I saw how intentional they were while moving like their animals, from their toes to their fingers. I was once again reminded from watching this, how shifting my plan for an experience and following the children’s lead is important in keeping the children engaged and learning. -Sam, March 18, 2011