Classroom Idea Sparkers.

What if ... I wonder what will happen when ... specific materials are presented to young children? Many a morning, the curious early childhood teacher will arrive at school eager to change or rearrange some aspect of the environment and to select and set up provocative material. Perhaps, dialoguing with a colleague will spark a different perspective, support emphasis on process, and lead to a deeper exploration of the "what if" and "I wonder what will happen" experiences. Ultimately, the collaboration rests in the thinking and doing of the children. Will their sense of wonderment be sparked? How will they think, plan, create, and express their ideas ? How will examining the process--rather than product--enhance the exploration and expand the wonder possibilities for further teacher/learning?

Five Paper Strips (4- and 5-year-olds)

Objectives: Develop thinking skills; express ideas orally; arrange, plan, and create with materials.

Experience One: Sensory Exploration

Materials: 9-inch square work surface (mat board, cardboard, paper--4 to 6 pieces); collection of strips 9 inches long (ribbon, felt, fun foam, lace, fabric, cardboard, paper).

Activity:

* Small group of children explore, count, choose, arrange, create using any five strips (or more) on work surface.

* Teacher observes, listens, and jots down children's use of expressive language.

* Whole-group sharing and discussion follow.

Experience Two: My Five-Strip Story

Materials: 9-inch square of construction paper (solid color or white for each child), 9-inch x 1-inch construction paper strips of one contrasting color, glue stick for strips

Activity:

* Each child counts five strips and plays on his paper square, creating and changing arrangements. Child glues final story choice on background square; all of the strips must be flat. Child dictates or writes strip story on separate paper.

* Share, discuss, and work with whole group.

* Display and share with families, constructing a documentation panel.

Experience Three: Pop-Up Strip Stories

Materials: Same as in proceeding experience (colors may change, but background square and strips are always of one contrasting color).

Activity:

* What will happen if all five strips pop up from the background square?

* Elicit ideas and possibilities from children. Play and experiment with ways to change strip (roll, fan, fold, etc.). Demonstrate how to glue and hold at ends of strip. Child counts, experiments, creates, and glues his pop-up strip story.

* Stories are dictated/written and added.

* Share and discuss work with whole group. Later, revisit the initial strip stories (from experience one).

* Arrange a pop-up strip story museum to share with families.

Playing With Circles 3- and 4-year-olds)

Objectives: Explore round things as a shape--the circle. Research how young children see circles in their world.

Experience One: Circles on a Circle

Materials: Large, 24-inch tag board circle; a basket that holds a collection of assorted plastic lids (fun felt, fun foam, or fabric circles of varying sizes also can be used).

Activity:

* A teacher plays with small groups of children. Each child, in turn, draws a lid from basket, examines it, then places it anywhere on the circle board; this process continues until the circle is covered or the basket is empty. The group shares and discusses the arrangement. The children can revisit the materials independently. Observe and record the children's efforts and use of language.

Experience Two: Circles in a Circle

Materials: Hoola-Hoop, lid collection (as described in experience one).

Activity:

* Proceed as in experience one. Stress in the circle. Observe, reflect, and share the experience with the children.

Experience Three: Pointing a Circle

Materials: A circle-shaped paper set up on an easel and/or table-top; wide, narrow brushes; three to four colors of tempera paint.

Activity:

* As children paint circles in their own way, observe and listen. When the paintings are dry, reflect and discuss how children painted their circles. Record descriptions and attach them to the paintings.

Experience Four: One Big Circle, One Small Circle, Materials: 10-inch white construction paper circle with a 2-inch red circle glued in the center; red crayons and/or red markers.

Activity:

* Look at the prepared circle together, and prompt: "I wonder what this small circle can be. Let's talk." Each child proceeds to work on his/her ideas in his/her own way. Teacher will write story/ description on separate paper and attach to child's circle. Group sharing and discussion follow.

Experience Five: What Can Two Circles Be?

Materials: Two 2-inch blue construction paper circles, one 12-inch white circle, blue crayons and/or markers, glue stick

Activity:

* Present materials to small group. Discuss: "I wonder what two circles can be?" Tell the children, "Glue your circles together in whatever way you need to help you draw and finish your story picture." Write each child's story/description on a strip of paper, and attach. Share and discuss the results with the class. Compile and construct a circle book of children's responses.

Peek-a-Boo (1- to 2-year-olds)

Objectives: Encourage play with peers and adults, foster social growth, participate in beginning literacy events.

Experience One: Classic Peek-a-Boo

Materials: Hands, life-the-flap books, colorful shoebox with objects inside, large boxes, box tunnel suitable for crawling, paper bags.

Activity:

* Ongoing interaction playing peek-a-boo games with any of the above materials. Observe and document spontaneous play with peers/adults.

Experience Two: Finding Friends, Finding Me

Materials: 20" x 24" tag board for mounting; felt or sheer fabric to cover board; classroom photographs of children or those taken by families (use duct tape to adhere board to wall area at children's eye level).

Activity:

Share board with one or two children. Lift the flap slowly. Say, "Peek-a-boo! Who do we see?" Child may find a friend or himself, and then reply, "I see Tommy" or "I see me." Make board available for children's free exploration.

Experience Three: A Move Personal Board

Materials: Mat boards (rectangular) varying in size, photos of children (two or three per board), fabric flaps/covers for each photo on board.

Activity:

* Invite one child to lift up the flap. "Peek-a-boo, I see ..."

* Encourage independent play with board.

* Observe, take cues from children, and make changes as needed. Keep observation journal to share with parents and/or record peek-a-boo events by constructing a documentation panel.

The foregoing activities continue to teach us so much about how young children wonder and learn. Reflecting, revisiting, and revising our "what if" experiences enhance our growth as professionals. At Growing Children Providence, children's engagement, enjoyment, and expansion in the wondering process of growing as learners is highly valued.

Warm thanks to teachers Jeanne Ciotola, Kelly Mainer, and Paula Baldino, who shared some of the activities they use with their children.

Call for Idea-Sparkers

Do you have a great idea that you would like to share? Do you know a colleague who has a great idea? Please share the exciting things that are happening in your classroom. Send ideas via mail, fax, phone, or E-mail. Photos and illustrations are welcome. Please include your name, address, where you have used this idea, and a description of the activity. Send your Idea-Sparkers to:

Judy Kieff

3517 Camp St.

New Orleans, LA 70115

Rose C. Merenda, Early Childhood Consultant, Warwick, Rhode Island.

Sharon White-Williams, Department of Education, Hampton University, Hampton,