Current Project: Exploring materials with 2-4’s

Project Description

Exploring materials with 2-4’s

A research project based over 4 weekly sessions focusing on working in one setting with children across this age range. Observations and findings to be documented and presented will then be used to form the basis of further training for all practitioners across the county.

Week 1

A series of natural materials and provocations were set up in indoor and outdoor spaces for children to explore and experiment using all their senses. Initially children approached the materials cautiously and started pointing and touching the objects. The younger children became excited and started investigating by opening boxes and moving baskets and containers. Some of the boys carried a ‘box of treasure’ into a den space and their faces showed great delight as they ducked under the cardboard covering and re-appeared on the other side. A group of children formed around one boy who was carrying a basket of conkers. They decided that the conkers were eggs and there were conversations about when they were going to hatch. The initial exploring group of about 10 children were engaged with the materials over a long period, sustaining their ideas and interests.

Feedback
“Dens were hugely effective both inside and out, but it was noted that until adults removed themselves completely from the set up spaces, children did not appear to freely access the materials. Some of the morning children remained for the afternoon session and there were new mainly younger children who arrived in the afternoon. All the children explored the outdoor space together. It appeared that the younger children were gradually familiarising themselves with the new materials by blending them in to environments that they knew i.e. collecting cocoa shells and putting them in the house”.

Week 2

Nursery staff advised that there had been much use of the light and dark space, especially exploring with torches. Staff had offered a wide range of materials extending the children’s exploration into light/dark, white/black and colour. The rice drew the attention of many children as they explored and mixed the colours, continuing with much filling and emptying activities. Rice was shaken through holes in containers eg colanders. There was great interest in the cornflour, questions were asked about how it felt, what was happening when water was added etc. The children were all fascinated by this material – sprinkling, pushing, pulling, stretching, presing hands in and making marks. The adults enthusiasm in the exploration appeared to add to the experience for the children.

Feedback
“The children found pouring rice into containers very entertaining”

“I became aware of the importance of allowing children to create their own environment, to stretch their imagination and take charge of their own play world”

“Children enjoyed the torches in the dark area and the spaces gave them opportunities to play and act alone”

“I think the resources such as rice, metals and corn flour enabled all ages to work for longer periods and increase concentration”

Week 3

Nursery staff advised that the natural materials had continued to be offered following the last session. It was the big boxes and tubes for constructing that had the most interest where tunnels, cars and buses had been imagined and developed. As the children arrived there were photos of the last session playing on the laptop computer and some of the parents stopped to have a look. Other materials were offered this week inlcuding clay, glue, wire and beads alongside dressing up accessories such as sunglasses, goggles and hats. The PVA glue mixing saw children manipulating the glue with their hands and some pushing other shiny materials into the glue. Some children commented ontheir hands being sticky and wanted to 3ash them but then delved back in for more gluey encounters.. This tactile experience encouraged children to stay with the exploration. High levels of concentration were noted on the wire and beads activity. All the children applied different techniques in putting the beads onto the wear. This material explored, tested and developed fine motor skills. The choosing, sorting and sequencing of beads and buttons also developed pattern-work.

Feedback
“It was interesting to discover that simple everyday objects could provoke children’s ideas such as cardboard boxes. Children made them into different things such as beds, house etc”

“The children were keen to watch their own pictures and discuss what they had done on that day”


Week 4

Nursery staff had extended water and other materials exploration outdoors by setting up a range of sand and water play. Indoors play in the dark space continued with stories of witches, bats and lizards involved in the ideas and print and rollers were introduced as further messy play and colour exploration. Children announced their discovery in making green from yellow and blue. Some print experiments were made on paper but the main interest was in the textures, patterns and colours emerging.

The play with water trays, pebbles, seaweed, shells etc attracted many children who became engaged in pouring, emptying, filling and transferring water into the trays and containers. They found shells with holes in that water would travel through. Some materials floated while others sank. The children were exploring volume, capacity, displacement as well as shape and form.

As it was the last week Barbara Jones talked with the children about their ideas and stories, asking them what they remembered. She shared a small selection of photos taking the children back to the first week. The children’s recall of their own ideas was excellent and there was lots of chatter about the photos and linked experiences.

Funders and Partners