This afternoon 4R became sociologists in our attempt to understand why the “Right to Play” is part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We visited IST’s Early Childhood Center through an invitation from Mr Dan’s class.
First we just observed. For around 15 minutes, students took notes on:
- Some kinds of play they observed.
- Some of the skills and attitudes they observed.
- Similarities and differences from grade four play.
- What seemed important, interesting or insightful.
Next we had a chance to join the EC kids in their play. We built with boxes and clay, played with reflection and refraction, read stories, wrote with magnetic letters and some of us went to the doctor’s for a check-up… Kadi even got an injection!
Afterwards we sat down to share some of our observations and experiences. Dan joined us and spoke about the philosophy of the EC, how they develop provocations to encourage students to experiment and try new things and look for the learning opportunities in everything they do.
Have a look at images in the gallery below!
I enjoyed spending time with the EC Class and it showed me what its like to be younger and it gave me thought’s about what the little kids do throughout the day and how they feel everyday at school. I also learned that, even though they play all day they are developing there social skills and empathy & life Skills. Thomas 4R
It is really nice to play with the EC class, they are really creative : for example, they build their house with boxes. When I see them playing, it reminds me when I was little. I can see that they like to play together. When they are playing, they play but they are not speaking so much. Instead when you are growing up, you prefer to speak.
Visiting the EC class
It was really fun to visit the EC class, it reminded me of the time I was in kindergarten. Even if they were playing, we learned that everything they are doing is learning. Through play, children develop their motor and social skills, like playing with magnetic letters and spelling their names. Playing with a skeleton and learning about the body. They were dressed up as doctors to learn how it is to be a doctor.
I really liked going to the EC class. I liked waching them but my favorit part was when we got to play with them.Laura and me played with a little girl.We saw that all the things they had in the class helped the kids learn some thing.I was sprised that playing doctor doctor helped them learn socile skills.
I really enjoyed playing with the EC kids. It was fun to learn how they feel when they are at school. It also reminded me of when I was in EC. All the games they had helped them develop different skills. It impressed me that the kids had different feelings about big kids. Some kids were scared others were exited and some were just happy. Martina
When we got inside the classroom, 90% of EC1 students were on the left side of the classroom, and the other 10% were wondering around the classroom. And I thought ” why were they only on one side?” When I was walking around, I met one kid named Tobian. I asked him questions that he could answer and I was surprised that a kid in EC1 knew a lot of words.For example, I asked him many questions, like where he came from and what he liked to do. He told me,” I’m from India, I’m very strong and I like playing with play dough.” When I said should I read a book for you?’ He said yes! By the time we finished reading it was time to go and I said ”bye” and he said bye. I learnt that EC1 and Grade 4s have similar thoughts but act differently. I enjoyed my visit with EC1 and made a new friend.
by Matthew
The time I spent with the EC kids was really fun at first I got to see how they interact with each other when they play and talk to each other I also got to see how how they where playing in groups of 5 or 6 they also protected each other like when one of the kids started crying when my class walked in the EC teacher toke her outside when two kids from my class tried to go outside to check if the little girl was okay one of the EC kids pushed them back in and said you are making her feel nervous after maybe 3 more minutes we were allowed to play with them they all moved outside and my class followed when got outside we saw all these boxes I wondered what they were for I waited a bit to see what they did with the boxes when I saw,how creative they were I really wanted to join in and play after a awhile MR Jamie called us to see what we observed
By Jason
I really enjoyed playing with the EC kids, my favorite part was playing in the area with all the boxes I think the EC’s thought it was funny when Andreas went underneath the boxes and hid. I felt really sorry for that little girl who was crying.
We went to Ec to see why play is important. I felt sorry for one girl who was scared of us and started crying. I had fun getting to play with them and seeing what they like to play with. Most of kids liked playing with the boxes. EC learn by playing games and so playing is important as well as fun. By Cai.
I thought that Cai was a comment ninja because he did all the things to be a comment ninja , I really liked it. I also thought that it was really clear.I also enjoyed the day.
By Alyn
On Monday we went to EC to see some play in action. One girl started crying she must have thought we were ginormus and scary. First we started observing them playing. After that we got to play with them. In boxes with clay spell words and go to hospital. Then we went outside to talk about our experience waiting for the children to go home. Next Mr. Dan came to talk to us about child rights with us. Then we left to class.
By Thjom
We went to the EC quad to observe the right to play. After we observed and played with them, we all learned that they are learning through play. Life skills, Reading, Spelling, All those kind of things. Some people thought that the ECs didnt know anything but I think they are Geniuses in their own way. You give them a box and they make their own game. You can can give them ANYTHING and they would make a game out of it. I would like to be an EC again!!!
I really enjoyed playing with the EC class because I remembered my childhood. When we went to the EC class there was one girl who got scared of us and started to cry. I was confused why is she crying? Then I thought she thinks we are strangers and if I was small like her I would kind of also be scared because if a random person just walked into your class you would be like who is that?Well lets move on then I went to the doctor place where one kid was the doctor and there was a person who got hurt. Then I stood in line and when it was my turn I told him I got hurt on my knee and I was bleeding so he cleaned my bleeding and injected me. After a while I went around and everyone was playing games but they were educational. It was time to go to class and I had a wonderful experience. IST4R Aryan
spending some time with the EC was AWESOME!!! man those guys are so creative I wish I was there in EC but EC have this big bucket of water and some toys in it EC’s are AWESOME go check them out.