Sensory play using play dough - 13th January 2022
Room Project - Sensory Play :
The educators in Joey's room have planned to execute a room project each month of this year. To start with, this month the room project is sensory play. The children were engaged in various sensory play activities like water play, play dough play, painting activities and much more. Today I decided to set up the outdoor table with play dough so that the children enjoy this sensory play activity. As soon as I setup the table Elijah was the first one to join me at the table first. I offered him some play dough, play dough cutters and a roller. First he tried with the roller then he got excited with the cutters and tried using different cutters to cut the playdough. Hunter and Elya joined the table next. Elya was confident and good at rolling the roller on to the play dough. She also used the cutters on the play dough. Hunter liked using the roller. Initially I helped him to use it and said "roll it Hunter, roll, roll". Then Hunter followed my instructions and started to roll the roller onto the play dough. While rolling he sang loudly "roll, roll, roll.." It was so fun watching him singing and rolling at the same time. We all laughed out loud. Finally Jenayah and Nevaeh joined the table. Nevaeh rolled the play dough with her hands and made a small ball. She showed it to me and said "ball". I replied "yes Nevaeh it is a ball". Jenayah was excited to play with the playdough, she was the one who sat on the table for a long time and concentrated on her play even after other children left. The children enjoyed this play dough activity and also experienced social skills by sharing resources and in taking turns. The children also exercised fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Link to Pedagogical Documentation
EYLF Outcomes
Outcomes: 4: Children are confident and involved learners Elements: 4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity. Children in this learning experience were able to express their creativity, confidence and cooperation through out the experience with their friends and educators.
Theorists
This learning experience can be linked to Piaget's theories. He believes that children need to be able to see, touch, taste, smell, move and hear the things they are learning about. This is called 'concrete learning'.
Interpretation
Critical Reflection: I setup this play dough activity as part of this month room project - sensory play. As I expected children involved themselves into the activity. I scaffolded them and encouraged them to share the play dough and cutters among themselves. I also engaged with children in a positive way by asking questions to children about their play. The children had fun playing with playdough. Finally I had to put away the playdough when one child started to eat the playdough and others followed him. Follow Up: Continue with the sensory play activities.
