Light table provocation

We recently constructed a light table room for our kinders.  We had noticed through reflective documentation that this was an item that was rarely being visited in our kinder class.  We really thought about how we could create a provocation that not only honoured the concepet of the light table, but was intrinsically irresistible to our students.  We thought about several scenarios and locations.  We were cognizant of such things as traffic flow, sunlight and size.  After some serious brainstorming, we finally decided that we needed to move our reading corner to accommodate our new light table room.  We put up curtains so we had 4 walls, moved in some shelves to house our loose parts and then brought in the light table.  After thinking about it some more, we realized that this location would also be an excellent "safe place" for a child who needed some time to themselves, so we brought in our safe spot chair and books too.  

This whole process really makes me think about the value of reflective documentation.  If we (myself and Becky) had not taken the time to talk about our environment and look through our documentation we would have no idea that this valuabe part of our environment was being neglected.  

Reflections on Reggio... loose parts

Loose parts have become a very vital part of our "environment as third educator".  They fuel imaginative play, help prove our theories and inspire future wonderings.  I recently bought the book, Loose Parts:  Inspiring Play in Young Childlren" by Lisa Daly and Miriam Beloglovsky.  It introduces the idea of "what if" during play.  "What if..."  it's a powerful concept.  It makes me think of some of the great minds over the generations and how they dared to ask the question, "what if?"  "What if the same force that causes an apple to fall from a tree cause the planets to go around the sun?"  "What if I could talk to someone across the ocean?"  and "What if I could get my emails on my phone?"  

When we give students the tools and encouragement to ask "what if" we are creating the future problem solvers, inventors and theoretical thinkers of our next generation.  Loose parts can become anything to anyone.  It's all a matter of daring to dream and wonder.