After reading about a group of toddlers exploring clay in the book Pinching, Poking, & Pretending I decided to jazz up the clay experience by covering the floor in mylar. I hoped the mylar would add a different perspective to the exploration, attract the children to the clay and provide another material to interact with either using the clay or on it's own. I also set the clay on the smaller side so it stood vertical and had more height.
Knowing Xavier engaged more with the clay when tools were involved his mother brought some different wooden spoons for him to use on the clay. Xavier used the tool and his own hand to explore the clay. In the following video, Xavier explores the clay but in spurts. He uses the his hand to grab and feel the clay and the tool to pat the clay. He also discovers the tool makes a sound when tapped on the ground but not so much on the clay. I love how he simultaneously feels the clay in his left hand and uses the tool in his right.
Clay has this amazing quality to respond to every touch or impact a child makes upon it. Manipulating clay also works both large and small muscles. Max really digs into the clay. First he uses just one finger but soon works to grab more. He also takes notice of how the clay spreads on the Mylar.
Sebastien runs the spectrum of exploration techniques. He checks out himself in the Mylar, grabs, scrapes, pounds, tastes, and brings some new tools to the clay. He even brought over my shoe from the shoe bin to place it in the clay!
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