apple Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Hi all I have been thinking about our provision of these two areas of learning and realise that we lack ideas and more probably the know how and inspiration to provide children with opportunities to explore science and d&t activities. We do the usual craft based stuff for D&T (hole punches, split pins, staplers etc) but would love to explore more problem solving 'exciting' stuff! I have looked at Teacher Tom's blog which is fab (particularly the drawbots which we are about to try). I wondered how other settings approach these two areas and what type of activities you do to encourage a strong exploratory attitude coupled with problem solving. It's a woman's world in our setting and I am not a natural with a motor and battery- but long to be! I am not being sexist (don't want to start a Grey/Keys debate here) but it can be challenging to find ways to engage and encourage this type of learning. Any ideas would be most welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyPancakes Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Just been reading this on my facebook link. Hope it works. It's about a Workshop for Engaging Boys from Irresitable Ideas for Playbased Learning. Has pics of the DrawBots that look a bit technical for me, lut the pulleys interested me the most. Asked for some on Freecycle last night and a friend who is a boaty offered me some to play with. Really looking forward to it. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=196...121305887884646 Enjoy Honey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Mine enjoy the painting programmes on the laptops, we have beebots and remote control cars and children draw a line on some rolled out wallpaper to see if they can make them follow it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie-pops Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Honey Pancakes - Wow, thanks for sharing those pics, some brilliant ideas there, I love the pulley ideas and the sand pendulum in particular. You can understand why they would inspire anyone to explore and be interested x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LornaW Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Just been reading this on my facebook link. Hope it works. It's about a Workshop for Engaging Boys from Irresitable Ideas for Playbased Learning. Has pics of the DrawBots that look a bit technical for me, lut the pulleys interested me the most. Asked for some on Freecycle last night and a friend who is a boaty offered me some to play with. Really looking forward to it. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=196...121305887884646 Enjoy Honey Brilliant link Honey thank you so much for sharing! Love the idea also of asking on Freecycle i will definatelytry that and share with others! Lorna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apple Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Thanks for the link- the actual web site for Play based learning has lots of terrific activities and ideas too. I love the sand pendulum- Teacher Tom does one with paint which is just as much fun. It would be great to collect a bank of science/D&T lab ideas to fall back on and you have certainly given me a few to start that process. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I have done the pendulum paint and also done it with salt on ice outside - fantastic fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 someone bought us a coconut to try at pre-school it was great fun trying to work out how to open it! we had lots of ideas form the children some more successful than others! (we are making a teacher tom inspired volcano at the moment after an explosion in the sand pit the other day! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LornaW Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Thanks for the link- the actual web site for Play based learning has lots of terrific activities and ideas too. I have put both sites on my favourites - how interesting that one is USA and another Australia! Lorna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 I'm afriad I have no ideas really, apart from making volcanoes which is always great fun, but where can I find this Teacher Tom blog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 try here http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/ i'm in love...no i dont fancy him! ....i just love his approach it's really made me rethink things...he was over in england recently did anyone get a chance to meet him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts