Celine set out a provocation with animals, wooden logs, a wooden stump and a nest made from paper.
Nihal came over and picked up the zebra. He took it over to Jasleen and then brought her the monkey. Leila came over and went right for the paper nest. Theo explored the bear and zebra. George climbed right onto the mat to play with the animals and nest. Theo, Leila and George climbed into the centre of everything to feel the nest. George and Leila would pull the nest apart and then watch it fall. They also held it in their hands, moved their fingers to feel the texture and to hear the sound it made.
Lloyd came over and went right to the paper nest. He would pick it up to feeling the texture and smiled when it a made sound. Then Lloyd pulled pieces off. He continued to explore as he picked it up and shook it.
Theo became very inventive as he started to bring over people to slide down the stump. This caught Leila’s attention and she joined in. They brought over people, babies and cars. It was interesting to see the children be so interested in the paper nest more than the animals.
During this experience the children used their gross and fine motor skills as they moved around and onto the mat. Also, when they were picking up or pulling apart the paper nest. They used their sense of touch and hearing as they felt the grass and they listened to the noise it made. This fostered the children independence as they got the opportunity to make the activity their own by adding toys, and sending them down the logs as ramps. I wonder what the children would do with shredded paper or Easter grass? I also wonder what the children would do with different items to create different ramps.
