Friday Group - Sea Animals

Disclaimer: I didn't get to take as many pictures/movies as I wanted for this session as the two cameras I was using both ran out of batteries.

For Friday Playgroup I made a few small adjustments to the sea animal and water exploration. I took out most of the cellophane and I used watercolor to tint the water blue hoping that this would draw the children to explore the materials for a longer period of time. These adjustments did not make an impact on the children and they spent most of playgroup exploring the other areas of the play space.

Although Bryce, Theo, and Sebastien all spent time at the water table their explorations were brief and they would usually rejoin the exploration when another friend was at the table. In a way I want the children to freely come and go from the table as they desire but I guess the materials I presented them with in this session didn't spur on new discoveries. Not that every exploration has to bring about new discoveries as sometimes materials need to be explored over and over again in the same ways to be fully assimilated into a child's working knowledge.

Bryce found the shells and rocks the most interesting to explore especially because of the noise they make. He briefly checks out a manatee and chomps on a dolphin but it is the sound of the rock clanking together that really intrigues him.

Theo is so aware of those around him that he will sometimes begin an exploration only to stop to watch another child. I have countless videos of him grabbing an item and then watching as a friend explores something else. Theo begins to explore a piece of cellophane only to be distracted by Sebastien. Later he makes his way back to the table and takes interest in the shell and does some solo splashing!

Sebastien is infamous for bringing items into the water table and finds a long container to add to the water table. This gets a big "whoa" from him. He actually inspired the next and last water table exploration by making me think of how I could combine some of the items we've explored in the water during previous sessions with the sea animals to spark more interest.