Reference no: EM133542274

Case Study: The educator prepared natural and recycled materials to stimulate interest and curiosity for children to explore with in the sand, as well as offering a challenge as they find different ways to engage with the materials. The focus was on STEM (engineering) with the use of technology.

The educator prepared the resources in the sandpit, setting up an inviting and interesting environment. Resources included a cardboard box, plastic bottles, fake/ plastic flowers, shells, rocks, bark, pine cones and shovels to scoop the sand.

The educator communicated with colleagues what the plan was. The children were playing inside at this time whilst the experience needed to be done outside. The educator asked the colleague leading the room to select a group of children to come outside and participate in the experience to help ensure it was not taking away from the indoor routine and ratio was maintained.

The children immediately displayed excitement and started listing out the resources they could see. Educator encouraged the children's inspiration by displaying images of different stem activities for children to build their ideas upon. The children chose to build a volcano after briefly seeing a picture of sand volcano. The children collaborated and agreed they would use the resources to build a volcano. Child A said "it is gonna erupt big", Child B responded and said "first we need sand". Child C used the plastic bottles to fill them up with baking soda and vinegar with a dash of red food colouring to pour into the volcano once it was built.

Children used the shovels to pour the sand in the cardboard box, the children dug deep to collect wet sand to help shape the volcano. Once they were satisfied with how much sand they had put in the cardboard box, the children begun shaping the sand to look like a volcano and made a hole at the top. Once the children were satisfied with how it looked, the children begun decorating the outside of the volcano using the natural materials. The children pushed rocks, flowers, shells and bark into the sand, creating a garden around the volcano.

When they had finished decorating, they assigned roles to share the experience. Child A poured half the baking soda, Child B poured the other half and Child C poured the red vinegar. The children stood back as they watched their volcano erupt, the children were smiling with excitement.

Throughout the experience, the children took photos of their work and the process. The children took turns handling the camera, the educator encouraged the children to take photos from different angles. the educator emphasised the importance of handling the camera with care and prompted the children to be sensible. The children were challenged when using the camera, the educator demonstrated how to hold and press the button. the educator asked the children if they would like to print their pictures, the children said yes and chose 4 to print. The educator asked if the children if they would like to turn it into a collage and create a title for it, the children said yes. Child A said "let's call it volcano erupt", child B said "I want to stick this picture". Lastly the educator asked the children what they thought about displaying their artwork, the children said "yes". Child a said "my mummy can see it", child b said "let's put it on the window".

While the children were dusting the sand off the resources and getting ready to pack up, educator asked the children to give feedback on the experience. Educator asked the children what their favourite part was, Child A said making the volcano, Child B said find the shells. Educator asked the children what their least favourite part was, Child A said they wanted the volcano to be bigger and that the eruption was small. Educator asked what could we do differently next time to achieve that, Child B said bigger Volcano and Child C said bigger hole.

Questions:

1. Learning experience brief outline
2. EYLF learning outcome
3. Sub element (write in full)
4. The EYLF element will be evident in children when they?
5. As an educator I will promote this EYLF element when I?
6. Intentional teaching strategies used and how? (Questioning, modelling, prompting, demonstrating, encouraging, directing)
7. How I will engage the children in an appropriate level of challenge?
8. How I will support the child's agency? (Being an active decision maker, a degree of risk taking or experimentation, decision making or investigating)
9. How I will teach children to use and care for materials and equipment?
10. Preparation notes? (When, equipment, where, transitions)
11. List of materials used?
12. What will you consider in regard to ensuring children's safety?
13. How did you consult with your colleagues?
14. List the policies and procedures that you followed?
15. What did the children do and say during the experience that demonstrated the children were working towards your learning goal?
16. Comment on how the children used the materials (including the use and care of the camera?
17. How did the children collaborate with each other?
18. Comment on how the educator showed respect and sought permission from the children to display their work that fostered the children's agency?
19. Comment on how the educator encouraged the children to respect and appreciate the creative effort of their peers?
20. Feedback from the children. What did the children say about the experience? Record three questions and the children's responses.