Collecting
According to (MacNaughton & Williams 2009) collecting is 'the process of gathering things together'. Collecting various items in the classroom can be used as a teaching strategy
which aims to enhance children's interest and learning about their natural, social and cultural worlds.
Collecting enhances numerous skills across all areas of development, one way this development can be facilitated is through a collection of leaves. Since it is Autumn now children may collect leaves which can be sorted into different categories such as shape, colour and size. By collecting and sorting children's cognitive skills are enhanced as they classify and match the leaves.
The educator can also use open questions about the leaves such as 'Where could we find more leaves like this?'
This type of question could relate to place thought as children may become more interested in the environment and want to collect, touch, smell, question other types of leaves and plants.
What are some other examples of collecting you can think of? What areas of development are enhanced/ what skills are enhanced with the example of collecting you have thought of?
Can they be linked to past-present, learning to be affected or place thought in any way?
References:MacNaughton, G & Williams, G 2009, Techniques for teaching young children; choices for theory and practice, 3rd edn, Pearson Education Australia, NSW.
There are many other examples of collecting really, the subject you gather range from something as concrete as a solid object to something a lot more abstract like and concept or idea. When you are collecting things it is key to remember that it doesn’t need to be actual objects it can be thoughts, ideas or points of view. Collecting is really an activity that is open to the own child’s interpretation and interests.
ReplyDeleteI really like the point you made, this is very true that collecting can be abstract and not just concrete. To be honest I don't have many abstract ideas in relation to collecting in my head at the moment but I do look forward to unpacking this further in practice.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of linking the seasons in order to focus on the types of leaves that are around due to being autumn. I think I would use different colours weekly, where children can bring in items of that particular colour. I feel that children will be of interest to this activity as they can bring objects of their past-present and as a pre-teacher I feel I would be able to link to that particular area of learning.
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